Docking Wages.

[thejudderman]

Can someone tell me if it's legal to dock wages without notification?

[Jackdaw33]

yes

[thejudderman]

And you're 100% sure of that are you jackdaw??

[Zacs-Master]

I think you’ll have to provide more info on the circs for anyone to give a more meaningful answer, judd.

[thejudderman]

Ok.... over the last 3 months I have taken 2 hours off every 2 weeks for doctors apps and one say for a hospital app..... nothing was said until this week's wages were docked 2 days money....
I thought i had to be given notice and even then only 10% of my wage deducted at most at a time.

[Zacs-Master]

We’re the absences of leave arranged with management?

[ubasses]

It will depend on what is written in your contract. If I remember correctly only statutory deductions such as tax and NI, or overpaid wages and if you have been on strike can be made.

[Peter Pedant]

um - these arent wages docked
( ubasses is abso deffo correct )
but you're not being paid for hours not worked - which is kinda different

that would depend on your contract
and I think the best thing is .... visit the CAB with your contract - you may have lost it and you can ask your employer for one

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/time-off-work-overview/

oh dear - line 2 - you may not be paid .....

[Buenchico]

Quote:
"Your employer isn’t allowed to make deductions unless

- it’s required or allowed by law, eg National Insurance, income tax or student loan repayments

- you agree in writing

- your contract says they can

- there’s a statutory payment due to a public authority

- you haven’t worked due to taking part in a strike or industrial action

- there’s been an earlier overpayment of wages or expenses

- it’s a result of a court order"

Source:
https://www.gov.uk/understanding-your-pay/deductions-from-your-pay

[Jackdaw33]

But this is not really a case of docking wages, it is simply not being paid for hours not worked.

[fiction-factory]

I'm not sure of the legal wording but I think "if you agree in writing " would include unauthorised absence or a request for leave where the form on which you request says something like "at the discretion of the employer". a parallel for me was when i requested time off to attend a funeral for someone who fell outside the agree family member listings and sure enough I wasn't paid for that half day

[fiction-factory]

Yes, not really docking of wages unless you were assured you would be paid for these absences. I would ask at work- maybe it was a simple error and you get the money back. Or maybe they will explain why you were not paid.

[Peter Pedant]

// But this is not really a case of docking wages, it is simply not being paid for hours not worked.//

yup this thread is a good example of not reading the data and giving advice that applies to something else

my ref says you may not be paid for taking time off for a doctors appt
this is NOT docking wages - which is unlawful
docking is where you have a gross wage and a deduction showing that you didnt authorise - ( I had telephone calls docked at one point and gave an angry reply)

docking also counts where you are agreed at £8/h and he pays you £5 suddenly. (also my employer EAT Bent and others v CMFT)