I reported my boss to HMRC

We caught up with one BGA member who wanted to share her story in a bid to help others. 

"Ever since I was a little girl all I ever wanted to do was work with horses. I had no ambitions to be a travelling or competition groom, but I wanted to work on a nice yard, with nice horses and get paid for doing what I love.

After college (non horsey) I went and worked in a really nice yard and did my BHS stages and worked towards getting my BHS AI. The pay wasn’t great but my exams were paid for by my boss, she gave me lots of training, the hours were structured, we usually finished on time and I had 1.5 days off a week. We worked really hard, but as a groom I expect to!

I stayed in this job for four years and only left because the owner became poorly and had to sell up. Although I was really sad to leave I was excited about a new opportunity and decided it was time to fly the nest and I looked for a live in job in a similar yard.

I found what seemed to be a great job on a riding school / livery yard which also ran some competitions, so it was a great opportunity to also learn some new skills. It was a live in position but only 40 miles away from home so I could go back to see my friends on my days off. I was also able to take my horse. The pay was a step up from what I had been receiving, it was a five day week and I was able to continue to my training towards my BHS exams.

Unfortunately it wasn’t as it seemed and looking back I think I was also naïve and wanting to believe the best.

The accommodation was a static caravan (which I have no objections to), but it leaked, was damp, the oven didn’t work and there was no heating. I lived with another girl, who was lovely, but very quickly began to hint that the job might not have been as it seemed.

After 10 days of solid working without a day off I asked my boss when my days off would be and her reply was, “When everyone else has had theirs.” I didn’t say anything but I was getting homesick, I missed my bed and being warm.

We were really busy during the day and never finished on time. I didn’t mind not finishing on time, every groom knows horses are not 9-5pm, but some competition days we would start an hour earlier and finish two hours later.

For the most part my boss was really lovely and there was a continued promise of a day off, a lesson on my horse, training towards my next exam – but it never happened.

At the end of the month I received my payslip and it was £650 less than it should have been. And in that time I’d had two days off. I calculated that because of all the overtime and extra days my hourly rate was about £2.40.

I went to my boss, who again was lovely, and she said that there must have been an error with the tax code and that she would sort it out. I felt happy with the response and proud of myself that I’d managed to have that conversation with her. I also asked about days off and she said that because of the competitions and extra lessons it was so busy, but that I would get my days off in bulk once it was quieter.

I thought I probably just needed to get on with it and so didn’t tell my parents how bad it was, instead I just continued to pretend that I was having a great time.

Another month passed and it had also become ‘normal’ to be working the hours we were. Our boss worked the same hours so it was impossible to not do the same.

At the end of the second month I got my wages and once again they were down £650. I went and spoke to my boss about it who this time said that it was due to the rent for the caravan, livery for my horse and training.

I didn’t feel like I could say anything back, but I was really upset and phoned my parents. They were shocked that all this had been going on, but were brilliant and suggested that I phone the British Grooms Association. It took me about another week to pluck up the courage to phone but I think a combination of another week going by without a day off and having not had a single bit of training tipped the balance.

I’m so glad I phoned. They was brilliant and helped me to calculate how many hours extra I’d been working, how much I could be charged for accommodation and explained about livery.

They gave me lots of suggestions about how I should approach this with my boss, which I did. The conversation with my boss was civil but resulted in her telling me to leave if I was unhappy, that the hours and the pay were what they were and the deductions were correct.

I didn’t want to leave my boss or the other girls I worked with short staffed to I gave a weeks notice and then left.

At the end of the month I received no pay so I phoned my boss who once again said it must have been an error. A week later I still hadn’t received any money so I went with my Dad to the yard to speak to her. She said that she would sort it out tomorrow.

She didn’t and when I tried to call back she never answered the phone.

I phoned the BGA again and they explained my options. I sat down with my parents and they were keen that I report her to HMRC so that she didn’t do this to other grooms in the future. The HMRC form is easy to fill out and they were very helpful. I did feel awful reporting her, but I felt really angry that she owed me over £1,500 and had no intention of paying me.

On top of all that I was back living with my parents for free (although I was glad to be home), but they were having to pay for me, my car and my horse.

The contact from HMRC has been brilliant. After my former boss refused to respond to them the case escalated to a high priority and they phoned to ask me lots of questions. There were really lovely and helpful.

They then went to see her, which resulted in me receiving £680 due to overpaying for the accommodation. They are also contacting her previous employees to see how many other people were affected.

Once they have this information they will work out how much I am owed, and in addition to having to pay me it is likely that she will receive a fine, and have to pay all previous employees if they are also owed money.

It has been the most difficult time of my life so far, caused my parents lots of angst, and I can’t imagine it’s been pleasant for her either. While all this was happening I went and worked in a bar part time, where I did a third of the hours and made more money.

In the back of my mind I was still desperate to work with horses so I contacted a recruitment agency and asked them to help so that this time I knew I would get it right and they can make sure everything is above board before I even went for an interview.

I was worried that I would be seen to be ‘unemployable’ as the girl who reported someone to HMRC, but I’m delighted to say that I now work for a really nice couple, the team I work with are lovely, we have a lovely cottage onsite, we all have our days off and any overtime we work we get back as time in lieu.

Throughout my time working with horses I have never wanted to become rich, make a million, or not pull my weight. I just want to do a job I love and be treated fairly.

If you’re reading this and can related to it then call the BGA for advice and be brave enough to stand up for what is right. It’s not just you that you are making a difference to – it’s the hundreds of other grooms out there in the same situation.

If we all stand together and support the good employers who are trying to do it properly then our industry will have to change, but if all grooms think that it’s just the way it is then bad employment will continue as there will always be the next groom in line. Together we are better.

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