Help needed

salduck

Okay apologies in advance for the long post but I am really hoping for some good advice and want to make it as clear as possible

Okay the story starts with me moving to Belfast on a perm contract for the same company. I have worked now for 2 1/2 years for them,
I was taken on as a senior manager. I had 2 staff in the office and various others else where.
In my contract business development was a big part of it as was increasing sales in the shop.
One of the girls went on maternity leave and was not replaceed leaving me with just one staff member and me.
Said staff member is leaving 31st March and mat leave is due to finish 30th june for the other girl.
Work wants me to run the office on my own as a 5/6 day week for three months .
My contract is not as a consultant but as a manager
i am extremely wary of working on my own due to being involved in a robbery before xmas in the shop.
I am not convinced that the girl will come back after mat leave.
i will be unable to have holidays(already have 2 weeks in may approved and booked) days off, sickness
So i think you get the picture!!
We are talking about a long period of time with no break.
A very big change in contract in that i will have no staff to manage
And on another point I am so bored! I work in a great industry but as I am not doing my job due to lack of staff its driving me nuts!!
I have already started looking and applying!
Where do i stand contractually with this change in job role/ And also legally with reagrds to working hours, on my own etc??

many thanks in advance
Sally

HappyG1rl

Have you signed to opt out of the EC directive regarding maximum working hours of 48 per week? If you have not agreed to opt out then you cannot be forced to work longer than 48 hours.

Personally I think that having to work 5/6 days per week and being bored is not going to be very productive. Would your company not consider getting in a temporary worker to cover the maternity leave? That way you get to 'manage' that person and presumably everyone would be happy.

I suppose you should bear in mind that these are hard times financially and your company may be suffering. Is this not something you could try to see if it is manageable?

With regard to where you stand contractually, I suggest you contact ACAS and discuss it with them as they will know the legal aspects involved. I'd be surprised though if your job description doesn't include some sort of all-encompassing statement that says you have to do other duties as required for the efficient running of the company (mine always have).

salduck

Thanks very much!
They are hard times financially and there has been talk of closing the office and running as a call centr thru one of our other offices.
I dont want to go down the health and safety/legal route as have excellent working relationship with them I just want them to realise it is not an efficient way to run and the business will not develop if i cannot do business development due to being with clients all day.
Will contact acas now.
thanks again I know its a bit vague and may sound selfish but i feel like i have to look out for myself as well!
Sal
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