Martin Brewer, is a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve
This is a wholly contractual issue. Unless you have a very carefully drafted contract which says something to the contrary, you must pay employees the wages you have set out in the contract. It would be possible to create a contract which enables you to deduct a certain level of pay for lateness, or to only be liable for pay for times when the employee is working.
For example you could have a contract under which employees get paid only for the actual hours worked. Thus if they are late they’re not working and don’t get paid. But unless you have that, and I suspect from your question you don’t, then you must pay despite the lateness and your overall feelings about this individual.
Martin can be contacted at: martin.brewer@mills-reeve.com
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