Is this a minimum wage issue?

[werkwerk]

Minimum wage job working in a restaurant. I have to get changed into my work clothes at work as I'm not allowed to travel in them. We have to clock in after we get changed.

There is only one changing room.

I always arrive 15 minutes before my shift starts to get changed which is frustrating as the managers are allowed to travel in their work clothes and show up seconds before their shift starts.

Often the changing room is occupied so I'm faced with then technically being late and being docked even though I arrived 15 minutes early or having to show up earlier and earlier to guarantee getting into the changing room in time.

I used to work in retail where we were told we had to show up 10 minutes prior to the start of our shift for a briefing. This was then deemed to breach minimum wage rules -back pay was issued and the practice was stopped.

Does this changing issue come under the same rules because my only other solution is to get the earlier bus and then arriving 45 minutes before the start of my shift just to get changed

Have you spoken to your employers about this?

If time spent changing takes you below minimum wage then they are in breach

Is there a bathroom you could quickly use the change in?

*to change in

Could you travel to work with a baggy tracksuit over your uniform and simply take it off? Non min wage jobs have rules about traveling in work uniform for hygiene reasons. Like nursing etc. But your employer should provide reasonable facilities to change in.

We aren't supposed to wear uniform under other clothes -people have been warned when it's been noticed that they've come in with their work shirt under a hoody
I also don't fancy sweating to death on the bus in 2 pairs of trousers

There is also only one toilet so not really practical for getting changed. Some of the men get changed in the staff room while others are eating which is a bit grim

I understand that professions such as nurses change on site but there is a double standard here as managers can travel in work clothes, staff can't -yet we stand next to each other or in the same areas so can't be a hygiene issue.

I haven't spoken to the manager about it as I'm on a zero hour contract so incredibly easy for them to cut my hours to nothing -so I don't want to rock the boat