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I was working to survive and I wasn't paid
🇬🇧 United Kingdom /Culture & Society

I was working to survive and I wasn't paid

From BBC News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Acas senior advisor Chrissy Bell offers guidance on handling unpaid wages.
  • She advises employees to first calculate the owed amount and speak with their employer.
  • If unresolved, Bell suggests a formal written grievance and potentially a claim to an employment tribunal.

Employees facing unpaid wages should first determine the exact amount owed by reviewing payslips, timesheets, and contracts, according to Chrissy Bell, a senior advisor with Acas. Acas provides free, impartial advice on workplace rights and disputes to both employees and employers.

If someone is expecting their wages on a certain date and it doesn't arrive or it doesn't arrive in full, then if people haven't got savings, even a small amount of difference can be the difference between them paying their bills and not being able to pay them.

— Chrissy BellExplaining the financial hardship that can result from not being paid wages on time.

Bell emphasized the critical impact of delayed or incomplete wage payments, stating, "If someone is expecting their wages on a certain date and it doesn't arrive or it doesn't arrive in full, then if people haven't got savings, even a small amount of difference can be the difference between them paying their bills and not being able to pay them."

Firstly, work out the amount you should have been paid. So check payslips, timesheets, contracts and the first step is to speak to the employers, as there may have been a genuine mistake.

— Chrissy BellOutlining the initial steps an employee should take when they believe they have not been paid correctly.

Her initial advice is to approach the employer directly, as the issue might stem from a simple mistake. If speaking with the employer does not resolve the situation, Bell recommends escalating the matter by submitting a formal written grievance. This grievance should detail the evidence, including timesheets, and allow the employer a reasonable period to respond.

If this does not work, she suggests putting a more formal grievance in writing, setting out any evidence, including timesheets, and then giving the employer a reasonable chance to respond.

— Chrissy BellAdvising on the next steps if direct communication with the employer does not resolve the wage dispute.

As a final step, if the internal process fails to yield a resolution within a reasonable timeframe, Bell suggests that individuals consider making a claim to an employment tribunal. She noted that "If someone gets an award at an employment tribunal then there are systems in place to help them enforce it if necessary."

If someone gets an award at an employment tribunal then there are systems in place to help them enforce it if necessary.

— Chrissy BellDescribing the enforcement mechanisms available if an employment tribunal rules in favor of the employee.
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Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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