Is DS17s employer unreasonable to take the cost of his driving lessons out of his pay?

[Kyffin]

As above really.

DS17 had a job. His employer contributed £250 towards the cost of his driving lessons. DS has left the job due to being bullied by one manager and being bored due to the lack of work. He was stood about trying to look busy.

Big boss man has come back off holiday on DS's last day and told DS that he will take the £250 out of his wages.

There is nothing related to the contribution towards driving lessons in his contract.

Is he allowed to do this? I mean I guess he can do what he likes but can we seek legal advice? Is there a point?

Thanks for reading.

This

And it won’t cost more to pursue an unlawful deduction claim, you can do it for free.

OP says there is nothing about it in his contract.

We had someone come and work for us whose previous employer was threatening to deduct the cost of some training from his final payslip.

I helped him write a formal letter to them pointing out that it would be unlawful & they backed down.

If there's nothing in writing then I think it's unlikely it's legal, pay deductions are quite carefully regulated. But call ACAS for more qualified advice.

Its common when an employer provides training or education that he has to be paid back if you don't remain with the employer for long enough afterwards.

Yes it is common but it HAS to be agreed in writing prior to the payments being made.

Don't be ridiculous. The only thing that matters here is the legal position.

Whilst there's no moral obligation (you could argue that the lessons were of benefit to the employer, especially if they took place during work time) I suspect that PPs are right that there's some stipulation in his contract about length of service.

Everyone saying "keep all the money" and then wondering why no one employs young people anymore

I think its fair if you don’t stay in the job, to take that back. It’s pretty standard.

Try ACAS.

Very normal, what they paid for hadn’t benefited the company.