bank holiday payment

Jack Frost2020

So I'm a mechanic, own shop, work on my own..... a young apprentice I know came to me maybe 18months ago, he left the place he was in as he didn't get on with the owner (his words... found out after he just walked out, leaving owner in the lurch).

He asked me if I would take him on, so he could finish his training, reluctantly I did, he missed loads of time due to "illness", however these issues did not seem to interfere with his social life, but i was fair with him, as i am a reasonable man. I didn't make him make up all the time (several weeks) he missed to get his qualification.

Fast forward, he 'qualifies', now I will use this term lightly, as he is not mechanical material, and needs a lot of babysitting, he however thinks because he has his papers he is the worlds greatest, demanding pay raises, and dictating how much he is worth. Bear in mind I wanted to put him on the books but he didn't want that, obviously signing on too but thats not my business, always wanted payment in cash, and for the three days a week I went with it

I always paid him for bank holidays, however last bank holiday week he was going on holidays, so I didn't pay him for it. He counted out his wages the week before the bank holiday, asked for bank holiday pay, even though he wouldn't be working that week. if he was I would have paid him for the three days......he spun out the yard like a bat out of hell, went on his week holiday (last week) and sent a message yesterday morning saying he not coming back. He has cars in the garage, engines ripped apart, crap thrown everywhere and he's like f%@k you, I'm gone. His second time leaving his employer in the sh*t.

What is the norm in this issue, should I have been held to ransom by him and paid him?

wench

If he was due to work the week of the bank holiday is irrelevant. If he had worked 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks, he was entitled to the paid day.

Not having him on the books is your business. If Revenue audits you I'd imagine they will gross up the wages you've paid him and you could end up with a tax liability.

StupidLikeAFox

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058300571/bank-holiday-payment

Sounds like you gave him lots of chances, but with a character like that it was always going to end in tears. You prob should have done a lot of things differently, but not much you can do about it now.

Lesson learned, do it by the book in future, check references and don't give too much leeway especially to lads who are taking the piss. Pay through the books as well - you get no benefit paying someone cash, you can use the wages to reduce your own tax bill and you won't be left exposed if revenue find out or someone reports you

thefa

You were far too accommodating to him. Knowing him probably didn’t help the matter.

Might be up snowed under with work in the short term but good riddance to bad rubbish.

enricoh

As above good riddance to bad rubbish, you got away lightly.

If that lad had a bit of an accident on your premises you'd know all about it.

Jim2007

The norm is that you do not facilitate someone in committing fraud. You are required to register him properly for payroll taxes, appropriate social security deductions and all the rest. If caught this young lad's solicitor will be advising him to state he assumed the payments from you were net of taxes etc and you will be on the hook. You are putting your business and reputation at risk for an idiot!

Learn from your experience - don't put yourself in situations where people can hold you to ransom, it is just not worth it.