"Reasonable management" forcing me into overtime.

[Siarski]

Hello.

On Thursday I was supposed to work from 10:00 - 18:00 as a spare.

Today (Tuesday) I got a message from my admin that they put me on a shift 7:00 - 17:00.

Now this week I already work 40 hours, and my contract states 39 per week. Doing this shift I will do about 3 hours overtime and also it is supposed to start 3 hours earlier before my book-on time.

I refused, however my admin said that as a spare I have to be available 4 hours before or 4 hours after my booked times (this is not in my contract).

I refused again and then I got a message that my admin contacted somebody (most likely a manager) and this request is now treated as a reasonable management.

It's worth mentioning that this kind of practice is common in my company, that is bullying people into working additional hours, or working outside their booked hours, especially when being on spare shift.

Where do I stand in this? Do I have to do as they tell me to in this case?


Kind regards.

[slainte caragh]

Tagging Ula

[paulajayne]

Contract of employment usually has a clause that if required by management etc.

[ULA]

What does you contract say about:

1. your normal working hours - start finish time and what days of the week?
2. what does your contract day about overtime and how it works?
3. What do you mean you area a "spare"? Is this your job role in that you are allocated work on a day-by-day/week-by-week basis depending on the needs of the business?

The answers to these questions would be useful in providing some assistance to you.

[Siarski]

Thank you for helping.

The answers are:

1. (quoting from my contract) 39 hours per week generally rostered over five days out of any seven. Following a reasonable request from management, you may be expected to work in excess of your normal working hours.

2. Could't find anything about overtime in my contract . I will ask my admin to provide me with some sort of document outlining these rules.

3. A "spare" shift is when you are in the office helping out and if anyone from the staff is unavailable for any reasons, you are expected to cover their shift. Spare shifts have set book-on and book-off times, which are being shown on individual rosters a week ahead (4:30-12;30, 10:00-18:00, and 16:30-22:30).


The last point is a problem, because the company is constantly putting spare people on shifts which end later than their book-off times, and recently starting earlier, like in my case 3 hours earlier. They say that we are expected to be available 4 hours before or after a book-on/off time (whichever they need). The nature of my work (transport) makes it impossible to set usual working hours, like 9-17, however spare shifts are the ones that have them.

[MIKE770]

what has this country workforce come to??

start looking for another suitable job in the meantime, we have in most cases been there, not like it move on! bellyaching does not work - end uo with no job, Tribunal uhmm another story