can they force us to do overtime

Jomo

donnajunkie wrote: »

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.

Well you mentioned MW, I didn't....

Let's get back to topic...the company were willing to pay for the 20 minutes required for training...I really think as a one off, that is fine.

terra_ferma

Jomo wrote: »

Not sure I'm with you.

Many companies do not pay overtime...

I hope you mean many companies expect senior staff to work unpaid overtime, and they are rewarded with higher salaries.

I think it's fair to expect an ambitious manager to work hard, with some limits, if they are rewarded for the additional responsibilities.
But it's definitely not acceptable to expect junior staff to work without being paid!

donnajunkie

Jomo wrote: »

Well you mentioned MW, I didn't....

Let's get back to topic...the company were willing to pay for the 20 minutes required for training...I really think as a one off, that is fine.

i agree. i just also understand why someone would not like being told they had to do it. they have asked us for advice and it is up to us to try and give all the angles.
it is also a disgrace to not pay an overtime rate for overtime. whether that be time and a quarter, time and a third etc.

Jomo

terra_ferma wrote: »

I hope you mean many companies expect senior staff to work unpaid overtime, and they are rewarded with higher salaries.

I think it's fair to expect an ambitious manager to work hard, with some limits, if they are rewarded for the additional responsibilities.
But it's definitely not acceptable to expect junior staff to work without being paid!

Why? That's the way it is...we have even had pay freezes...you remember the recession? We had pay freezes a year before talk of the public sector!

Of course I am talking about those at the very bottom of the ladder...do you really think I'd be talking about senior staff? Nope...

It is called the real world....

Like I say...20 mins paid overtime is nothing to complain about!

terra_ferma

Jomo wrote: »

Like I say...20 mins paid overtime is nothing to complain about!

You are right, I'm probably a bit naive.
But I agree that compared to other people's situations being asked to work 20mins extra with pay is not a big deal.

donnajunkie

terra_ferma wrote: »

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.

of course but like i said if they have good attendance and they dont make it obvious by just being off on this particular day and if they have gave their boss no clue about them not being up for it then they should get away with it unless the boss is really nasty. of course they would still be having to do the training but whether it would still be a scheduled 20 minutes overtime would be hard to tell.

Jomo

donnajunkie wrote: »

i agree. i just also understand why someone would not like being told they had to do it. they have asked us for advice and it is up to us to try and give all the angles.
it is also a disgrace to not pay an overtime rate for overtime. whether that be time and a quarter, time and a third etc.

Well I don't see the problem...it is essential so if it was me I'd just do it and shut up!

Tbh, our company has paid overtime when there have been out of the ordinary factors involved...extra work etc. but on a normal basis that isn't the case. I suppose it helps with your time management in the long run

terra_ferma

donnajunkie wrote: »

of course but like i said if they have good attendance and they dont make it obvious by just being off on this particular day and if they have gave their boss no clue about them not being up for it then they should get away with it unless the boss is really nasty. of course they would still be having to do the training but whether it would still be a scheduled 20 minutes overtime would be hard to tell.

..if her boss is really stupid. If someone shows this kind of attitude sooner or later they will be made to pay for it. Being asking for flexibility, being a promotion or worse if the boss needs to select people to lay off.
I'm not trying to be nasty, but try to make people understand that work is give and take.

donnajunkie

theres no better motivator to work hard than knowing you wont get paid for extra hours that may be needed. i cant say i wouldnt put up with it just like you are if i was in your position, i am in a union though. i havent usually put up with it in the past though and i guess that is part of why i am out of work. one company i worked at got rid of me because i wouldnt work all day sunday every sunday. i couldnt even get there on a sunday as i rely on public transport.

donnajunkie

terra_ferma wrote: »

..if her boss is really stupid. If someone shows this kind of attitude sooner or later they will be made to pay for it. Being asking for flexibility, being a promotion or worse if the boss needs to select people to lay off.
I'm not trying to be nasty, but try to make people understand that work is give and take.

i see what you are saying but they wouldnt be showing any attitude if their boss doesnt know they dont want to do it. someone could actually be genuinely off sick that day. sickness cant be scheduled around training. you are still right that there is an element of risk and i dont think they will choose this option anyway.