Report a shady employer?

Scottland

Scottland

Scottland

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
15,723
Location
North Wales
So, I've been made aware of an individual who has been taking liberties with his young employees for a while now (seasonal work, all teenagers). I only know him by reputation as a bit of a ****.

As far as I know, most of his employees don't have any contract of employment, any standard hours, are frequently given long (12hr+ shifts) with no 'official' break time, and during peak season will work many hours over the EWTD 48hr limit. He also doesn't pay them on time, sometimes them having to wait 3 months for pay with no payslips either. It would also appear that he is taking tax from their wages, but they haven't received a P60 - the other day one of the employees called the tax office who said they've never had any record of them paying tax or NI - ever.


Should I report them, or mind my own business since it's nothing to do with me? I don't particularly have an axe to grind with him, but based on the above and the rest of his reputation it would seem he has some comeuppance due?


WWGDD?
 
How many employees are we talking of here?

Do you know any of the employees personally? As you say they may be too afraid to speak out against him, so might need some guidance there.
 
Scottland said:
So, I've been made aware of an individual who has been taking liberties with his young employees for a while now (seasonal work, all teenagers). I only know him by reputation as a bit of a ****.

As far as I know, most of his employees don't have any contract of employment, any standard hours, are frequently given long (12hr+ shifts) with no 'official' break time, and during peak season will work many hours over the EWTD 48hr limit. He also doesn't pay them on time, sometimes them having to wait 3 months for pay with no payslips either. It would also appear that he is taking tax from their wages, but they haven't received a P60 - the other day one of the employees called the tax office who said they've never had any record of them paying tax or NI - ever.


Should I report them, or mind my own business since it's nothing to do with me? I don't particularly have an axe to grind with him, but based on the above and the rest of his reputation it would seem he has some comeuppance due?


WWGDD?
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If it were some single element, I would perhaps not because either maybe I haven't seen the situation correctly from the outside (maybe the employees wanted to sleep with their boss) or I've missed some piece of evidence (presumably you haven't actually seen their tax records). But taken as a whole and especially referencing things like the working hours people are put through, I say shop him. Get together what evidence you can - names, number of employees, estimates of how long people are working and other sundry pieces. Probably including sexual harassment if you believe that has taken place. And then bundle it all up and send it off. Not sure who to but should be easy to ask and find out from the police or Citizen's Advice. Hopefully you can get the process started and then get out of it.

This country gets more like Qatar or Oman every year, and it's because people turn a blind eye. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. Good for you if you report this. You also don't know what else might have been reported about this guy. He could have a history of it. You don't know where this might lead. I know someone who used to manipulate work schedules he was in charge of to try and split up a couple who both worked for him so that he could try and get with the girl. He'd arrange it so that she was on his team and get the boyfriend at the other end of the week to put as much time difference between their work-social lives as possible. Also, would try and ply her with drugs. Some employers should never be allowed near power over other people.
 
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peterwalkley said:
Inform the inland revenue. They would be more appropriate than the police.
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Very good idea. Fun fact: The IR actually have greater legal powers to search and investigate you than the police do. Or at least fewer requirements to do so.

Might want to ask them about who to report the other stuff to as well.

EDIT: It's normal human nature to look the other way, but we usually feel bad about ourselves if we do. From experience, actually doing something always feels like a relief to me.
 
Taking tax like that and not actually paying it is NOT wise - my sister worked for a nursery who were doing that and probably some other stuff (made her life **** for a few weeks while it was all sorted out once it came to light) and the owners did jail time - not sure how long off the top of my head but think they ended up doing 1-3 years.
 
There is a risk that the employer may close down the 'company' if they are fined heavily or the work becomes uneconomical for the current number of staff when paying full tax. So there is indeed the risk of job losses and (I assume) even the possibility that the IR may chase the employees for unpaid tax. But I have to agree that I would be reporting him. By not paying tax he;s just causing the employees a bigger issue long term and everyone else, such as you and I, are subsidising his profits by paying tax he isn't.
 
diamount said:
Sounds like the employees themselves who should be reporting him?
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+1

They need to learn to stand on their own two feet. In the mean time, advise them to join a union that represents their workplace/industry - probably Unite.
 
Totally report him, he's screwing both the government out of tax revenue and the individuals out of both wages and NI payments from the sounds of things.
 
Haha, if employers are going to pull stuff like that they at least need to treat their staff well, so that they don't WANT to rat him out. I'd report him all day long. Then make a point of telling him it was me.

I think you can go to prison for quite some time for NI fraud.
 
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Hades said:
There is a risk that the employer may close down the 'company' if they are fined heavily or the work becomes uneconomical for the current number of staff when paying full tax. So there is indeed the risk of job losses and (I assume) even the possibility that the IR may chase the employees for unpaid tax. But I have to agree that I would be reporting him. By not paying tax he;s just causing the employees a bigger issue long term and everyone else, such as you and I, are subsidising his profits by paying tax he isn't.
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All correct. I'd also add that in the situation as it sounds, the employees don't really have job security anyway. If it's an actual need people will pay for, the corrupt company / employer will be rapidly replaced with a new one anyway. It doesn't sound like they're doing anything requiring a lot of in-place training or ongoing business relationships.
 
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