AN EMPLOYEE’S RIGHTS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 16

AN EMPLOYEE’S RIGHTS

TO THE BDITOB OF THE EBE33 Sir, —Would you spare me space,in your "legal" column where I might gain a little information as to the right side of the law. Perhaps this may catch the eye of a solicitor or some other learned person who is acquainted with the intricacies. of legal procedure between employer and employee. (a) Can an employer deduct money from wages or salaries in payment of breakages accidentally made in course of work by the employee? (I understand it is a breach of-the law to do so.) ■». (b) The employee, whilsj still in the employ of. the said employer, offers to help towards payment of repairs of a broken article, and the employer ignores the offer entirely whilst the* employee is still in his employ, and sees !a new article installed in place of the old one. Is not the said employee entitled to a receipt, the money being deducted in payment of the said article after the employee has left the said - the employee should have to wait three months for payment of a week's salary which was due at the time of leaving, to find, when finally posted after several letters and a great deal of inconvenience to the employee, that a receipt for the money claimed and deducted had not been enclosed?

(c) How is the employee to know that only 3s 6d may have been charged for the installation of the said article, and 5s been put to the employer’s account, if the account and receipt in payment of that article are not forwarded to ensure its authenticity? In these circumstances can the employee be charged again unless holdings receipt?

There is something wrong somewhere if employers are allowed to deduct any sum of. money from hardearned wages at their own sweet will and never forward a receipt for it. If anyone knows the legal procedure and dealings with such employers I should be pleased to see an answer to this. —Yours, etc., ONE WHO LIKES FAIR PLAY. October 1, 1936.