u/forgottenendeavours

So, at my friend's job, they have a system in place where workers can cover each other's shifts. The process for a shift cover is:

1. Shift holder and shift coverer fill in a form, which is submitted to local HR
2. Shift coverer clocks in as themselves, and works the shift
3. Shift holder gets paid for it, and is then expected to pay cash in hand to the shift coverer

Obviously, it's the last part which strikes me as somewhere between odd and illegal, given the tax implications, as well as the fact that junior employees are paid only a hair over NMW anyway. I don't know, though.

The local union have been asked about it, and their response is that that method is just the way it's always been done. If this method is illegal, what would be a more effective (and less hassle-inducing...) method to address it?