my daughter works at a hairdressers and would like to take tues afternoon off to take her driving test but her employer says she cant have the time off (even though the other stylist said she would cover her absence easily) even without pay. This means my daughter will lose her £60 fee for her test and have to wait another 6 weeks to get another one!  How does she stand it she just goes anyway? it it sackable?

If the boss calls it gross misconduct then yes it is an instant sackable offence,but who wants to work for a boss like that anyway!.Good hairdressers need never be out of work,If your daughter does cancel and rebook the test what if her employer says the same next time?

Hi Wendy Wong, lots of things affect this--how long your daughter has been working there, and her age. If your daughter is under 18 her rights are negligible, sadly. But if she is 18+ and has given her employer ample notice of her test (e.g. complying with the business' policy on booking holiday) I doubt the employer could get away with gross misconduct. If it came to an employment tribunal the employer could be ordered to pay any costs, including her driving test fee.

The best thing to do is to ring the ACAS helpline, a free service (ring before 5.30pm because although they are open till 6.00pm the last half hour is taken up with callers waiting for help). The telephone number is 08457 474747.

ACAS website address: http://www.acas.org.uk

Good luck--rubbish employers need to become an endangered species!

Thanks for your help. It has been useful, but the boss has now given in!! Good luck needed on the test now after all this hassle.  I ll let you know.....

Glad to hear that, and all the very best for the test!

YAY!!! she passed!!! it was worth it after all and the boss was pleased for her too.

Congratulations to your daughter , job well done!

brilliant xx

No its not misconduct, the problem is that it is also not an emergancy she should book her test and a day off before she booked the test.