Employers often get caught out by thinking that just because an employee owes them money they can simply take it off the next pay package. The law on protection of wages is not as straight forward as many employers might assume. Elizabeth Bartle, employment law expert with Ingram Winter Green in London, goes through common pitfalls and how to ensure that you do not end up having to pay back the money to the employer and also be prevented from recovering that money later.
Basic principles
The starting point is that you cannot pay a worker less than they are entitled to, other than in specific circumstances. These circumstances arise if you deduct money where:
- the law requires it, for example income tax or an attachment of earnings order for maintenance payments;
- the contract allows it, for instance paying a proportion of training costs if the employee leaves shortly after completing the training;
- the worker agrees in writing before the deduction is made; or
- it is to correct an earlier overpayment, such as arising from a computation error.
Otherwise, the deduction is likely to be unlawful and the employee can make an application to the employment tribunal for an order that the employer to repay the sum wrongly deducted.
Deductions from wages claims can prove costly.
Furthermore, once an employment tribunal has made such an order, the employer cannot attempt to recover that money later in another way, for example by bringing a civil action in the county court, even though the sum may have been properly due from the employee. The employer does not get a second bite at the cherry.
Problems can arise in the following circumstances:
If the contract does not allow for the deduction
Even if you are recovering an overpayment, make sure that your contracts contain clauses allowing you to make a deduction in these circumstances. If not, the employee may have a breach of contract claim against you.
Make sure that the contract wording is sufficiently precise. If you are taking a risk, such as by paying for an employee’s training and you want to recover the costs if they fail or do not complete the course, we recommend entering a bespoke agreement with the employee. This should set out the specific circumstances and include the employee’s consent to deductions. We can prepare a suitable agreement for you.
If your workers do not turn up to work, you may be entitled to dock pay but the law is not straightforward. If you wish to dock pay for lateness or unauthorised absences, include this in the contract. If you do not pay company sick pay, employees on sick leave will not be entitled to statutory sick pay unless they meet the eligibility criteria and notifying requirements under the statutory sick pay rules. This area of law should be handled carefully.
If the contract is inaccurate
If the error is made because the contract is inaccurate, you will not be able to lawfully deduct pay.
If pay falls below the minimum wage due to a salary sacrifice scheme
Even if the employee wishes to sign up to deductions under a salary sacrifice scheme, such as Bike to Work or childcare vouchers, you have to ensure that they still receive the National Minimum Wage (NMW). If their pay falls below the NMW, after the deduction under the salary sacrifice scheme has been made, you will be in breach of NMW rules.
If your business is in retail
Additional provisions apply to protect retail workers against deductions made in respect of stock deficiencies or cash shortages. No single deduction can exceed one-tenth of the worker’s gross pay for that particular pay day. This limit does not apply to the final contractual payment when the worker leaves.
Pay statements
When deducting pay, make sure this is recorded in the itemised pay statements. Since April 2019, workers as well as employees have been entitled to a pay statement which shows deductions from pay.
Potential tribunal claim
Workers may be able to bring an employment tribunal claim for historical deductions from pay if these form a series of deductions, as well as claiming for a deduction within the last three months.
Deductions from wages claims can prove costly. To ensure that your contracts give you the right to make deductions and your pay arrangements comply with the law, please contact Elizabeth Bartle in the employment law team on 020 7845 7443 or email elizabethbartle@iwg.co.uk
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.