unpaid meetings

[FourRustedHorses]

posting here purely for traffic.

a relative is currently paid an hourly rate. Contracted for a specific set of hours and shifts, same every single week.

They are required to attend work meetings usually these are on days off and they are unpaid. They can last for a minimum of 2 hours in the early evenings, not sure if time is relevant but adding for clarity, and all staff are required to attend regardless of whether its their day off or not. It is in the contract.

Attending the meetings isn't the problem its to be expected as they are part of the job. Not being paid for them is the problem.

No staff are paid for these AFAIK and most staff are hourly wage not salaried. They are mandatory in the contract. AIBU to expect the meetings to be paid at the standard hourly rate? and is there anything that can be done about this expected but unpaid work?

If their pay when divided by the total hours worked (extra meeting hours + standard weekly hours) falls below minimum wage then tgatnus illegal.

That is not thagtnus

I have same problem we have staff meeting monthly that we don't get paid for I'm 0 hours contract though

You still need to be paid national minimum wage/national living wage (what used to be known as national minimum wage) even if it's just a work meeting. Doesn't matter if you are 0 hours contract.

If you have to buy a pair of black trousers for a work uniform the cost of that is taken into account for that week/shift when calculating if you've been paid enough. Also if you've had to queue to go through bag search on the way out.

HMRC are really hot on naming and shaming employers and ensuring underpayments are corrected. Not sure if you could raise that anonymously or whether you'd have to raise it individually (anonymous complaint might trigger an investigation/check on the employer).

There are lots of reports in the press on this and ACAS may be able to help you if you ring them for advice. Just make sure if you search for them on google you really are contacting ACAS as the first few entries are often paid for by other businesses

relative has been told by owners

'if you dont like it, leave' with regards to paid meetings.

the job is new, if my relative kicks up a fuss they are out of work.

this is why I'm asking if theres anything that can be done.

Relative had to buy their own uniform.

It looks like I may have to give ACAS a call lizzyb

It's not legal. If the organisation requires them to attend and it's in the contract, then it's work and it should be paid for.

They should contact ACAS to get it confirmed that this is the case. They can then raise it with their employer to organise that they get paid.

Enquiries to ACAS are free and confidential. www.acas.org.uk/