can my employer dock 15 minutes pay from my wages for being 1 minute late in the uk?

Answer 1

There is no legislation covering this.

It is all down to your contract of employment.

Answer 2

Sorry, I don't know about the UK per se, but in Canada (or at least Manitoba) yes. Pay here is based on 15 minute increments and are rounded down, not up.

In fact here, if the 15 minute dock reduces the amount of time such that you are not entitled to a 15 minute coffee break and you take one anyway, they do not have to pay you for that either, so essentialy 1 minute could cost you 30 minutes.

Answer 3

If your employer docks you 15 minutes pay for turning up late, you have the right to complain and start work 14 minutes later as most of us used to do on a regular basis as who is your employer and what right have they to have free labour out of you?

To do that simply make your excuses and go to the toilet at some point in the day, if the *ss tries to dock you more money you have a case against your employer for being unfair and interfering with your wages which is illegal and employers like one of mine I took to court ended up paying me £1,479 in damages for docking my wages.

They never did it again after that.

Answer 4

Technically he can't. These are illegal deductions. The categories of money he can keep are
1. Money he must take by law, tax, NI etc
2. deductions allowed in contract of employment.
3. a deduction agreed with the employee.

Outwith these categories if money has genuinely been overpaid he can reclaim it, if you took part in industrial action
he can deduct the wages due and if there is a court order he must apply it.

Everything else is classed as an illegal deduction. However, if you keep turning up late he may try to sack you. He must go through a disciplinary process and you do have rights, but if you want to keep your job, just turn up on time. Along with rights you have responsibilities.

Answer 5

Yes he can. Get into work on time, or do as one of my colleagues (Ted) did...

...One of the supervisors rollocked him for being late back from lunch one day. Considering that this employee rarely left his desk at lunchtimes and was always on the phone or working through lunch, we considered the supervisor to be really petty.

Ted came into work the next day and at 1pm, promptly left his desk. He sat outside in the sun until bang on the dot of 2pm. He did the same the next day...and the next. The supervisor was running backwards and forwards between phones and little jobs and enquiries and problems...all stuff that Ted did whilst sitting at his desk almost every lunchtime for the love of the job.

Ted did not get docked any money but there are always ways to make sure your company appreciates you. My boss wouldn't dream of docking my wages!

Answer 6

if he does you don't have to work until the full 15 minutes is up,the employer will stand to lose a lot more than you,plus the employer wont like the idea of you sitting around.

Answer 7

One of my bosses did this to me except he said 30 minutes. I picked up my toolbox and walked out. I had the last laugh because I left a Jaguar engine in dozens of pieces and as I was the expert on them nobody else could put it together. I went straight to the towns biggest employer and got another job. the next day the boss was knocking on my door to beg me to go back. My wife had the pleasure of telling him I was at work somewhere else. I wouldn't stand to be messed about especially since I put in many hours extra for free to complete a job.

Answer 8

Yes providing there is a term or condition he or she has the right to do so (which totally sucks) - something like 45% of employers in England work by such a system.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

Yes but you are quite entitled not to start working until you start getting paid. Therefore if you are 1 min late do not start till another 14 mins.

Answer 11

Yes they can. I am in the same situation where I work so I usually get there ten minutes before I have to clock in just to make sure.