Can my employer do this?

colleensims

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I normally work 37.5 hours a week mon-fri. Last week my boss asked me if I could do some overtime this week and next week, he said that I would get double pay instead of time and a half because he wanted to motivate more people to it more. I agreed that I would do an hour extra each day for the next two weeks.

But......this morning I had a leaking pipes in my kitchen (which was leaking into the flat below me) so I called work and said I would be in asap after the plumber had been round, they seemed fine about this at the time. However I got into work at 12.00pm (4 hours late, was meant to start at 8am) and he called me into a room and told me that because I havent done my full 37.5 hours he can only pay me time and a quarter instead of double time now. I fully accept that I shouldnt get paid for the 4 hours I was off, I will write on my time sheet I did 12.00 to 5.30pm, but is he allowed to change his mind about my overtime pay now? I have done overtime mon, tues this week and I am meant to continue tomorrow and friday aswell.
Does anybody know if they can do this? As I have already done overtime (mon,tues this week) which was before the incident this morning.

THANKS IN ADVANCE.

tigtag02

Most overtime rates do not kick in until the full time hours have been reached so yes, I would imagine that he can do this however unfair it may seem in the circumstances.

Sorry
tt

DVardysShadow

My reaction as employee or employer would be to accept that these things do happen and to offset the overtime already worked against the time lost this morning. So overtime is only paid in excess of 4 hours.

Now, if you have already worked over the 4 hours, you should clarify what rate he is paying for that - after making clear that you don't expect paying for the 4 hours. He may be thinking you are not going to relinquish the 4 hours. And then if he sticks by the original deal, carry on as before. But if he is cutting the rate for the rest of the week to time+25% rather than time+50%, then I would go home at normal finishing time.

colleensims

Thankyou for all the advice. I guess I should just forget about it, seems more hassle than its worth. I cant stand 'bad atmosphere's anywhere, let alone at work all day. I think if i were to say anything would end up feeling worse.

Uncertain

Seems a little pedantic under the circumstances.

However if there wasn't some such policy you could turn up two hours late every morning and do one hours "overtime" in the evening at double time. You would then end up with the same money for working five hours less per week!

dori2o

Just tell him to stick his overtime and don't volunteer in the future.

Savvy_Sue

Can you take the plumbing time as a half day's leave?