Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hey there

Okay so I've been working at this centre, and this would be my 5th day working there, one day I forgot to sign out
and I understand the mistakes, and I agreed with my director when she said it is not a good thing to do, everything else has been going well.

My director said she was going to cut of my pay, and I thought fair enough, I made a mistake, I even said that to her "fair enough" and I can't argue with them because they'll say its part of my duty. They did warn me at the beginning about singing in/signing out sheets and how they can get big fines for not following the procedures. I get that.

I would have liked the warning on the other subject however to say (you do this and you won't get your pay), but I don't want to cause trouble either and as far as I'm aware you can't take it to court because they'll say that in their policy...etc so they have the right to take of that days pay, but my parents believe this isn't true, they aren't happy, and I understand, because no one wants to work for free, as much as we love the kids and I'm very short with money as it is, but facts are that it was a mistake and I'm trying to explain that childcare is very strict on their policies, can you just confirm if they can do this, because in other jobs it would be against the law not to give your pay but now I'm not so sure. I'm just following what my teachers tell us about policies and procedures, and the strict duties we need to follow.

Is it fair to cut of a days work or against the law?

I'm not sure about that, i need to check my account first. I think she said for that days pay, but I could be wrong, so I'll see what happens. Thanks for that though.

I'm sort of hoping that I misheard her, or it wasn't as bad as i thought, and just like 10% cut off, I wouldn't mind so much, it's a full 8 and half hour shift so that's why I was upset.

I'm pretty sure that no employer has the right to just not pay you... if you worked those hours you are entitled to be paid (or receive time in lieu, etc).

It's been worked out with the director, I talked to her about my concern and she is not going to take away my pay.

Haha I definately won't. Thank you for your advise

If I did not pay my employers for the amount of days they forgot to sign in or out I would have made my centre a LOT of money, that is unfair and ridiculous to do that, especially to a new employee!
It is not like I did not know they were there and what shift they worked! Some people do things just for the sake of it, makes them feel important I think.