Aibu- management imposing a money jar incase we say specific phrases

[crapcrap]

So during my probation chat today my new manager (who started a few months after me- not sure if that's important or not) told me upper management are imposing a jar (sort of like a swear jar) for if we say phrases such as "how can I help you" or "what are you looking for today?"
She says they're putting it into all of our stores nationwide but I feel uneasy about it.

We work at a beauty retailer who are a huge worldwide chain. The money from the jar will be given to charity rather than in their pockets which makes me feel slightly better about it, however, I am still quiet unhappy about it, especially since she then back tracked and said they're trying to find anyway to get money in the tills.
They are trying to get us to avoid using the phrases as above but the money doesn't come out of our wages but instead the change we have on us at the time of our shift.

I told my manager today that I am literally working pay check to pay check so will not be contributing as I have a small child to feed. She said it's a light hearted incentive to get us to not use those phrases but I feel it's quite intrusive. I was also told we have no choice but to take part - I told her that I wouldn't.

I'm just looking for others opinions on this? Would you be happy to abide by this? Can they actually impose this? Or Am I just being over the top?

Thank you in advance

Yes - if it’s compulsory and forcing this payment takes anyone below minimum wage then the company can be fined and named and shamed in the media.

Watching this thread with interest!!!

Totally agree with everyone - very unreasonable 👍🏻

@sunlight81

Watching this thread with interest!!!

Totally agree with everyone - very unreasonable 👍🏻

I will update tomorrow once I've spoken to my manager again- the other girls don't know about it yet... it seemed as if the other stores are happy to do it so I wasn't sure if I was just over reacting!

I'm very glad others agree with me!

So they will deduct money from you if you say the banned phrases but won’t give you any scope as to what to say instead? Won’t the new phrases soon become banned phrases if they are commonplace? Absolutely ridiculous that they think they can make you pay for this out of your own pocket rather than wages. It’s like a reverse under the table wage!

Since this is a big company they likely have an HR department and an online hub with the policies.

You can probably ask to see the disciplinary procedures and see if any of them mention paying for saying the wrong thing. Usually if you make mistakes at work it is officially managed and recorded to ensure transparency. It wouldn't be that you don't get any feedback or assistance but you lose money.

Oh god is it sallys? I know someone who is an assistant manager there, it sounds shit tbh.
I am in beauty and sometimes shop there this would definitely stop me using them and I would happily tell them why.

Play the stupid wankers at their 'light hearted' game. Write them IOUs. I O U one 'can I help you'. You're joining in with the fun spirit and being an enthusiastic team player. Despite your lack of funds. Being creative. They should give you employee of the month.

Definitely add these phrases to your repertoire:

Heyyy bitches
Hello my loverrrr (Devon accent)
Treat yoself

This is called extortion.

Definitely don't put money in the jars. You will make sales (promotion, bonus) or you won't (you'll be let you). There's nothing in law than enables them to do this.

@MoiraNotRuby

Play the stupid wankers at their 'light hearted' game. Write them IOUs. I O U one 'can I help you'. You're joining in with the fun spirit and being an enthusiastic team player. Despite your lack of funds. Being creative. They should give you employee of the month.

Definitely add these phrases to your repertoire:

Heyyy bitches
Hello my loverrrr (Devon accent)
Treat yoself

Is it weird if I said I loved you?

@Ohmygodyesthatsit

Oh god is it sallys? I know someone who is an assistant manager there, it sounds shit tbh. I am in beauty and sometimes shop there this would definitely stop me using them and I would happily tell them why.

Erm.. I'm not sure if I'd get in trouble if I said you'd be guessing correctly??? So I'll just say... erm I will not confirm or deny it I find it interesting that you're aware of it though

Having had a very quick read I think there are a few issues:

They mentioned the money is for charity. That ought to be written on the jar and elsewhere as an agreement.

Employers can't dock money for mistakes usually. Even for damages it's unclear. It sounds like they're getting around that a bit by making it voluntary?

Who is going to be asking you for this money? It's totally unenforceable. Nobody carries cash anymore and why would you pay for saying a phrase someone doesn't like? (A polite phrase).

It's really unclear, unprofessional, grabby, undermining, cringey, manipulative etc.

If I were you, I would ask for this policy in writing. Explain that you just don't get it and you want to see it clearly laid out. If it isn't in writing, it shouldn't be happening really. Most policies should be easy to reference. I would want to know: is this voluntary? Her answer about just not making a mistake then doesn't clearly answer that. What is the suggested contribution? What if it takes your wages lower than minimum wages? In most circumstances that would be illegal.

I think it'd be fair to say you're not comfortable having your wages docked (which is what this is) unless you've really understood the aims and objectives of the policy.

You could carry some pennies to work and put those in but honestly I think it's not worth being silly over it and better to be professional and clear.

I'd also keep a diary of how it unfolds over next few days and if you really want to piss off your manager you could write a very bland account of the request from her and ask her to sign and date it. It's a bit inflammatory but in lieu of any clear guidelines from them it would be fair enough if they're asking uou to give some wages back, if they acknowledge in writing that's their plan.

That probably won't be necessary though because they probably have a watertight policy on this brilliant idea ;)

Now THAT is a proper legal answer. Thank you!

Some bright spark tried to instigate this in our office years ago.

£1 for every minute you were late, £1 for saying "cheers" or "mate" on a phone call and other such shite.

