Footwear chain Hannahs has admitted staff aren't paid for overtime after stores close, while Briscoes' boss doesn't know how many of his employees historically haven't been paid for the last 15 minutes of their shifts each day.
The companies are the latest to be caught underpaying their minimum wage workers, after it was revealed Smiths City and Spotlight had been forcing employees to attend a 15 minute daily morning meeting unpaid.
Some Auckland Briscoes staff last night noticed on their online roster that all their shifts had been extended by 15 minutes, after management realised they weren't being paid for the on average 15 minutes it takes to cash-up at the end of the day.
"There's been quite a few people that've put [a picture of their changed roster] up on their Snapchat," an Auckland Briscoes employee said, speaking to Checkpoint on the condition of anonymity.
Checkpoint alerted Briscoes managing director Rod Duke to the roster changes, after he was this morning reassured by management that the retail chain had paid all staff for the hours they have worked.
"That's absolutely appalling, completely against company practice, and I'm gonna investigate that right now," Mr Duke said.
Asked if that meant the store manager gave false assurances that the store was paying workers properly, Mr Duke said: "I'm gonna check that out, and I'm gonna check that out very, very, very, shortly. Because that's the impression I would get too."
He said he did not know how many other Briscoes staff have been forced to work for free.
Meanwhile Hannahs executive director Roger Harper has admitted the footwear chain used a fixed hour system so staff aren't paid for overtime.
"There's not an expectation from the company, but there may be situations where people are working over the closing time of the store," Mr Harper said.
Checkpoint spoke to a Hannahs employee who is earning the minimum wage who said she had been too scared to speak out of fear of repercussion.
"It's been a cause of a lot of stress. What I get paid isn't enough to cover my bills, and to work that extra without being paid, it's made me feel quite stressed. Quite down," the employee said.
"Because they're such a big company, and I'm just one person, I feel if I say something I may face repercussions," she said.
Mr Harper said there would be no repercussions for any Hannahs employee who spoke out about not being paid properly, and he only learned Hannahs uses a fixed hour system today.
"I would love to see that change. Definitely not happy about that."
5 comments
Commerce commision
Posted on 16-05-2018 08:58 | By CC8
The commerce commission would probably be interested in other stores who advertise a closing time but the doors are locked early. I called into Countdown Bethlehem recently , on my way home from Auckland, all I wanted was a dog roll, when I pointed out to the guy locking the door that he was locking the door 10 minutes early, I received an ear full of expletives and some sign language. Amongst all that I learned that he was only paid until 10.
There
Posted on 16-05-2018 09:06 | By Merlin
There will be more stores too paying minimum wages and in this category.Profits before caring for those that help to make them.
Oh no,,
Posted on 16-05-2018 09:09 | By Marshal
Oh the embarrassment of being caught trying to underpay the already under paid .. No doubt it will come down to being the employee's that are to blame. Higher profit at all cost..LOL
Gobus
Posted on 16-05-2018 10:49 | By Capt_Kaveman
pays by the minute and to keep buses on time sometimes drivers have to start before their start time in order to keep to the timetable
Simons mates doing the underpaying?
Posted on 16-05-2018 16:12 | By earlybird
The rich get richer anyway they can.
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