Forged notes

[atrimble]

My daughter (16) works in a restaurent part time and inadvertantly took two forged twenty pound notes from a customer. Later the boss took �20 out of her tips for the night to cover the loss, is this fair or even allowed as she is only 16 and forged notes can be very convincing.

[almcd007]

Does she have a contract with them ?

It may say in there that they can do that. Tell her to buy a pen from the post office/all good stationers that you draw on the note to see whether it's legal or not - do this at the table as she takes the money from the customer this way she can't be blamed.

I think it's very harsh if she hasn't done it before and she's only 16yrs old - I would have thought they would have warned her about it first.

[emma0606]

I took a forged �20 note the other day at work and unfortunately these things happen. However, if she had no training on how to detect these from her boss then his actions in my opinion amount to that of theft from your daughter!!

[seatrout]

Thats absolutely outrageous - tell her to look for another job

[Buenchico]

The rules regarding pay are clear: It's illegal for an employer to deduct money from an employee's pay, under such circumstances, unless there is specific provision for this in a written contract of employment, or the employee has otherwise agreed to such an action, in writing, prior to the incident taking place:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/Employment/Employees/ Pay/PayArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10027228&chk= %2BjJLLe

As far as tips are concerned, the law regards these as (taxable) gifts direct from the customers to the staff. In which case, the employer has no more right to take money from these gifts than he has to come to your home and take away one of your daughter's Christmas presents.

Chris