Working 20 hours in a full time job

Hi,

I am a postgraduate research student, holding a tier 4 visa, working with a company exactly 20 hours per week. But they are paying me for my travel and my accommodation expenses. The job is advertised to be more than 20 hours per week, but then I spoke to the manager and I explained my situation, he told me to work only 20 hours (4 hours a day) but I will still get paid the same amount. Now, if an HMRC officer see my payslip and divide the amount of money I've earned by the hourly pay rate, he will get confused and think that I am working more than 20. My Question is, what should I tell my manager to do to make it clear I am working 20 hours and that I am not breaking any rule. Should this goes in my P45 part 1?

I specified in both, the application and the interview, that I can work 20 hours per week. I remind him in front of colleague and he told me to work only 20 hours so it can suit my visa. This is an official and recognized company. If anything happens, would I still be responsible.

Thanking you in advance.

You are not working more than 20 hours a week. There is no issue here.

Thanks for answering.

You're right actually, but how would they know that my manager reduced the number of hours, I mean how to make it official, the job is advertised to be more than 20 hours, it is just an arrangement .... because I really don't understand how they find out that someone is working 20 hours.

I4505 wrote:how would they know that my manager reduced the number of hours

Because that is how many hours you work! Your employer has nothing to gain, and everything to lose, if they are employing you illegally.

Sorry for keep insisting on the same thing. But as far as I understand, unless the employer reports the employee, they will not know. It means there are no official documents showing how many hours the employee is working.

Both you and your employer are clear that you are working no more than 20 hours a week. I don't know what scenario you are imagining -- maybe an immigration enforcement raid on your employer's premises? Such raids are rare, but if it makes you feel better, get it in writing from your employer that the agreement is you are working 20 hours during term-time.

Do your payslips show the hours worked per week? If so, I assume they will show the actual hours but at a higher hourly rate?

Thanks all for answering.
Yes, I asked them to add a PS at the end saying that I worked 20 hours/week for them at the bottom of the payslip. I think this ought to be sufficient.