wage deductions

[lordster]

I currently work in a hotel bar, and have recently been handed a letter by my employer stating that they will deduct money from my wages if the till is short at the end of the day. Sometimes, there is more than one member of staff using the same till at the same time. Can they legally do this? Do they have to prove that it is my fault the till is short before deducting money from me. They say (my employers) that they will take an equal amount off each member of staff that has used the till. I have never signed a contract which states they can do this. Why should i have to pay for someone else's error.

[tubeway]

Do you get to keep the money if the till is over?

[plowter]

Unfortunately they can do this in the retail trade if it's due to 'shortfall from a cash or stock shortage'. If you've got individual sign-on codes to the tills then it would seem reasonable that the employer deducts money only from those who used the till. You could then try to argue that it was an unlawful deduction from your wages.

There is a restriction that means that 'the employer is not allowed to take more than 10 per cent of your gross wages from your take-home pay on any individual payday'.

See the ACAS website Protection from unauthorised deductions.

Or contact the ACAS helpline 08457 47 47 47.