DD has just turned 16 and has been desperate to get a little part time job. The local store in the next village was advertising for casual staff so she sent a lovely, polite message and the owner sent her an equally lovely message asking her to pop and see her.
As DD was very unsure and young I went along with her. The owner was lovely, very smiley and friendly and assured me that DD would be treated well, not expected to carry heavy items and could work as many hours as she felt comfortable with bearing in mind she has her GCSEs coming up.
All great you would think, DD went to work the following morning and worked 9-3. I picked her up and she was nearly in tears. She’d not been given a break at all, hadn’t even had a drink of water. She’d been expected to carry shelving, clean, mop, sweep, stack shelves, full freezers etc and if she stopped for a minute the owner told her off.
She got paid £25 cash in hand which didn’t quite work out at the 4.20 an hour she’d been promised. I was torn between telling her not to go back but at the same time I felt she needed to give it a little longer and see if she’d settle in.
She was asked to work 2 hours a few days later and again It was the same heavy, donkey work. She wasn’t paid.
DD didn’t hear anything else until 2 weeks later when she got a text asking her to work 4.5 hours, 2 evenings. Bear in mind the texts are short and sharp ‘can you work’ and that’s all, no hello, please or thank you etc. The owners manner has changed dramatically since I met her but I said to DD just ignore that - take the hours you want etc.
DD went to work, same sort of cleaning, stacking etc. Fine it’s shop work, so that’s to be expected.
DD is now owed 2 evenings, plus the 2 hours from 2 weeks before,. Yesterday came and went - no pay. Owner text last night to ask if DD could work this evening, yes said DD but please can you confirm that I’ll be paid tomorrow for the hours I’m owed. No reply from owner.
DD has gone to work this evening and text me within 10 minutes of being there - the owner went up to her and said ‘I don’t like people asking about wages - don’t do it again’ and pointed her finger in her face!!
I went to go over and confront the owner and pick up DD whilst ensuring she was paid every penny she is owed but DD doesn’t want to cause a scene and would rather finish her shift tonight then quit tomorrow.
If DD doesn’t not get paid the correct amount how can I go about making sure she is paid? She has not been officially taken on I don’t think and it’s all cash in hand. I’m so bloody annoyed but want to keep my cool. It’s a small village and she’s the type to bad mouth people I think (she puts everything on the shop FB page).
I’m not great at saying the right thing but I want to go over an make sure DD gets paid and make sure the owner knows she’s an appalling employer. I’d love some advice please?