whats the minimum hours for full time employee?

marcostupid · 2 February 2009 at 3:19AM

The company I work for in London has a history of sending employees home early when there is no work for them to do. Most of them are full time status. Is there any law that defines what full time means and is there a minimum number of hours that the employer has to provide? Can they just sent you home and short the employee 10-20 hours a week when they have regular schedules for 40 to 48 hours a week?
What would you do if your employer says "better less hours than no job". Is this right? Now is a hard time to find a job i understand but is this right and legal what the company is doing?

snowqueen555 · 2 February 2009 at 4:54AM

I'm not 100% sure but you should have a work contract which will detail how many hours you are contracted to work a week... they can't really send you home earlly unless you give them permission

Full time is generally seen as around 37hrs, don't quote me on that, I am sure some other peope will come in and help you!

ceridwen · 2 February 2009 at 8:06AM

Hi

Not sure on the law on this - but you could try hunting round the workers rights section of the TUC website and see what you can find:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_main.cfm

I always tend to think a full-time worker is a full-time worker is a full-time worker - luckily I havent/never will be put in the position where there is any question about it (in one job once my employer said there was no work for me and asked if I wanted to go home - to which my response was "Will I still be paid as normal?" On getting told I wouldnt - I said "I'll just stay here then" and did). My workweek - as a full-time worker - has been between 35 hours and 40 hours always. 35 hours was an unusually short one for me - but that was what it was for us all with that particular employer. I would think 35 hours is the shortest that is ever regarded as being a full-time worker - but surely custom and practice as to your normal workweek would apply here??? Do check that link and see if theres anything helpful there on this - the TUC has produced a flurry of new workers rights leaflets in the current climate to cope with what is happening now (come to think of it - must send for them all myself....)

PasturesNew · 2 February 2009 at 8:36AM

I don't know if there's any formal definition, but I've only ever worked full-time and my experience has been that 37.5-42 hours/week for full-time office work is "the norm", with a 35 hour week being "Blimey, getting off light here".

Mon-Fri, 9-5 is a myth in my experience and full-time is more likely to be 8-6, 8.30-5.30 or 9-5.30.

LittleVoice · 2 February 2009 at 11:25AM

The state seems to use different measures - eg 16 hours prevents you receiving JSA, different number for working tax credits etc.

There is no fixed minimum in law.

flea72 · 2 February 2009 at 11:31AM

working over 12hrs in a 7day period, is classed as full time

but in your case, you would have to refer to your contract. that should detail how many hours you have to work, but also any clauses that allows the employer to send you home during quite periods. however, they still have to pay you for your contracted hours. they are pulling a fast one if they think that they can drop wages, if you arent at work, when they insisted you go home

Flea

dawnybabes · 2 February 2009 at 3:47PM

Check your contract - do you do the same hours every week ? If its a zero hour contract then yes I think they can just send you home

marcostupid · 2 February 2009 at 6:15PM

Hi Guys,

Hope you all rest well coz of adverse weather. Really appreciate all your advice. I have looked through the contract. well, it is 0-20 or 0-40 hours and the company reserve the rights to reduce staff hours. So, I guess I cant do anything if they cut off my working hours becuase of the business is not running well. BUT my point is they cant just send me home as they like when the sechedule has been fixed.and I try to find out how to protect myself from this as there is very little evidence to prove. And Funny enough today, i cant go to work due to the weather condition and most of transportations has been suspended for safety purpose in London. i rang up to notify my General Manager early morning and asked him whether or not i will get paid for it as it is not my fault not to come to work. He told me "No, coz you dont work why should you get paid". I rang Head office and they told i had to resolve this matter with my General manager. At this point, I feel I am really disappointed and really hopeless. My wife has suggested me to take this matter with Civil Bureau advice for further action. What do you all guys think. Should I go straight to CBA for help. OR should I Have a strong coversation with my general manager.

PasturesNew · 2 February 2009 at 6:21PM

I would not have been expected to be paid today if I had a job and hadn't been able to get there for snow (or any other reason). I'd expect one of the following to occur:
- I'd have to book it as annual leave to be paid
- I'd have to take it as unpaid leave
- If on flexi-time, I'd be able to make up the time

If you don't work, you don't get paid. That's a pretty general rule.

marcostupid · 3 February 2009 at 12:58AM

"If you don't work, you don't get paid. That's a pretty general rule." Sounds ground to me... So I guess been employed without good will is also pretty general. Let me just pin down one thing. I dont expect to snow and cerntainly not expect all the transportations were suspended TODAY. Would you be HAPPY. You suppose to travel today and all flights have been cancelled due to safety purpose. You have paid tkt and turned up in the airport on time and unable to get the plane. well. trust me the ppl from the airpot will tell you off that it is not their problems. SEE HOW YOU FEEL, I GUESS you could taste bitter flavour, which is same as you cant get paid coz of natural circumstance.

Mudd14 · 3 February 2009 at 8:48AM

If you have a contract that clearly specifies a set amount of hours guarentted to work they can only put you on short time work for 4 weeks (or 6 in 13 non consequetive (sp) weeks), once on short time work they are only able to reduced your hours by 50%. If hours are reduced under 50% then after the 4 or 6 weeks you are deemed to be made redundant which most companies will not want.

To permanently reduce your hours they will need to vary the terms and conditions of your employment which can only be done with your permission. All though they may give the option of reducing your hours or starting the redundancy procedure!

whats the minimum hours for full time employee?

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