Are you staring at a pay slip and wondering whether you’re owed a day’s pay? If your employment contract gave you a start date – even if the employer was closed that day — you may still be entitled to payment.

Under Employment Rights Act 1996, your employer cannot lawfully withhold pay when you’re under contract, unless a deduction is authorised by law, by your contract, or with your prior written consent.

If you were supposed to start work on, say, the 5th, but the employer was shut, that doesn’t automatically cancel your entitlement to pay — unless the contract clearly states that payment only begins on the first working day.

If your employer refuses to pay:

You may claim the unpaid wages (the full daily salary you contracted for).

You can also claim underpayment as an unlawful deduction of wages.

Even for a single unpaid day, this is enforceable.

Estimating Compensation for One Unpaid Day

In a successful claim for unpaid wages or unlawful deduction under the Employment Rights Act, a tribunal will order the employer to pay the actual amount owed — i.e. your normal pay for that day.

There is no statutory “maximum daily rate” set for unpaid wages — you are entitled to what you contracted to earn.

In addition, if you suffered any financial loss (e.g. bank charges, missed bills, additional costs) because of non-payment, you can claim those too.

Example (hypothetical)

If your contract states a daily pay of £100 and you weren’t paid for your official start-date (despite employer’s closure), you could claim £100 gross -plus any legitimate losses.

If you’d like to discuss your case or want help drafting the demand letter or bringing a claim — feel free to DM or contact us.

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