One member of the team was the enforcer, every time he came round to collect I just simply refused. When he pushed it I offered to go to HR to discuss it with him... Shut him up pretty quickly

Aside from being completely inappropriate for the staff, this sounds like it will be really annoying and uncomfortable for the customers. If someone walks in you are not allowed to say how can I help you? Or if you do then the customer sees you pay into a jar? Super weird! How exactly do they think this will get money into the tills? I'd be telling them to sod off.

Not that it's the main point, but out of interest, what is the actual charity - and do they make the donation of the extorted money as if it were from the company itself, maybe writing it off against their tax bill?

Would the charity be happy to know that low-paid people are forced to donate to them as a punishment for saying very standard retail assistant phrases to customers - and would they be happy for news of this set-up to be made public?

Are any expert MNer Twitter-users willing to do a little digging and raise this online with the company (let's call them 'Sarah's' just to give them a completely random name) and then follow it up with 'Sarah's's' chosen charity?

As if this wasn't absurd and bullying enough already, the company hasn't even told you what they DO want you to say?!?!?!?!

@standupsitdownturnaround

Having had a very quick read I think there are a few issues:

They mentioned the money is for charity. That ought to be written on the jar and elsewhere as an agreement.

Employers can't dock money for mistakes usually. Even for damages it's unclear. It sounds like they're getting around that a bit by making it voluntary?

Who is going to be asking you for this money? It's totally unenforceable. Nobody carries cash anymore and why would you pay for saying a phrase someone doesn't like? (A polite phrase).

It's really unclear, unprofessional, grabby, undermining, cringey, manipulative etc.

If I were you, I would ask for this policy in writing. Explain that you just don't get it and you want to see it clearly laid out. If it isn't in writing, it shouldn't be happening really. Most policies should be easy to reference. I would want to know: is this voluntary? Her answer about just not making a mistake then doesn't clearly answer that. What is the suggested contribution? What if it takes your wages lower than minimum wages? In most circumstances that would be illegal.

I think it'd be fair to say you're not comfortable having your wages docked (which is what this is) unless you've really understood the aims and objectives of the policy.

You could carry some pennies to work and put those in but honestly I think it's not worth being silly over it and better to be professional and clear.

I'd also keep a diary of how it unfolds over next few days and if you really want to piss off your manager you could write a very bland account of the request from her and ask her to sign and date it. It's a bit inflammatory but in lieu of any clear guidelines from them it would be fair enough if they're asking uou to give some wages back, if they acknowledge in writing that's their plan.

That probably won't be necessary though because they probably have a watertight policy on this brilliant idea ;)

Wow that's amazing! Thank you! I will be copying this and making a note so I can real it off to her tomorrow! A million times thank you

I don’t understand, so I doubt you do either. “Do your job right and we wouldn’t need the jar.” Well, they’re not giving you alternative phrases so how can those phrases (“How can I help you,” etc.) be wrong. It’s not just that this is illegal; it’s also totally fucking illogical. There’s actually nothing THAT crazy about posters who have recommended things such as, “Hey loverrr,” or “Whadda ya want ya punter,” as the company which cannot be named have given you no alternatives… so you’ve found your own and avoided THE JAR. I mean, you found a solution, so that makes you a “self-starter,” right? Companies always love those . You should get a wage increase, if anything!

@Flamglimglubberty

Some bright spark tried to instigate this in our office years ago.

£1 for every minute you were late, £1 for saying "cheers" or "mate" on a phone call and other such shite.

One member of the team was the enforcer, every time he came round to collect I just simply refused. When he pushed it I offered to go to HR to discuss it with him... Shut him up pretty quickly

Why did anyone indulge the little prick at all?!

Sales staff are never supposed to ask a customer a question to which the answer is 'no' - such as "Can I help you?". Which is why "How can I help you?" is such a useful thing for salespeople to say.

All the more baffling then, that they want you to stop saying that, but are not training you in what to say instead.

What were they thinking - this is such a stupid idea.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Not that it's the main point, but out of interest, what is the actual charity - and do they make the donation of the extorted money as if it were from the company itself, maybe writing it off against their tax bill?

Would the charity be happy to know that low-paid people are forced to donate to them as a punishment for saying very standard retail assistant phrases to customers - and would they be happy for news of this set-up to be made public?

Are any expert MNer Twitter-users willing to do a little digging and raise this online with the company (let's call them 'Sarah's' just to give them a completely random name) and then follow it up with 'Sarah's's' chosen charity?

As if this wasn't absurd and bullying enough already, the company hasn't even told you what they DO want you to say?!?!?!?!

The charity is the princes trust I believe.. I am all for charity and will often donate when I can, but it's just not sitting right that my workplace are trying to force this "fun" on us

So what if a customer actually approaches you and says "Could you help me, please?" or "Excuse me, but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for" - do you have to stand there looking like a helpless Zippy rather than responding as a normal person would to those questions with the verboten phrases, or maybe just tell them "It'll cost you!!" ?

If asked at time ‘ sorry I have no spare cash; I can’t afford it. They will run in to legal difficulties if they try to deduct at source .....
Sounds like bright spark idea from person with little grasp of employment law in UK

@ahoyshipmates

Sales staff are never supposed to ask a customer a question to which the answer is 'no' - such as "Can I help you?". Which is why "How can I help you?" is such a useful thing for salespeople to say.

All the more baffling then, that they want you to stop saying that, but are not training you in what to say instead.

The funny thing is- is that our shop isn't easily accessible so if customers are coming in 99.9% of the time they are going to buy something as we're so out of the way. We're not a shop to just nip in and browse around so if we do ask any questions usually the customers know exactly what they want and sometimes only need direction with newer products etc.

Google gov.uk deductions from pay - sorry, I can’t link.