My 18 year old hasn't been paid for her summer job.

[Espana12]

DD turned 18 in July and has been working for 1-2 days a week in August for a local business. It's a kids holiday workshop business with a shop front on the high street and it's been there for around 10 years.

DD worked all the days/hours asked (4-5 hour shifts per day - no lunch break, twice a week) was 5 minutes late on 2 occasions but otherwise very good at her job. She has worked with children before and enjoys it.

The business owner interviewed DD in May and offered her summer work there and then. The details (salary, hours) were worked out over text in July.

The owner told her she pays wages at month end, but it's now several days over and despite a couple of text messages, DD hasn't received anything (nor a reply to her texts). What would you do? I'm inclined to let DD handle this herself initially but feel DH and I may need to support. The outstanding wages are around £650.

Text is writing

Phone them tomorrow. If they don’t pick up phone from your phone.
If they don’t pick up then I’d go in yourself next week and ask what’s going on infront of the the customers.

She can also text to say if the money isn’t in her bank within 24 hours she’ll be contacting Ava’s and HMRC and then going via small claims.

Please dont threaten to report, and then not follow through, even if DD is eventually paid. And I hope she is. There is no way this business is legit. Tax authorities, LA, parents and other prospective job applicants need to know.

It’s not modern slavery, it’s labour exploitation, huge difference as you should know by the penalty. Modern slavery is control of movement, debt bondage, removing documents. Labour exploitation is not paying NMW, holiday pay, lack of contracts, fraud by deception etc.

My son was about 16 when he had the same issue, as a pot wash in a local pub. In the end my partner (his stepdad) went in and politely brought this up in the busy bar with the landlord, in front of customers. Funnily enough he got my son's wages in cash there and then! My son quite the job the next day.

No - use an Employment Tribunal it's cheaper and very effective at ordering wages to.be paid, and enforceable.

Doesn't the Employment Tribunal have at least an 18-month waiting list?

Did your DD have a DBS? If she didn't they could be in huge safeguarding trouble. It may be something to hold over their heads.

Go there with your DD and demand her back pay. I would speak calmly but clearly and I would become increasingly loud if she prevaricates. Personally I’d tell her that it won’t go well for her business if she doesn’t hand over money/transfer it there and then.

I read a post on a thread a while ago where, if I remember correctly, a DM phoned up, said she would be calling in at reception and the money had better be there, and when they arrived, it was. Don’t wait any longer - she is hoping your DD will drop it.

Not necessarily unless dd was left on her own, unsupervised, with children. DBS is good practice rather than mandatory if not.

@Espana12 your dd needs to send a formal letter, outlining hours worked and the text agreement. Was it nmw, if so does this breach the regulations around that as well as HMRC for tax and ni. She should be paid for any untaken accrued leave too.

Call ACAS. They can advise and provide Early Conciliation.

Report them HMRC regardless of whether she'll get paid or not. Bet they won't have paid her taxes even if they're deducted.