Employment contract....more money making I guess.....

laurajayne

Hi there, I'm not entirely sure where to put this, as it doesn't seem to fit any heading....as I say, it's more about making money than saving I guess.

Basically my question is this. I am employed, and I have a contract (So far so good lol). My contract has the usual bumf on it:

The company reserves the right to make reasonable ammendments to your statment of particulars of employment....

The company may ammend your duties from time to time, and, in addition....may be required to take additional duties as necessary to meet the needs of the business....

And the two important parts (well, in relation to my question....which is coming, I promice....)

Your normal working week will comprise 35 hours...usually arranged 9-5 Mon to Fri... with one hour unpaid meal break...within your 35 hours you will also be part of a weekend rota for Saturday cover....

In addition to your normal hours of work, you are required to work any necessary additional hours to carry out your duties to the companies satisfaction

(I've typed it all out, but may not be needed lol)

Right, I work as an Admin bod, answering emails, queries etc. I never take my 1 hr break, because I would not finish my assigned work at 5 if I did...and as they said, I have to keep on working til it's done. So I already give them 5 hours a week for free.

I have been added to the Saturday working rota - 1 week in 6 (took them a while lol), BUT, my manager has announced that the extra hours will be 'absorbed' into our working week, and that neither time, nor money will be given for those extra hours. Is that allowed...making me work for nothing? As a permanent fixture?

I hope someone knows the answer, cos I don't think they can....their job ain't that fantastic lol.

Thanks in advance....and again, apologies if this is the wrong board

Astaroth

I would get clarification of what your manager means by "absorbed" into the week.... normally this would mean if you do a 1/2 day on saturday you get a 1/2 day off some time in the week so that you remain at the contracted 35 hours (plus any extra time you choose to give them to make yourself look good)

Certainly people who are salaried generally have contracts that do not pay overtime and whilst they stipulate "35 hours" everyone knows that they will be doing much more hours for that but at the same time they also tend to get paid enough not to "mind" putting in an extra couple of hours a day.

laurajayne

They used to give half days off during the week, for those that did Saturday, however they have changed what we need to do, and added me and my supervisor to the rota.

When they announced that; my manager said 'I'm sure none of us mind absorbing these hours into our working week....we will no longer be giving the half days' or words to that effect.

I wouldn't mind, and neither would my supervisor if we were getting the same rate of bonuses as the rest (we joined too late), the other staff members are in line to earn £10, £20 or £30k at the end of the year.....I'd do a few extra hours too if I knew I was getting that!

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind working a few extra hours here and there...but I don't like being told that I must do it, and do it for free....as I think that's what they're up to - could have got this all wrong though, and thats why I ask....

Thanks again x

blackcateddie

I always thought they can't do this - surely you don't have to do it for free!
If it's absorbed into the working week then in theory you should still be working 35hours, the other bumf is suppossed to be occassionally, not all the time otherwise you aren't working 35hrs are you.
i would seek clarification from him and then send a letter to HR saying that if they expect you to do X number of hours extra every week then you expect your salary to increase acordingly or it's not possible for you to do it. Afterall your contract clearly states your working week should be 35hrs.

devlinder

Try these- they know everything that needs to be known about employment law.http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=301

fast_track

If they arbitarily increase your hours they therefore cut your hourly rate of pay. I would therefore argue that this is an illegal deduction in pay. It may also mean that they are breaching the minimum wage regulations, minimum wage is £5.35 per hour from October 1st