Xmas short days

doodles100

Hi
Please can someone offer advice...
I have worked for the same employer for nearly 7 years.
I have to apply for annual leave for bank holidays etc...however if I have worked a BANK HOLIDAY then its usually a shorter day, ie normal hours of work are 9-5.30, hence we work shorter day such as 10-5. For the first time ever on the recent August bank holiday staff we told they needed to "work their time back" which was 2.5 hours due to the department suffering an overload of work etc.. staff had done this without question, I thankfully was not affected.
We have recently been told that xmas eve and new years eve working hours will be 9-3. The "new" boss has said that if all work upto date then staff will not be asked to work time back and said boss was "putting her neck on the line" for this and this should not be discussed with any other department. At present I can see no way the "workload" will be upto date.
Therefore I would end up trying to work back 5 hours around the xmas period.
As I have never been asked to do this before I am unsure as to whether this can be correct. My contract does not specify this and I cannot find any information relating to this.
I can assure you I am not a complete whinger...but when I have spoken to friends etc about various and too many to mention company "goings ons" I am often met with jaw drops...
Please, please offer advice?
Thank you in advance

DVardysShadow

Are you in on the affected days as part of your basic hours, or is it overtime?

If it is basic hours, I would be arguing that management should open up on the day for normal hours - ie 9 - 5.30 and they should not be inconveniencing you with reduced hours and making you work the time back.

Fluffi

Why did you used to work shorter hours on Bank holidays, Christmas and New Years eve? Was it due to premise/office hours being limited, e.g. physically closing early or just the management being nice and letting people go early?

Christmas and New Years Eve are normal working days in the UK - not public holidays so any business that lets people go early are being generous and people that have booked a full day's leave for Christmas and New Years Eve probably feel cheated when they find their colleagues didn't do a full days work!

doodles100

Thanks above...

The company has chosen as they always do to close early on these days, but as I had said I have never before in 5 years been asked to work the time back which resulted in me asking the question. Its simply difficult for me to work time back due to childcare etc...its whole 5 hours and at that time of year. I have asked if i can work normal hours but have been told i cannot.