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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For wanting to ring dd’s boss up and tear her a new arsehole?

227 replies

NicoAndTheNiners · 08/08/2018 17:33

I won’t actually do it but feel like it.

Dd is 17yo, in sixth form. Good, polite, hard working kid. She’s been desperate for a job and heard that a business in the village was employing.

I had slight reservations as I know this business gets through staff quickly and I’ve also seen them asking for people to work unpaid for a week on trial before potentially getting a job.

Anyway dd started working for them on a Sunday. Gets £25 for 8 hours so not even minimum wage which isn’t good. No break either. But enjoys the work and gets on with the manager ok. Manager told dd she was the best person they’d had in ages and was professional as she works hard and isn’t on her phone like others have been.

She was asked if she wanted more work over the summer and texted back to say she could work but not Tuesdays or Saturdays. They texted her back saying they wanted her to work this Tuesday (2 days before). She had plans but didn’t want to upset them so texted back and said she could work but only till 12. So did 4 hours work.

During this shift the manager made her aware of some comments that the business owner had written in a staff handbook about dd. Dd said it was an A4 page of ranting saying that dds work the previous weekend had not been up to scratch. Lots of swearing, “I’m fucking sick of x, she’s a fucking lazy bitch and I’m running out of patience”.

Dd has only told me today and broke down in tears. She says it’s not even true. She did everything she was supposed to do and spent 4 hours making the place spotless. The business involves animals and the boss was basically mad because the next morning there was animal poo about.....odd that dd finishes at 4pm so by the next morning the animals will have produced more shit. Dd Is adamant she cleaned all the poo up on her shift.

When she finished at 12 the owner refused to pay her anything because she said she hadn’t done a full shift. They’ve asked dd to work next Tuesday and said they’re doing it to teach a lesson because if she was an adult she would have to prioritise her job over driving lessons. Dd has told them she can only work the morning again and says she will do it even though she doesn’t think they will pay her again.

I’ve told her not to go back. I’ve offered to ring up and either politely or ideally not very politely tell them she won’t be coming back. I really want to ring the woman up and say I think she’s a disgusting excuse of a human who is bullying a teenager and not even paying her. I’m fucking furious. Dd says she doesn’t want any conflict and will just carry on working until the end of the summer and then tell them she needs to stop,work to concentrate on a levels.

I’m certainly planning on reporting them to whoever cares about minimum wage breaches.

OP posts:
Original poster
NicoAndTheNiners · 08/08/2018 21:15

I’ve told her she shouldn’t go back tomorrow but she says she’s worried about the dogs if she doesn’t go, that there would only be one member of staff if she doesn’t go in and the dogs won’t get breakfast on time and won’t get walked.

That’s how conscientious she is and it makes me mad that they treat her like shit!

OP posts:
LeftRightCentre · 08/08/2018 21:20

Then I'd go there and confront that cow.

user1457017537 · 08/08/2018 21:20

Go and see the owner she is only doing this because she gets away with it. Confront her and if she gets arsey tell her you will be reporting her to HMRC.

MadeForThis · 08/08/2018 21:25

Tell her to go in then to look after the dogs but also gather as much evidence as she can. Photo of the rota, the book, anything that will prove her claim.

Then don't agree to any more shifts. If this is how they are treating her after one shift imagine how much worse it could get.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 08/08/2018 21:43

As toads pointed out near the top of this thread she IS NOT being paid less than MW. It's £4.20 p/hr

honeyrider · 08/08/2018 21:44

Tell her to go in then to look after the dogs but also gather as much evidence as she can. Photo of the rota, the book, anything that will prove her claim.

^^This, gather evidence, say nothing to the boss apart from quitting then report to the proper authorities and let them pounce on the owner unannounced so the owner hasn't time to try covering her ass.

Bibesia · 08/08/2018 21:45

Veni, £25 for 8 hours is definitely less than £4.20 per hour.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 08/08/2018 21:48

SORRY EVERYONE. my fault, I misread the amount.

Ghanagirl · 08/08/2018 21:52

OP your DD sounds lovely wish she could look after my two tweens over summer hols.
No picking up S*!

prh47bridge · 08/08/2018 21:54

sometimes a dog will have such little space it can’t stand up unless it’s half in its bed

The requirements for kennels are that, unless there is an attached run, the kennel should be large enough to provide separate sleeping and activity areas. It doesn't sound like this is the case. If I'm right, the best thing your daughter can do for the dogs is to report these people to the council and the RSPCA. She should also report them to HMRC for the breach of national minimum wage and consider taking them to tribunal for unlawful deduction of wages and the lack of breaks.

mumeeee · 08/08/2018 21:58

To those who are saying the OPs daughter isn't being paid less than mw.
Yes she is. She is getting £25 for 8 hours which is actually a few pence over £3 an hour which is way less than £4.20 an hour.

Original poster
NicoAndTheNiners · 08/08/2018 21:59

Dd says the kennels are always double booked at weekends, not sure if this is standard.

