Briscoes to make payment

Briscoe Group will reimburse staff who cashed up at the end of the day but did not get paid for the time, something managing director Rod Duke says is company policy.

The Auckland-based retailer is among firms named as not paying staff for work done outside regular work hours, an issue that has made headlines since an Employment Court ruling against another retailer found employees should have been paid for going to morning sales meetings.

Mr Duke said Briscoe's policy was to pay staff for all work they did for the company, and while all stores paid employees attending morning meetings, several did not pay staff for the end-of-day cash-up.

"It has always been Briscoe Group's intention to pay staff for the work that they do. That includes morning meetings and cashing up at the end of the day," Mr Duke said in a statement.

"With respect to cash-up at the end of the day, an initial audit of all stores has confirmed that some stores have failed to correctly roster some staff required for this task. We believe this has affected a modest number of employees."

Briscoe Group, which operates the Briscoes and Living & Giving homeware chains and Rebel Sport stores, employs about 1800 staff.

The Briscoe and Rebel Sport brands are among major retailers named by First Union for failing to meet minimum wage obligations, and the union has said it may take legal action against some employers.

Last week, the Employment Court ordered retailer Smiths City to pay staff for attending unpaid sales meetings over the past six years. The retailer disputed the Labour Inspectorate notice which was filed two years ago, but has since accepted the court's finding and will reimburse staff.

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