FREE Issue 43
Friday February 17 2012 The independent student newspaper of the University of Sheffield. Made for students by students. Est. 1946.
@ForgePress /ForgePress
Get your gym refund NO REFUNDS
Uni backs down over pool refund policy following Forge Press campaign Registrar overrules S10 who refused to pay members for contract breach p.7
INSIDE
CAREERS
Interview tips, CV advice and what to do after Uni p.26-29
Uni ordered to repay mentors “In my opinion your employer owes you [over £2,000] [...] because they did not pay you at least the national minimum wage”
LIFESTYLE
Stripped bare: Men and women try out a body wax for the first time in their lives p.25
SPORT Hallam Uni take first blood in this year’s Winter Varsity ice hockey p.36
Fuse. In a special edition of Fuse we take a look at the best of Arts, Games, Music and Screen from the last year
Thousands to be paid back to residential mentors after HMRC ruling University has until March to pay or the option to fight at employment tribunal Katie Davies The University has been ordered to pay out thousands of pounds to residential mentors who were paid less than the minimum wage, Forge Press can reveal. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued the figures after months of investigation, writing to mentors to confirm: “In my opinion, your employer, University of Sheffield … did not pay you at least the national minimum wage.” One source revealed to Forge Press that they are set to receive approximately £2,000 for less a year’s worth of work. The 80 mentors working in the last academic year could all be set to receive similar amounts, pushing the overall minimum figure to more than £150,000. Payments may also have to be made to all mentors from previous years who have worked under the same system. The University must now decide whether to appeal the decision at an employment tribunal. “I don’t look forward to any sort of legal action,” said another residential mentor, who did not wish to be named, “I would much rather avoid it as it’s not conducive to good working relationships.” “Having said that, if legal action is the only way to ensure that low-paid members of staff are treated fairly in the workplace then so be it.”
“I believe that people should be treated fairly in the workplace, however large the organisation, so if an organisation has made a mistake it should apologize and rectify the situation immediately - at least if it wants to retain the loyalty and commitment of its staff.” The University has now reclassed all residential mentors as volunteer workers, rather than employees, for the first time this academic year. The number of hours mentors are expected to work has also risen. The law does not require the University to pay voluntary workers the minimum wage. HMRC are now also beginning to look into this new system over concerns that student voluntary workers are being expected to act like paid employees - but with none of the benefits. As in previous years, all residential mentors must live on site, either in Endcliffe or Ranmoor student villages or the City Centre campus. As they are required to live there under their contract, under UK law, the University can also include rent as part of mentors’ wages. Continued on p.7
Head of ACS, Pat McGrath