To take a cash in hand job?

[thenewduchessoflapland]

Help!

I'm unsure of what to do here in this scenario.I had to leave my last job 3 years ago due to a combination of childcare issues and Ill health.

I've been doing a little bit of self employed work at home but I've been desperate to get back outside of the house for work;I suffer with depression and being stuck at home makes it worse.

Finding something that fits in with my life/childcare issues and isn't going to be stressful hasn't been easy.

I've interviewed today for a part time job that's perfect for me;the hours are 12 per week with 3 short evening shifts,in an industry I have experience in,it's very local,the place of work is lovely and the staff seem really nice,I can see myself fitting in nicely there if offered the job.

I was the last person interviewed today and the manager told me that so far I had been the best candidate and she thinks I'll most likely be offered the job.I'll hear by Friday.

But here's the issue;at the interview I was told it's cash in hand work;I've asked what about tax etc and the manager said that's up to me to sort especially as I'm self employed;it's not a self employed role though.It makes me abit uncomfortable;as far as I know if I'm not officially on payroll there then I'm not covered by their public liability insurance.

If offered do I turn it down?;I should shouldn't I?

It’s not self employed unless HMRC says so, not the company
Do you fit the SE criteria? Without too many details can you say what the job is?
Unfortunately it sounds like the employer is just dodging their legal responsibility but if you dint take the job someone else probably will

They sound like dodgy fuckers, I would find something else.

I wouldn't want to work for an organisation who refused to take me on the payroll for what is clearly not a self-employed job.

@Hoppinggreen

It’s not self employed unless HMRC says so, not the company Do you fit the SE criteria? Without too many details can you say what the job is? Unfortunately it sounds like the employer is just dodging their legal responsibility but if you dint take the job someone else probably will

It's in a catering venue.

Very very unlikely to be SE.
Dodgy feckers

You can do a check for employment status here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax

It will probably conclude you need to be on the payroll.

OP you realise that it's not just insurance.

There's no paid holiday, no paid sick leave, no full maternity rights, no redundancy, nothing. Also you're not making national insurance contributions which can affect future entitlements.

Run a mile unless an extreme level of flexibility suits you.

I've been looking into casual workers for a role that might crop up seasonally and sporadically in my (currently) very small business and it can be done on a cash basis under certain circumstances - You'd need to do a tax return to declare it.

If you are working a contracted number of hours and regular shifts, then this is employment. I hate things that aren't above board and this type of dodgy faux-employment benefits them, by disadvantaging the employees.

@Gladioli23

You can do a check for employment status here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax

It will probably conclude you need to be on the payroll.

Yes that's true but it's not as though that's in her hands. If the employer is dodgy (as it clearly is) they simply won't offer the job if she insists. And while she could take them to task on it / report them it doesn't help her in the short term!

Are they legally allowed to do that?

@headintheproverbial

No but at least she'd be going into the role with her eyes wide open knowing she's working for a company that doesn't want to pay employee tax and national insurance, sick pay, holiday or pension contributions and can then work out what the hourly rate they are offering really means when you have taken that into account.

Better to make a decision with the full information.

It's annoying isn't it?;if it wasn't for the cash in hand thing I wouldn't think twice.

I had an experience a couple of years ago when I was in my old job when I interviewed for another company for a role for terms that were brilliant or so it seemed;more hours than my then current job,mon-fri 9:30-2;30 instead of evenings and weekends like my other job;it was on the same bus route as my kids school and I was told that after my probationary period I could WFH during the school holidays which was just such a juicy carrot to be dangled.

I was offered said rôle,accepted it and was then sent the contract and my heart sank.In the contract if I left before my probation was up I'd have to pay them 1K or a month's salary whichever was greater,I'd have to work full time hours during busy periods (that wouldn't have been feasible except every now and then) and then the kicker;the salary was lower than mentioned,significantly lower than my current per hour rate of pay and was minimum wage which was an insult to someone with my experience in that industry.I could have potentially started then been forced to work full time every week and not be able to leave without then ending up in debt to the tune of 1K.As you can imagine I turned it down.