Not sure if this story is worth here but here go…
When I was 17 and I was in college (UK) decided to get part time job to pay for my little expenses and take weight of my parents shoulder by taking money for petty stuff.
I worked there for 6 years and went through positions of Customer Assistant, Key holder and Duty Manager. After 6 years I decided to change job as it looked in my eyes that company took wrong turn by stop putting customer first but by putting all procedures in place to keep share holders happy and we been told this is because law is changing etc. Typical corporation lie. Generally speaking all managers above me where nice from Operations manager to regional director and they were humans you were able to speak with them any minute for any reason even as CA if you had problem.
Before I left we have went up with new store manager who was a nice human being but there were not single bit of organisation with him. After 2 months I left I had realised that company has not paid me out my annual leave which in the UK is equivalent to 20 working days plus any public holiday that you work. Company also were given people extra 1d of holiday per year you worked there so I went up having total of 26 working days.
When I left I went up having total of 26 days of annual holiday left which it was equal to £1,726 ($2,274) subject to tax as I did not took single day off through out a year and I just left at the end of fiscal year.
I had emailed manager about this matter after 2 months of leaving he said he will try to contact HR etc but as I everyday I emailed him for 3 weeks he replied he never had a chance to do it before it was to late and I wasn’t able to do it because of deadline and otherwise I would have to go to court with it.
I had a week to start dispute with ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) which is not union but more of a free government body who helps in any kind of situation regarding disputes between employer and employee but putting employee first.
ACAS helped me win my dispute and instead of getting £1,726 ($2,274) before tax or £1,382 ($1,822) after tax. I went up with £3,200 ($4,220) paid as compensation which went up being tax free.
Generally speaking I was expecting only to get stuff after tax.
Manager did NOT get fired.
Company was amazing as it always had amazing benefits for workers but paid minimum wage plus bonuses if we hit our sale targets. Which was 20% of total profits per month spread equal between all staff based on hours they worked.
I only left because I were contracted to 20 hours and at age 23 I needed to find full time job.