can they force us to do overtime

donnajunkie

paulwf wrote: »

Can I clarify that I'm reading this correctly? The company has asked you to book 20 minutes overtime and in return they will pay you 20 minutes at standard rate?

If so and you find this a concern it sounds like there are other larger issues that are causing problems with staff moral. Concentrate on these and pick your battles carefully. This is not a big deal to stress over.

while they are right to be annoyed about this you are right. the kind of companies i have worked for expected a minimum of 10 hours overtime every week whether you wanted to do it or not. although they at least paid a proper overtime rate.
i am curious what would happen if you dont manage to learn it in the 20 minutes.

donnajunkie

baby_fuzz wrote: »

I know I'm sounding a bit troll-y, but I am of the 'work hard, quite complaining' mentality. I don't mean to personally attack the OP, it's just that it sounds like there are a few deeper-rooted issues here.

'can then force us to do overtime?' - no they can't. There is such a thing as free will. Do what you want. If you don't want to do the training, then you will probably be of no use to them. Sounds like you don't like your job anyways, so get a new job. Like I said before, when there are so many people out there who have been made redundant, and need work in these troubled times, you should be grateful for what you've got.

this translated means companies can get away with treating workers badly because there are plenty of people who are willing to let them.

Jomo

donnajunkie wrote: »

while they are right to be annoyed about this you are right. the kind of companies i have worked for expected a minimum of 10 hours overtime every week whether you wanted to do it or not. although they at least paid a proper overtime rate.
i am curious what would happen if you dont manage to learn it in the 20 minutes.

Where I work they expect you to do your job, if necessary that could mean working more than 10 hours a week overtime, unpaid.

I don't think 20 mins is worth moaning about, and that is paid!

donnajunkie

of course you could be crafty and phone in sick for a couple of days. obviously not just for that day. for example if it is scheduled for a tuesday phone in sick monday and tuesday. you cant help being ill. they cant hold that against you. you could also get someone to phone you at work an hour before saying there is an emergency at home.
however it is probably better to just do it with it only being 20 minutes.

donnajunkie

Jomo wrote: »

Where I work they expect you to do your job, if necessary that could mean working more than 10 hours a week overtime, unpaid.

I don't think 20 mins is worth moaning about, and that is paid!

you do realise that they are breaking the law by paying you less than the minimum wage.

Zazen999

donnajunkie wrote: »

of course you could be crafty and phone in sick for a couple of days. obviously not just for that day. for example if it is scheduled for a tuesday phone in sick monday and tuesday. you cant help being ill. they cant hold that against you. you could also get someone to phone you at work an hour before saying there is an emergency at home.
however it is probably better to just do it with it only being 20 minutes.

Hell, why not take the week off? Or the month; of course you might well end up getting sacked but what the heck - it's not like there is a recession on or anything is there?

Jomo

donnajunkie wrote: »

you do realise that they are breaking the law by paying you less than the minimum wage.

Not sure I'm with you.

Many companies do not pay overtime...

donnajunkie

Zazen999 wrote: »

Hell, why not take the week off? Or the month; of course you might well end up getting sacked but what the heck - it's not like there is a recession on or anything is there?

a bit over the top dont you think? if they have a good attendance record a couple of days sick is no big deal. that is simply a way out of it if they really dont want to do it. although i guess the boss still wouldnt be too happy but its better than saying no i wont do it. of course that is quite odd but true. if you read my post properly you will have seen i did say that they should just put up with it.

edit.
if they were to do this they should also make sure no-one at work has any idea that they arent up for the overtime otherwise they will put 2 and 2 together. i mean even work mates not just the boss.

donnajunkie

Jomo wrote: »

Not sure I'm with you.

Many companies do not pay overtime...

the law states that you must be paid at least £5.73 per hour or whatever the minimum wage is now. if there are ways to get out of that i am sure someone here will say.

terra_ferma

donnajunkie wrote: »

a bit over the top dont you think? if they have a good attendance record a couple of days sick is no big deal. that is simply a way out of it if they really dont want to do it. although i guess the boss still wouldnt be too happy but its better than saying no i wont do it. of course that is quite odd but true. if you read my post properly you will have seen i did say that they should just put up with it.

People give such bad advice sometimes!
If the employer spots a pattern in your sickness (e.g. one day off when e specific event is due to take place) you'd be putting your job at risk. Many companies monitor sickness, some have software that helps them.