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Original poster

To make daughter face her bosses on her own

286 replies

krustykittens · 23/05/2019 00:27

I'll try to be brief! My teenage DD approached a family-run restaurant that was looking for waiting staff and was told that she should come in for an unpaid trial and they would let her know. She did, they called her after and offered her a shift, she turned up for it and was told after three hours, when the rush was over, "Oh, this is another trial, unpaid, you can go home now." She wasn't happy but was desperate to land her first job, so when they offered her another shift, which she confirmed would be paid, she went in and again was told to go home after a couple of hours as the boss's son had turned up and wanted to work. Hmm Then, for three weeks, they didn't call her in for another shift, just kept telling her they had no work. A friend told her of a job going at a place she was working in and she got it, did three shifts last weekend. The old place owe her 20 pounds and didn't pay it into her account, instead they told her to come into work tomorrow (an hours journey by public transport) to pick it up and have a meeting with them. They have a track record for being unpleasant as bosses, which she knew before she applied for the job, but she said she would ignore it if it meant getting her first job. Now she is scared they are going to get nasty with her and wants me to come with her. They haven't a bloody leg to stand on with her as far as I am concerned and I think she should just go in and face them and tell them, calmly, that yes, after being left high and dry by them and treated fairly shabbily, she has found another job. She has to learn to be an adult and do things without me at her side. But she is worried sick about tomorrow - should I offer to stand outside the restaurant and go in if she calls me on the mobile to back her up? She is only a kid and these people love to power trip, which is why they are demanding she do a 2 hour round trip for twenty bloody quid! I'll be honest, part of me wants to walk in like Clint Eastwood and demand her money on her behalf! I am driving her in partially because I can do some shopping in the town, partially because I don't want to give these arse holes the satisfaction of wasting her whole morning when she is meant to be revising for exams!

OP posts:
Lexilooo · 23/05/2019 08:04

Fuck traipsing down there at their request! They aren't doing her a favour!

Phone them and email them and tell them they need to pay her for ALL hours worked to date. Itemise the hours she has worked and total up how much they owe at the appropriate minimum wage rate. Tell them that it should be paid by BACS with a payslip sent by post or email within 7 days or you will take enforcement action.

Make sure you have a paper trail of emails with delivery and read receipts. Send a copy by post to be sure. After the 7 days phone or go in and get more assertive point out that they have failed to pay what is owed and that if they don't pay immediately (cash cheque or BACS) you will report them, take legal action, and trash their reputation on social media.

Make sure you report to National Minimum Wage enforcement and trading standards. The local authority might be interested in any health and safety/food hygiene issues too.

LettuceP · 23/05/2019 08:13

Is it a chain?

Pardonwhat · 23/05/2019 08:17

I’d wipe the floor with them.
They’re taking the piss out of her.
Go today, depend money plus tips and lost wages for the other shifts. As others have said - throw in some good words such as ‘child exploitation’ and ‘bullying’.
Absolutely don’t make her go alone. I’m really cross for you.

lyralalala · 23/05/2019 08:23

I’d work out how many hours she worked in total, calculate what she’s actually owed and then go in with her and demand they pay her properly.

I’m all for kids standing on their own two feet but even adults with years of experience take a colleague or union rep with them for things.

This happened to my DS when he was 15 in a shop and I waited until it was a busy time before we went in. He did all the talking, but knew he had me go back him up. The owner tried to bluster out of it, but I said we’d come back at his busy time every day so he paid up. We then reported him to various places for various different things (his shop was a death trap as well as him being a con man).

It’s hard enough for teens to get jobs now without these scams.

Also please make sure your DD knows this isn’t her fault. Scams like this are commonplace, and are pretty much copying the scam of the companies who repeatedly take on people on job seekers allowance for 6 months as part as the government scam scheme. It’s not her fault at all.

Mistigri · 23/05/2019 08:24

Tell her to write to them asking politely for her money and that otherwise she will be contacting HMRC.

Lots legally wrong in this, including being paid below minimum wage.

