A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:Hey everyone, this isn't a relationship question, at all :s sorry, but I've gotten good advice on this site numerous times so I was wondering if I could ask peoples opinions on this please...I've recently started a new job doing an overnight shift at a hotel/guest house, at the interview I didn't ask what the paying rate was, stupidly! I'm there 15 hours, from 7pm to 10am the next day. In the night time, I have to do a lot of chores which include greeting in the guests, showing them to their rooms, putting chocolates in their rooms when they're out, answering phone calls and taking bookings, hoovering, bleaching and mopping cleaning of the kitchen, washing, catering if anyone wants tea or coffee, preparing foods for the breakfasts in the morning, setting out all of the dining tables very precisely! And other bits and bobs on top of that! I have a room that I'm aloud to sleep in once I've sorted all these things out. And then I am up in the morning serving breakfasts. I have done a couple of nights so far. When I went in for my first night, I assumed there would be another member of staff with me, but I was the only person in the entire hotel for the whole 15 hour shift. So if anything happened, I'm responsible, so thrown in the deep end a little bit!I thought that if I wasnt getting paid by the hour, that I would at least get a decent night rate pay because I'm the only member of staff there, and it's anti social hours. When I got my wage, in an envelope, I was very angry that I only recieved £35.I called up and asked politely how they were paying me, and what the hourly rate was, and I was told that from 7pm till 8am was a standard rate of £25 and then the two hours in the morning I serve breakfasts were paid minimum wage per hour. I really feel like I've been used and been a bit of a mug. I was talking to a few other members of staff, and they have all refused to do nights in the past, even they said they wouldn't do it for that money. I know all night shifts pay differently, but what do you think would be a respectable and acceptable amount to be paid for what I'm doing? Any input here would be much appreciated! I do not no whether to quit or try and negosiate with them. Thanks in advance.
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reader, anonymous, writes (29 October 2011): Does sound very suspicious and I am 95% sure that you have to be 18 to work a nightshift-especially alone!
If there are no payslips then they are trying to get away with paying you cash and not declaring their employees, which would make me think that should you have an accident at work you are not covered by an insurance policy.
Take care, I know times are hard with finding work (believe me, a lot of personal experience!) but dont compromise your safety for any job and if they are not paying you in line with our tax laws then I would protect myself and leave. I heard of one company that took their staff name and address and listed them as being self employed, so responsible for paying their own tax-but they didnt tell the staff about it!
Good Luck x
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2011): You need to find out if you/they are paying your NI contributions, ask for a payslip
I thought you had to be 18 to work nightshifts - all sounds very suspect!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10028519
This may help
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2011): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for the advice guys, I have been thinking about it all week, I confronted my boss and told her I thought I'd be getting more money than that and I can't afford to do that many hours for that money, and she definatly was not budging on her money. They could definatly pay me more, it's a very expensive hotel with barely any staff, they rake in loads. I asked her if she had any day shifts and she said she'd let me know now and then for conventions and things, where I'd get paid by the hour.But I'm a little concerned about the whole thing though, because I'm getting payed in mysterious envelopes with no pay slip, I've not been asked for my p45, and when I called up to see if their were any job vacancies in the first place, they acted somewhat paranoid and asked me how I knew there were job vacancies as they don't advertise.. And after talking to some of the young girls who work there, they're students and are only 17 years old, that's definatly illegal isn't it :s I don't think you're allowed to do night shifts in a building all by yourself at the age of 17.Plus the boss tried her best to convince me I should continue to do the night shifts, I feel like they are exploiting the young staff, what do you think? I'll see if I hear back from them, I've done one convention so far where I was paid by the hour, but while I was there I was just cornered into staying the night :s What to do what to do! Agh
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2011): Sadly at the moment its an employers market - and yes £35 for 15 hours is only just over £2.00 an hour,slave labour if your up majority of night and have sole responsibility,not to mention unsociable hours!
The hotel staff usually boost their poor wages with tips, do you get those or a share?
It depends on your circumstances and how much you need to live on,if your better off on benefits then leave. But its so hard to find work I would do the job until you find something better,or can move on to their day shifts.
You can try and negotiate a pay rise after a couple of weeks but I wouldn't hold your breath
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2011): That is prett low, I have worked nights as a carer and the shifts where I was expected to be up all night, no sleeping were £9.00 per hour week nights, weekends and bank holidays were more. Then there was nights that were split working and sleeping where would start at say 8pm and do 2 hours paid £7.00 an hour then a flat rate for 10pm until 7am which would be £35-45 depending on where I was working (was with an agency, who were very good and strict on who they employed so pay rates slightly higher than average) but then if I was called in the night you received extra pay all worked out on how often and close together the calls were.
I think they are taking advantage of the lack of employment situation at the moment. If you have experience in this area and believe you deserve more then politely tell them.
When I was needing work (I had to leave a well paid job due to a long term illness and hospitilisation) I couldn't find a permanent job so I joined agencies as some employment on your record looks better than none at all! If you can stick this go with it for now but keep checking the job centr and newspapers for other vacancies. If you do your best you'll get a good reference for a new job. Good luck xx
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 October 2011): I'm not familiar with the hospitality industry, but I do know that in construction, the night shift is usually paid the least. From your age, your newbie status at the hotel, and from what your colleagues say, it sounds like they started you at the bottom of the totem pole. You took the job because you didn't know any better, you were probably grateful for it, and they sensed all this when they interviewed you.
My advice is not to take your wages personally, but think strategically in your own interest. If you want to stay in hospitality, stick it out and ask for another shift after a couple months. If you don't want anything to do with hospitality, look for another job, and tell them you'll leave if they can't match what you're offered elsewhere.
No offense intended, but everyone starts out at the bottom when they're your age whatever the industry. If you seek a future in that job, stick it out; if not, move on.
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female
reader, aunt honesty  +, writes (28 October 2011):
 Everyone is going to have different opinions on what they find acceptable. But you need to make up your own mind here if you are willing to work for this or not. It does seem very poor pay for the hours you are putting in, but yet my guess is that many people would jump at the chance of even having work at the moment. You need to think long and hard about this one and ask yourself is it worth it. If you are unhappy about the pay well then talk to the boss and if they are unwilling to change it then you need to start thinking about what you want to do. Good luck.
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