Working for a Supermarket

givememoney

Thank you all for your replies.

If you say he's paid according to the clocking in out systems, then that is fine. He wasn't too happy about the prospect of working extra time but not being paid for it.

jobbingmusician

I would check his payslip if I were you - I wouldn't put it past firms to 'cap' his weekly payment at 35 hours unless he has written authorisation of overtime.

If he IS actually being paid for the hours he works, that's fine, but if it's being capped you need to take this up with the HR/Personnel department.

peter999

givememoney wrote:

He is at present a dot.com picker but will also be driving when trained.

This is only his second week so he doesn't want to appear troublesome yet, but Tesco are worth millions so if this is some sort of `thing they do` I feel it is very deceitful.

How do you think people/companies get rich ??

The supermarkerts & banks are the most ruthless employers & make most profits.

Why do you think half a million Poles have come to work in low paid jobs
in this country, to make others rich.

Tescos & these employers are not complaining, they're getting
a ready supply of cheap uncomplaining insecure labour.

What is dot.com driver/picker
-is it a cliche for a super enthusiastic employee who jumps to do his job
& whatever he is told, doesn't complain & is always grateful.

barjam_2

dot com driver/picker are for internet shopping, pickers are the ones in store with huge trolley full of baskets doing the picking of shopping for customers who ordered online and the driver is pretty obvious;) he does the delivering of the shopping;)

davsidipp

tesco does not seem that bad in comparison to aldi daughters b/f works for them and has been there two months , they expect him to start 15 mins not paid and at least half an hour after shift to clear up also not paid. in a week of working there they get five hours out of him and not having to pay him, he does not want to say anything as he is still on trial but has been told 30 people have worked there in the last year and left for some reason or other. i doubt very much they treat there staff in germany like that.

Astaroth

My guess would have been that it is also the fact that they are getting unpaid breaks in addition to the lunch hour. Of cause the other way to look at it is the fact that the average person now gets a 19 minute lunch hour so getting a full 30 minutes isnt that bad going and likewise many people work significantly longer than their contract unpaid.

Ultimately a lot depends what you want to get out of it. If you want your 9-5 job and accept being in the same level of job the day you retire then it is certainly worth always sticking up for your rights. If you want to move up in a company then it is fairly accepted that you will at times willingly lose out now on the hope for better in the future.... I know I work for a banking group, one of the other harsh employers listed (though personally I wouldnt really agree) but my contract states 35 hours as required with no option for paid overtime but I cant remember the last time that I worked less than 45 hours... but then when I work out my hourly rate based on a 45 hour week I am still happy with the end figure and my "dedication" is noted so hopefully salary will continue is rapid increases (in 3 years it has more than quadrupled)

sammyjammy

Having worked at Tesco I can confirm it isn't a good place to be, I was given a written warning for putting something thorugh the till twice (yeah I did it on purpose - not!) It was the straw that broke the camels back, they are petty minded and cheap, the management team were a joke, they had no idea about staff management and morale, I seem to remember that the 15 minute breas are unpaid, if he works five days a week this would equate to the missing 2.5hrs.

Sam

DjSatansfury

At a certain high street retailer, i would quite often work till 6.00pm (occasionally after) while only being paid till 5.30pm.

Thats a whole lot of half hours lost, for nothing.

Andy_L

How does his contract state 35 hours?

Some say X hours excluding lunch (& tea) breaks

Some say Y hours including Z hours of lunch (& tea) breaks

shopbot

I would read through his contract + employee handbook. I would also strongly recommend he keeps a diary of the hours he works. He can then check this against his payslip. If it is consistently wrong then thats the time to have an informal word with one of his Managers.

Retail has a long hours culture. I know of non-retailers who if they work 15 mins over their contract hours start clocking up the lieu/overtime. Unfortunately retail isn't like that and it affects all staff positions from Sales Assistants to Managers. My best advice is if he is being asked to work additional overtime unpaid on a systematic basis then that is the time to be concerned. If it's irregular (maybe because of exceptional events) then unfortunately thats the nature of the industry.