EleanorReally · 23/05/2019 08:24

Costa coffee treated my ds like this. three Trial shifts
i contacted them and they sent him a cheque
A pub also exploited my dd for a Trial Shift

Sicario · 23/05/2019 08:25

There's nothing in the world scarier than an angry mama bear. WISH we could all be there to witness the moment when you take these bastards down.

Thesearmsofmine · 23/05/2019 08:26

So glad you’re going with her, I’ve heard this type of thing before and they shouldn’t be able to get out of paying her.

Beansandcoffee · 23/05/2019 08:30

I would be posting on Trip Adviser as to how they treat their staff.

Flippedout · 23/05/2019 08:35

Tell her to get her money back .

You go and wait with her .

This is disgusting behaviour and I think I would wait outside and go in with her if she asks / needs you to.

And I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of not having to pay her .

In fact I would ask them for a small amount of additional money for the inconvenience of her having to go back there .

bibbitybobbityyhat · 23/05/2019 08:36

They shouldn't just be paying her for the hours she worked - they should be paying her for 2 full shifts. It was their choice to send her home early. This sort of casual exploitation of young inexperienced people makes my blood boil. Do everything you can to get her money out of them (you've got her back haven't you?).

Grumpymug · 23/05/2019 08:38

I would be posting on Trip Adviser as to how they treat their staff.

I definitely would, however be prepared for the company to get TA to take it down, that can happen in certain circumstances, I'm not sure what the criteria is but I do know that it can happen. Word of mouth can be a wonderful thing for a business that does things right, and a terrible thing for a business that does things wrong.

thethethethethe · 23/05/2019 08:42

Just do it in writing. No need for a meeting. They are the ones who owe her.

RestingBitchFaced · 23/05/2019 08:48

Agree with PP about leaving trip advisor review. Glad your going with her OP, they sound awful

MrsBosh · 23/05/2019 08:51

I just can't fathom how people don't feel bad for doing this. How would they feel if it was their teen being exploited?!

Good on her being so keen to work. The other job sounds better. She owes job one nothing.

Good luck, and you sound so supportive Smile

Genevieva · 23/05/2019 08:55

I would help her and go and see them.

Unpaid trials offered under false pretences are not acceptable. Work out what the total bill would be if she was paid for all three shifts. Tell them to pay up or you will take them to a small claims court and ensure that their behaviour is plastered all over the local newspaper.

insecure123 · 23/05/2019 09:01

crazy that this goes on! Let us know how you get on sortiing it! x

Whatevermission · 23/05/2019 09:02

Good luck. If the meeting doesn't go well and you want to invoke the wrath of MN, just let us know

Qweenbee · 23/05/2019 09:05

I came on ready to say she needs to speak to them herself, but this isn't a normal work situation. This is standing up to bullies and it's best you model how to, so that she can learn how to handle anything similar in the future.

Comefromaway · 23/05/2019 09:09

I would support your daughter. Experienced, employed adults are allowed to ahve a work colleague or union rep in with them for support in disputes so the least your young dd can have is her mum.

DistanceCall · 23/05/2019 09:10

This is not a normal work situation. This is abuse of young people who are too innocent to stand up for themselves.

Go in there and wipe the floor with their arses, OP.

DarkAtEndOfTunnel · 23/05/2019 09:10

Not only would I go in with her I'd threaten to sue. Op you said you were self-employed, perhaps you don't appreciate what the world is like now for youngsters. These kind of employment experiences are all too common. Everything is now being used as a bludgeon by people who have power against those who have none. Everyone still in the employment market, trying to make an honest living in a dishonest world, deserved support.

Ghostontoast · 23/05/2019 09:13

...and when the pay has been squeezed out of them tell everyone - trip advisor, local Facebook pages, all her mates and parents, trading standards - everyone so that people know what shits they are!

Also if any teens working there when you go tell them loudly to get their cash off them before they leave!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 23/05/2019 09:15

Go full Mama Bear on them. An appalling way to treat your daughter. Well, an appalling way to treat anyone, let alone a teenager just trying to find a job.

Let us know the outcome!

mumwon · 23/05/2019 09:17

report them to HMRC I bet they are doing this to others - the HMRC will want to chase this up & will do it on your daughters behalf