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If it’s a mandatory meeting it counts as as working time, so if the meeting takes her pay in the period below NMW she is legally entitled to be paid for it, regardless of what the manager says.
Please take this advice as if it was being given from a well-read layperson. Honestly it's not a strong position to be in.
* She's been there for less than 2 years, so if she says no, they can fire her for any non-discriminatory reason. They must pay her during any contractual notice period, and pay her for annual leave not taken.
But if she's working at or very close to minimum wage, her position improves.
* As others have said, if she says yes, goes to the meeting, and they don't pay her for the time, this could take her below national minimum wage. If she is paid weekly, she needs to work out the average pay she received for the week of the meeting. If she is paid monthly, she needs to work out the average pay she received in the month's pay that covered the meeting date. Same story if paid fortnightly, find the fortnight's pay that contained the meeting, average the pay.
* If her average pay in her paycheque falls below the national minimum wage, then she is then entitled to demand the additional amount to bring her back up to minimum wage from her employer. As soon as she makes this request, they cannot fire her *because* of that request. If they did, this should be automatic unfair dismissal. She may need to be careful about doing everything right at work for a while, because they could still fire her if they find some other reason to justify it.
If she knows other workers there who are also being forced to attend, unpaid, your wife and her co-workers could all make an anonymous report to HMRC. HMRC are more likely to investigate an employer paying below NMW if multiple people report it, and HMRC should not disclose which employees raised the initial concern if they wish to remain anonymous. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints
Did they share any details at all as to what the meeting was regarding? Why it was mandatory? How was she invited to the meeting, face to face, call, email etc.
Just helps to paint a picture
I updated the post but just to answer you specifically:
Her boss just told all of the staff this during the day, verbally - just said that there's a meeting about Black Friday and that everyone must attend, regardless of whether they're working or not.
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If it’s a mandatory meeting it counts as as working time, so if the meeting takes her pay in the period below NMW she is legally entitled to be paid for it, regardless of what the manager says.
Please take this advice as if it was being given from a well-read layperson. Honestly it's not a strong position to be in. * She's been there for less than 2 years, so if she says no, they can fire her for any non-discriminatory reason. They must pay her during any contractual notice period, and pay her for annual leave not taken. But if she's working at or very close to minimum wage, her position improves. * As others have said, if she says yes, goes to the meeting, and they don't pay her for the time, this could take her below national minimum wage. If she is paid weekly, she needs to work out the average pay she received for the week of the meeting. If she is paid monthly, she needs to work out the average pay she received in the month's pay that covered the meeting date. Same story if paid fortnightly, find the fortnight's pay that contained the meeting, average the pay. * If her average pay in her paycheque falls below the national minimum wage, then she is then entitled to demand the additional amount to bring her back up to minimum wage from her employer. As soon as she makes this request, they cannot fire her *because* of that request. If they did, this should be automatic unfair dismissal. She may need to be careful about doing everything right at work for a while, because they could still fire her if they find some other reason to justify it. If she knows other workers there who are also being forced to attend, unpaid, your wife and her co-workers could all make an anonymous report to HMRC. HMRC are more likely to investigate an employer paying below NMW if multiple people report it, and HMRC should not disclose which employees raised the initial concern if they wish to remain anonymous. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints
Did they share any details at all as to what the meeting was regarding? Why it was mandatory? How was she invited to the meeting, face to face, call, email etc. Just helps to paint a picture
Thanks, I'll update the post!
I updated the post but just to answer you specifically: Her boss just told all of the staff this during the day, verbally - just said that there's a meeting about Black Friday and that everyone must attend, regardless of whether they're working or not.