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Saturdays!
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hi. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. Here goes...
I work in a large department store. I'm full-time and have worked there for over 4 years. When I joined the company I was told (verbally) that I would be working Monday through to Friday with the Weekend off. Not surprisingly, management in retail come and go and that particular person has long left the company. I signed a contract which stated how many hours I would work per week but did not state which days.
I got promoted in Junior Management a couple of years ago and got a new contract. The amount of hours changed and I also became salaried. Again, it didn't state which days of the week I would work. So the last two years I've still been working Mon - Fri working the very odd Saturday (ie. 1 every 3 months) as favours.
We've got a new Store Manager on board and he wants me to work virtually every Saturday from now on which, for a number of reasons, I really don't want to do. I told him this but I got a 'needs of the business' reply. So, is he allowed to do this? Is there a minimum amount of notice he has to give me?
Unfortunately, I don't have children (to use as an excuse not to work!). Is there any other reason I can give that he has to accept?
Sorry it's a bit of a read. Any help appreciated!
city_boy
I work in a large department store. I'm full-time and have worked there for over 4 years. When I joined the company I was told (verbally) that I would be working Monday through to Friday with the Weekend off. Not surprisingly, management in retail come and go and that particular person has long left the company. I signed a contract which stated how many hours I would work per week but did not state which days.
I got promoted in Junior Management a couple of years ago and got a new contract. The amount of hours changed and I also became salaried. Again, it didn't state which days of the week I would work. So the last two years I've still been working Mon - Fri working the very odd Saturday (ie. 1 every 3 months) as favours.
We've got a new Store Manager on board and he wants me to work virtually every Saturday from now on which, for a number of reasons, I really don't want to do. I told him this but I got a 'needs of the business' reply. So, is he allowed to do this? Is there a minimum amount of notice he has to give me?
Unfortunately, I don't have children (to use as an excuse not to work!). Is there any other reason I can give that he has to accept?
Sorry it's a bit of a read. Any help appreciated!
city_boy
0
Comments
Chat to ACAS or whatnot.
What about a random religion that means you can't work on a saturday?
I'd be fishing for a pay rise to cover the anti-social hours tbh. That's normally the best way of scaring people off.
Work Saturday
Get demoted and continue with Mon-Fri
Leave
So, I've decided that I've spent the last 4 1/2 years working for a piss-take company who don't give a shit about their staff. Now...to find a new job, which is kind of scary as I've been working for the same company since I was 17.
That's rubbish! I would've thought that when you work, your hours are clearly set out. Can't you say that you have another job on a Saturday so you can't work on Saturday?
Interesting idea...
But doesn't the OP have the right to refuse to work certain days? (This is what my mum can do I think, but for her it's not just 'I don't want to work tonight'; it's always 'I'm already working somewhere else so I can't help you')
Are other members of the junior management team being requested to significantly change their hours?
In purely operational terms, I agree with this - it's fairly obvious that, if you're moving up in a retail chain - your hours might change.
I do however also think that the shop went a poor way about it, there was a lot of take and no give. Probably a good choice to move on.
Unlikely. Few people have their hours set out in their contract, and even if they do, most contracts of employment contain a clause which states the employer can change the hours to suit the needs of the business.
My firm are imposing mandatory overtime during a busy spell using the same clause.
Not really, no.
If the OP is the only one being forced to amend his hours to work Saturdays, then he would have a cause for complaint re: constructive dismissal. But if his senior management are simply revoking an agreement that the other staff on his grade do not enjoy then really the OP will have to lump it.
Yes, I know what you're saying, I understand peak trade in retail.
My frustration with the company was that I had always worked during the week. The structure at my store is that I work during the week actually managing the Sales Floor and two weekend 'Team Leaders' (p/t students) do the same but Sat and Sun. Due to the busyness of weekends they just 'maintain' the store rather than 'manage', which, to be honest, can be done by most of our long-term staff.
Although I didn't mention it in my original post, the main reason I did not want to work Saturday was due to a family member being very ill and it gives me the oppotunity to visit often (I live a 4hr round trip away). I told my Manager this when I spoke to him. As a member of mangement, I'm used to using my discretion with staff re: working hours due to compassion, religion, study, work experience etc and we make exceptions. It's the fact he cannot do this for me, or to be honest, even looked into making an effort to do so, that has really pissed me off.
Agreed.
That's really unfair. It's not as if you've told your manager 'I just don't want to work Saturdays' and not give a suitable reason.
He said:
As well as what TheShyBoyInTheCorner pointed out, my manager said I'd get a 'random' day off in the week ie. not Sun and Mon together. Therefore it does not help my circumstances at all.
btw, I'm salaried and do not earn overtime. I would still be doing my contracted hours but on a Sat and four weekays rather then Mon - Fri.
Yes, it does matter. Can you not read?
I would point out that companies are under a legal obligation to consider family issues when drawing up rotas, and that a change of working hours should be decided after discussion.
I'd definitely have a word with ACAS about compassionate grounds.
Thanks for your help
Good luck with getting a new job
Leaving a job without a new job to go to is not particularly wise (however desperate you are, I've been there...albeit in a different industry), though.
Oh, I mulled over it for a while but decided if I didn't I would be stuck in a rut. As it is, I'm pretty much prepared to take anything (Mon-Fri!)