People drop their dogs off early morning and the dogs which are leaving that day might not get picked up till afternoon. So it’s two dogs to a kennel and these dogs don’t know each other. They can shut the inside bit off from the outside bit so they can’t reach each other but one poor dog is in the outside bit which I wouldn’t be happy with if it’s raining or very hot. And small dogs get put in the cattery.

OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 08/08/2018 22:03

Which county is this kennel/cattery in?!? Now I'm worried about where I board my cat! Can you say please!

mumsastudent · 08/08/2018 22:05

report them to HMRC for not paying minimum wages they really wan to here about things like this they will sort it out - its obvious from what your saying that they are trying to intimidate her & think they can get away with it www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/national-minimum-wage-enquiries-and-complaints you can ring HMRC too

Sorry10 · 08/08/2018 22:07

Do it say something , dd will be pissed if with you for a bit will thank you later on they are taking the piss. I have a 20 year old daughter so know it’s hard when to interfere but no way would I have someone treating my daughter like that.

trojanpony · 08/08/2018 22:11

Your daughter needs to learn a very valuable life lesson right now that my parents never bothered to teach me.

Namely, Arsehole employees will take advantage of the fact the employees care about the dogs/product/service/whatever and are reliant on them thinking “if i don’t who will”.

I geniunely believe this is fairly pivotal, if she goes back tomorrow it should be with a phone / camera to photograph the log book with abuse and record the conditions of the animals and confirm on voice recording/camera the fact she is paid less than minimum wage.
Then to use that evidence to royally fuck the company’.
The point to remember is people are paying top dollar for their beloved pets to be cared for and looked after. They are not paying for them to be rammed into a cage with other dogs and possibly not fed or walked... your daughter is in some ways complicit if she doesn’t whistle blow

chocolatespiders · 08/08/2018 22:14

I hate hearing stories like this. Reminds me of when dd worked at a well known shoe shop. Most of the managers were awful to dd and other teens. She turned up every week and did her job well.
One week she was admitted to hospital with severe tonsillitis I rang in sick for her and told them she couldn't talk so I was calling on her behalf. They insisted on talking to her which was completley unnessasary. I wrote to HR and the area manager nobody replied!
Dd felt they could treat her badly as someone would easily fill her shoes as teens what the money.

CluedoAddict · 08/08/2018 22:14

Your title is repulsive OP what a horrible phrase.

I would definitely get in touch with the boss. She obviously thinks she won't get pulled up on her behaviour.

TeddyIsaHe · 08/08/2018 22:17

Op teach your daughter to stand up for herself ffs. Hating conflict is code for I’m scared of what someone will say/do. She going to be going to uni and working soon, do you want her to be walked all over because it’s easier to not say anything? She needs to stand up for herself, it’s great that’s she’s worried about the dogs, but the treatment of herself is just awful.

franklymydearidontgivea · 08/08/2018 22:17

I would be worried that they don't have the insurance to cover a 17 year old working there

cdtaylornats · 08/08/2018 22:19

She needs to do as they say, act like an adult and report them to HMRC herself.

FruitCider · 08/08/2018 22:21

No, don't do anything for your DD, guide and advise her to resolve this herself. It's a perfect learning opportunity on how to deal with shit managers... she will come across more in her future no doubt!

BlueSuffragette · 08/08/2018 22:23

Report them to HMRC and RSPCA. Sounds a horrible place.

Jamiefraserskilt · 08/08/2018 22:27

They accepted her revised hours for a day she did not intend to work. The employer then chooses not to pay her for the pre arranged shorter shift? No, unauthorised deduction of wages.
They pay £25 cash in hand for eight hours with no breaks? No, that is, as you have already noted both illegal due to less than minimum wage and against employment law, one hour off every four worked.
She gets complementary comments and then verbally abused for her performance.No. That is bullying in the workplace.
Your daughter needs to learn that none of this is acceptable. This is not how good and lawful employers work.
Playing on her conscientious approach is exactly what This employer is doing.
In your place OP, I would be calmly going in, asking for her wages, asking for the wages that were deducted and handing in her notice. If they refuse to pay, they need to be reminded of how many employment laws are being broken and how the legal action and subsequent publicity will sort their staff situation overnight; they will have no business to staff. This time, mommabear needs to handle this.
Your daughter has the talent and the nouse to see this for what it is but, being the only job out there at the moment, does not want to rock the boat. OP, you need to ask her why she wants to work. To earn money? To gain experience? Is this being delivered?

Kolo · 08/08/2018 22:32

If they aren’t paying min wage or providing wage slips, and withholding earnings, I’d bet my arse they aren’t notifying HMRC and doing payroll through PAYE. They’re not giving legal breaks, nor, I imagine, holiday entitlement.

If this we’re my child, I’d use it as a lesson in knowing your rights, knowing your worth, and standing up for yourself. I’d go in with my child tomorrow to support them in demanding their earned income, at least min wage for every hour worked. I’d explain that if they witheld my child’s earnings for any longer, I’d be reporting them to HMRC. After we’d got the money, I’d still report them to HMRC and RSPCA. I can imagine your daughter would feel a bit horrified a time this prospect, but I’d love her to see how those bullies capitulate to someone who they can’t bully.