Forced to attend unpaid meetings

[Colonel]

Hello, my work shift starts at 9 am but I am told to arrive at 8.50 am, 5 days per week to for a morning brief. Here the manager talks about targets, expectations etc.

Manager threatens issuing lateness warnings for those not on time. Then I suppose manager will take action for repeated lateness such as giving the sack ... otherwise what's the point of issuing late slips.

Anyway, my question is : Because I'm not being paid to attend morning briefs, do I even have to attend? Do I even have to switch on a computer until 9 am if I don't want to? Can manager really say that someone is late when attending, effectively out of goodwill, because the person is not being paid.

NOTE: in the employment handbook (don't know if that's the same as the contract) it says staff should attend 10 minutes before the shift start time to set up the computers etc.

UK LAW

Thanks

[PallasAthena]

ULA is the expert on this and I expect wil comment soon but on the meantime to answer one question about the employment handbook. Typically contracts of employment deem employee handbooks and the like to be part of your contract of employment.

[ULA]

I agree your contract sets out the main contractual terms of your employment with the company and then the handbook sets out the policies and procedures relating to your employment.

If there is a policy requiring staff to be at work 10 mins before the start of their shift to prepare and actually commence work at 9am then the company can enforce that.

[Colonel]

Thanks

But should I be expected to sit through a morning brief? That's work isn't it and should be paid?

Just showing up 10 min early is not actual work

[PallasAthena]

The 10 minute briefing is made part of your hours so is covered by your pay if you are paid a fixed salary. If paid by the hour raise a grievance that you are not being paid for it.

Being briefed on work-related issues is work.

[Colonel]

The 10 minute briefing is made part of your hours so is covered by your pay if you are paid a fixed salary. If paid by the hour raise a grievance that you are not being paid for it.

Being briefed on work-related issues is work.

I am on a fixed salary from 9 am - 5.30 pm in the morning. I'm not paid per hour because I'm expected to do a full shift.

Being asked to arrive 10 mins early at 8.50 am I understand now, that this is part of the contract because its stated in the handbook.

BUT to have to sit through a morning brief about sales targets etc. is WORK so should be paid or given as time in lieu. Is that right?

Thanks

[PallasAthena]

In my opinion you are required to start work at 8.50am and the pay for this is include within your annual salary. You are not entitled to extra pay.

You could raise a Grievance about it but personally I wouldn't do that unless other employees were willing to raise it collectively.