Xmas Eve working to 8pm. Problems getting home!

surreysaver

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Christmas Eve is a normal working day. I also have to work Christmas Eve, oh and Boxing Day, New Years Day and Good Friday for the matter. If you do not like that, then it is time to get another job.

Fair enough - but if workers in the past have been going home at 4pm and no mention has been made of an alteration to this practice until the last minute, then that is hardley fair, is it? Oh, and for your record, I have to work Christmas day as well as those you have to work.

a11waysindebt

Put your self in the shoes of the MFI and woollies staff over Christmas and think your self lucky you have a job.

No work,No money,A mortgage to be paid.Worrying your self sick.

ceridwen

outsetsailer wrote: »

We have written a collective letter mentioning 1. The short notice of implementing the working hours for Xmas Eve 2. Their justifications of asking us to work til 8pm due to (a) we don't normally finish that time on Wednesdays and (b) the lull of calls after 2pm and 3. Unreasonableness of expecting us to work til 8pm. We did collect a list of those who ARE able to work either they have a car or know someone who will pick them up. We asked for able, not willing as no-one is willing to work these hours, but are able to. I think about 1 in 8 is able to work. Management said 'Wait and see' in an unwilling tone.

Most people aren't able to work after their contracted time on certain days of the week normally, due to commitments.

This was a tricky thing to get us together as we don't have e-mail.

I would like to hear your opinions on this after I added more problems.

Well...that rather answers the posters who keep stating that you are only being asked to work to your normal time - its not just a case of normal time is 4pm Christmas Eve - normal time is 5.30pm Wednesdays. So - management are expecting you to work on beyond "normal time".

I think that letter was a pretty constructive approach to take. How in all honesty CAN management now expect you to work on when you've all made it very clear that most of you cant and the need isnt there anyway. They will be very obviously unreasonable indeed if they dont change their minds and take up the offer from those who ARE able to work on later. Maybe they will have visions of "Scrooge" employer article in the local newspaper now after that - and wont want that happening we presume.

Good luck.

ceridwen

a11waysindebt wrote: »

Put your self in the shoes of the MFI and woollies staff over Christmas and think your self lucky you have a job.

No work,No money,A mortgage to be paid.Worrying your self sick.

I am sorry to hear that you are in this position.

Many people are losing their jobs at present - but that must not be taken as an excuse by employers to worsen the conditions and/or pay of those that have one. Anyone who suggests otherwise is rather at risk of the phrase "sour grapes" coming up.

Bernie_Flint

I too work anti-social hours (12 hour shifts) and live 20 miles (40 mile round trip) from the work place.

Last year, I got rid of my car (cost cutting exercise), and purchased a brand new Chinese 50cc Scooter from my local dealer for £800. My (fully comp) insurance is £70 a year. Road Tax is £15 per year. You can drive a 50cc moped/scooter on a full car licence without L plates, and (if you are brave enough), carry a passenger. No CBT is required (as long as you have an full UK driving licence and engine size is no greater than 50cc).

I purchased it in Nov 07. Kitted myself out with an all in one quilted one piece waterproof suit (warm and dry during my commutes), and have used my scoot in all weather for every shift. I added a top box to my rack (good for holding a couple of bags of shopping or a crate of beer)!

The best bit. The scoot can do approx 100 miles on a full tank, and over a 12 month period has cost me £4 a week to run. It's a glorified push bike really (restricted to 30mph), but no need to peddle.

I don't know how far from work you live Outsetsailor, but maybe you could consider this mode of transport for next year?

If you want to see the style of scoot (in case you think you might look a bit of a tit) here is a short Video: HERE

clairec79

I think you have a good case for arguing a 5.30pm finish

outsetsailer

a11waysindebt wrote: »

Put your self in the shoes of the MFI and woollies staff over Christmas and think your self lucky you have a job.

No work,No money,A mortgage to be paid.Worrying your self sick.

Been there myself with Allders! Allders were put up for sale in Dec 2004 and went into admin 6 weeks later. Six weeks after that, I was jobless!

So I do know how Woollies and MFI staff are going through. Though to be fair, getting jobs then was A LOT easier than today.

Liz3yy

ceridwen wrote: »

But then...why should you be p....d off with "yourself" because you dont drive.....employers are NOT entitled to expect everyone to have a car.
.

I agree, I work for a firm thats based in the sticks so to speak and me and the cleaner are the only people who dont drive in. At the moment I take the bus in the morning and my boyfriend picks me up in the evening. I used to be incredibly embarrased about it but now I dont care. I get to work on time, do a good hard honest days work then go home again, how I get there and back is no concern of anyone.

SomeBozo

A_Nice_Englishman wrote: »

Suggested draft letter from staff to management

Dear Management

CHRISTMAS EVE COVER

Last Christmas Eve the number of incoming calls after 4pm was very low - please see the attached printout [hopefully actual stats are available, not just anecdotal evidence].

Many of us have no alternative but to use public transport to get home and the last buses/trains leave around 5pm.

We feel that x staff would be sufficient to handle the expected number of calls after 4pm. Mr x, Mrs Y , Mr Z [etc] have their own cars or can arrange lifts or car-sharing and are willing to work until 8pm. It would be appreciated if the rest of us could finish at 4pm . We would not expect to be paid until 8pm

In this way, the company saves money on wages, customers receive the service they expect and those of us reliant on public transport do not have to pay taxi fares to get home.

We hope you will agree to our suggestion


Signed

All the Staff

Heres a possible reply to this letter :



Dear Mr X

Thanks for your letter.

Can you please clarify which employees are party to this letter. Please can you re-supply the letter with printed named and job titles with signed employee signatures.



IMO no one would put their name to this and the letter would die. I think I read somewhere as well that the OP is on diciplinary anyway which would add a level of sceptism from management and reluctantancy from other employees.

Add into this the current economic climate and the motion would be over.

Bozo

lrr_2

I thought that if there is no public transport an employer cannot force you to work, especially given the short notice unless they provide transport? In the last place I worked, if the weather was bad and the buses were going off we were all sent home. Also is there not something to do with the employers insurance - im thinking in the way that if you ill at work for instance they are supposed to make sure you get home safely i.e paid taxi in case something happens.

Tell them you will only work till 4pm as you will not be putting your personal safety at risk for the sake of a few hours and that they can dock the other hours wages if they like. It would probably cost you that on a taxi fare alone, that assuming you could probably get a taxi!

Are you in a union?