Is my teen DS's boss acting illegally?

[whoseafraidofnaomiwolf]

Teenage DS(16) works on a zero hours contract for £4hr with a local employer/ trader. DS recently - unknowingly -accepted a fake £50 note (he used the check pen provided, but nothing flagged amiss), but he didn't double check the note with his boss. His Boss called him when he discovered the fake, and has asked that my DS pay back the money in full, or work it off. This seems very harsh indeed for an employee with no contract on such a low wage. My DS doesn't recall being told he had to check £50's with his boss, but the boss says he told him back when he was first employed. According to my son there is no proof either way - it's his word against his boss. I would like to know if he can legally do this? Any advice/ experiences gratefully received.

Minimum wage only applies from June after 16th birthday or thereabouts. Its shit but I font think the tightarse is breaking the NMW laws.

I'd just tell him to leave tbh.

Gutted he's already paid back £40!! This sounds really wrong and makes me so angry. Where does he work?

surreygirl1987 Without being too outing, it's a popular shop on our local high st. Comefromaway I'm not actually certain they have a license in place. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't - they always pay him cash in hand, and are always telling him that he is lucky to have the job because the employer could snap his fingers and have 10 other people. He started the conversation with my son by saying "don't worry, you still have your job" before blackmailing him into paying him £50 to - in effect - keep his job. I'm so angry, but I have to tread carefully as it's my son's job not mine.

I'd tell the manager he should snap his fingers and get the 10 other people fast. It's not worth hanging around a manager with suchildren a poor attitude when there is no contract/ zero hours then there is no insurance either.

Poor kid, being taken advantage of like that. The manager is probably too scared to go through the proper cash difference procedure because it will come to light that he hasn't given proper training in cash handling.

Please encourage your son to tell this bully to shove his rubbish job up his arse.

Is it a chain? Any chance this can be reported higher up the chain? If it is an independent store I don't know how that would work but SURELY there's somewhere to report this to? I hate that managers are allowed to take advantage of youngsters like this!

Could you ring ACAS for advice? I had to ring them before about an issue at my workplace and they were super. They have no actual power, but they can tell you the law and give you advice on what your son should do.

If you could afford to, I'd offer your son a small pay-off (two weeks wages?) to stick it to your boss. Your son doesn't need to be hanging around people like that. Plus I'd be concerned that if he doesn't stand up for himself now, he might think that this sort of treatment from management is acceptable and put up with it later on in his career.

(Sorry about the series of messages!)

I’d be nipping in for a very loud chat at whatever is the busiest bit of the week