My husband's team have been working stupid hours recently due to serious understaffing problems. They're meant to get overtime for this - they are working with an absolute skeleton, and it's a busy time of year.
This week some of his staff were told by a little Hitler at payroll that they will only be getting the standard rate for all hours worked, because they failed to tick the box on their timesheets for overtime and they aren't allowed to claim the extra money owed later. It doesn't actually affect DH, but he is pretty cross on their behalf and wanted to know the legal position before he made a big fuss about it for them.
The stress and hassle of the staff shortage is such that the bonus cash is not much compensation anyway. All in all, it seems to take the piss. They've worked the hours and advised payroll of their mistake - can they really suffer a salary deduction if they make a minor admin error?
I should add that the box they need to tick is an irrelevance - the number of hours worked apparently makes it blatantly obvious that they're entitled. But the payroll people are saying it makes their lives easier if people tick and it's not their job to check hours worked against overtime entitlement. My husband's attitude is that that is indeed their job, and the clue to this is in the word "payroll". Is he right in thinking this is an unlawful salary deduction?
Thanks in advance.