Working extra hours but not on a contract..??

tw1nklestar

Wasnt quite sure where to put this so please move to where is most appropriate.

I work as a TA in a school - i get paid 27.5 hours per week and get paid an extra 2 1/2 hours per week doing NQT class cover, the HT wants to start a breakfast club and has asked me and one other to run it - brilliant i thought more money to throw at debts :j but have been told today the wages for breakfast club would be paid as overtime and not contracted - now it wouldnt normally matter but as i get WFTC and can only put down my contracted hours ie 27.5 and get my tax credit based on this - I have said to HT i need to check into it all as i dont want to be given a huge bill from WFTC next year as my P60 will make it look like they have been over paying me

whats the legality of taking on the this extra time and not have it written in our contracts..??

Hope someone can help - many thanks
sue

desperatelyinthered

No problem with working extra hours as overtime (especially if paid) - most employment contracts have a clause saying something like 'you may be required to work extra hours from time to time at the request of xxx and you will be paid in line with company's overtime policy'

I am not sure how it affects your tax credit etc, so its worth looking into that as you don't want to get in the position that you owe them money!

tw1nklestar

thanks for ur reply - if HT would put the hours on contract it would be so much better cos at least i could inform WFTC what hours i am working - all the overtime payments will just get me in arrears and not help with my DFW satus

chevalier

I am not sure about this, but I don't think you Head Teacher can do this. It is in effect permanent overtime, hence they should change your contract. There is some clause in the employment law about this, but I am not lawyer and it was a while since this came up where I worked. If you are in a union it might be worth running it by your union rep.
regards
chev

wannabedebtfree_2

You can earn up to an extra £25k without it affecting your WTC (although I wouldn't believe this, according to them they overpay me every year!!) You could work out how much extra you would be earning between now an next april and just inform the IR that you will be earning £X extra!

They are a total pain and will always get it wrong, so I understand your concern!!

tw1nklestar

many thanks for ur replies - that was my main conern as it is not contracted i cant go up the 30 hours per week WFTC which would be beneficial so would end up needing to pay back an overpayment just for trying to earn more money think i will give the breakfast club a miss unless the HT will add it to my contract - kind of sucks really when i would love to earn more to pay back debts but cant risk a huge bill next tax year or no WFFC whilst they work it all out