Can a shop make you put money in the till?

[1stlifeline]

Just out of interest, I work a few hours ina local shop. There are 8 staff. When your till os balanced at the end of your shift, if there is a shortfall you have to put the money in. (If the till is up you cant take it out!!!!)

This cost one of the girls ten pounds yesterday, she had obviously given the wrong change to someone.

Later while I was talking to someone I was told that the shop cannot legally take the cash from her but dont know of this is correct or not.

Does anyone know please?

[barracad]

I think I've read before that they can make you pay it back, but they are only allowed to take a certain amount from you (e.g. 10% of your wages) and if the amount is higher they have to take it in installments.

 

I'm moving this thread to the employment section so that somebody who knows for sure can answer you.

[1stlifeline]

Thank you Barracad

[elche]

BERR have the answer, and I have no more time than to copy some info from them for you.

 

Circumstances in which deductions are lawful

One of three conditions has to be met for an employer lawfully to make deductions from a worker's wages or to receive payments from a worker. These are that the deduction or payment is:

 

required or authorised by legislation (for example income tax or national insurance contributions); or

authorised by the worker's contract - provided that the worker has been given a written copy of the relevant terms or a written explanation of them before it is made; or

agreed to in writing by the worker before it is made.

 

So have you signed a document or anything allowing this?

 

If not then:

 

It is unlawful for an employer to deduct more than 10 per cent from the gross amount of any payment of wages to a retail worker if the deduction is made because of shortages or deficiencies. Accordingly, where deductions can be made from a retail worker's wage to pay for shortages or stock deficiencies (see above), the sums owed may be recovered in instalments of no more than 10 per cent of the worker's gross wages.

 

Read the rest here: Contracts of employment: changes, breach of contract and deductions from wages - BERR

 

Che

[1stlifeline]

Thank you very much for that info. I will print it and take it into work for her.

[Zamzara]

Just to clarify elche, the worker must agree to the deduction before any deduction can be made. In addition, even if there is agreement, for a shop worker the maximum deduction is 10%.

 

Requiring payment from the worker also counts as a deduction.