Dispute over contracted hours - STRESSED!

FOXGLOVE_2

I started a job early September working in the cash office of a new supermarket opening nearby. I trained at another similar sized store working 7am-4pm. When I had my interview I was told my hours would be 7am-1pm.

So I started to ask colleagues why my hours were only 7am-1pm, and was told that there is a new system being rolled out which cuts down the amount of work needed so the day can be closed at 1pm. As I was going to the new store I just assumed that I would continue working 7am-4pm until this new way came in. The girl that I share the job with works 7am-4pm, she was previously working for another supermarkets cash office which closed and our supermarket took over so her hours stayed the same.

Having had no experience before and handling large sums of money a day etc, I understand that I have to be careful and not make mistakes with the cash. Problem is, I'm having managers coming to me saying I should be finished for 1pm. I usually finish around 4pm and that's only after a few months experience and going as quickly as I possibly can.

They just keep saying my contracted hours are 7am-1pm and that I should be gone by then. I have tried telling them that even when I go quickly, it takes a lot longer than they are saying and the girl who works 7-4 agrees. When I ask/suggest that my 1pm finished is based on the new way of working (which our store is yet to get) they say no its not etc and that if I'm not finished for 1pm, to leave the work for this other girl the next day.

I could never do this as the job is stressful enough and the smallest problem can turn into a huge task just to sort out so neither of us need extra headaches.

This all came to a head yesterday when a senior manager - who has a complete lack of people skills - had a go at me and was moaning about the overtime I was doing. The guy's made a lot of enemies and I'm used to him being a bit of a pig so I tried not to take it personally but it did upset me.

My workmate is now unhappy at the thought of having to do half my work and her own - I don't blame her. I have spoken with my immediate manager and told him everything and he says he will find out the reason for my hours and contact other stores to see what hours they work.

I am not in the Union and I plan to join but where do I stand when I am telling them that the job cannot be done in the hours they say.

I am totally paranoid that I am slow and they'll get rid of me or something. I have been rushing every day and worried that because my eye is constantly on the clock, I'm going to make a mistake which will only make things worse.

FOXGLOVE_2

Also does anyone know if the Union would see this as a matter which existed before I joined up?

2791trauts

Affraid I can't offer any advice. I just wish that some of these company executives would come out of their ivory towers and go down to the bottom of the chain and try and do some of these jobs for themselves, they might then gain a better understanding about what their staff members actually do.

I'm self employed these days, but when I used to be employed the best department manager I had was one who had actually previously done the job that I was doing, when he moved on things where never right because all the other managers we had had never done the job.

FOXGLOVE_2

2791trauts wrote: »

Affraid I can't offer any advice. I just wish that some of these company executives would come out of their ivory towers and go down to the bottom of the chain and try and do some of these jobs for themselves, they might then gain a better understanding about what their staff members actually do.

I'm self employed these days, but when I used to be employed the best department manager I had was one who had actually previously done the job that I was doing, when he moved on things where never right because all the other managers we had had never done the job.

My immediate boss is supportive and tries to gain as much insight into the job as he can but ultimately has to answer to this pig manager who is obviously not wanting to pay me beyond 1pm.

Maybe I'm just slow. I get the feeling that is what they are going to say, despite everyone else having three more hours in which to do the job. I don't even take a break some days - which I know is my choice - but I figure that the quicker I finish, the less grief I get.

I'm now having to choose between doing what I'm told - leaving at 1pm and then having the tension between myself and other workmate who is not gonna be happy about picking up where I left off. Or I just continue working until the work is finished.

You're right, the managers have no clue about the day to day running or what's involved. The first few weeks of working there was a complete nightmare and we regularly had to go thru 12 hours shifts correcting other departments mistakes.

Ironically, my interview was for a general assistant but was offered the cash office position instead. I know that if I was on checkouts, I would clock out on time and not have all this stress.

getmore4less

Work till 1pm and leave unless they authorise overtime.

That's what you were expecting when you took on the role.

If they comment on the job not getting done just say it needs more hours and you want them in the contract and not as overtime so you get holiday pay for them.

The other person has more hours, if they are not happy with their workload that is their problem to sort out.

FOXGLOVE_2

getmore4less wrote: »

Work till 1pm and leave unless they authorise overtime.

That's what you were expecting when you took on the role.

If they comment on the job not getting done just say it needs more hours and you want them in the contract and not as overtime so you get holiday pay for them.

The other person has more hours, if they are not happy with their workload that is their problem to sort out.

I spoke to the other person and told them that I was being told to do that and she was furious. I know that two voices are better than one when it comes to managers but the impact of me doing what they say will make our jobs even harder. I've already spoken to the checkout manager and if nothing improves here I'll ask for a move.

A quitters choice maybe but can do without the stress, especially when an employer is trying to avoid giving you reasonable hours required to do the job.

All I'm trying to do is do my job. I have never been afraid of hard work but I'm fighting an uphill battle here.

Has anyone had experience like this or anyone know if the Union is a sensible option here?

getmore4less

Not sure what the Union can do,

They are giving you a reasonable option work your contracted hours and the excess work will get done by somewone else or will wait till the following day.

Let the managment worry about what work gets done when and by who.

If they start questioning your productivity then thats another issue that you need to defend

Get evidence that you allready questioned the hours/work load ballance and that your productivity is not an issue.

Keep a record of the overtime done so far as well, that is further evidence that there is more work than can be done in standard hours, if productivity was an issue that should have been addressed before approving overtime.

How is holiday and sick cover managed?

FOXGLOVE_2

I'm left to my own devices so they don't actually see the speed I go at, just assume that because I don't finish when contract says that there's room for improvement.

I don't know how sick or holiday cover works as I started two months ago. Do you mean what happens if one of us is on holiday or sick? The other has to cover. Only us two are trained.

I know what hours I've worked and so do they. I just wish they'd listen. Maybe I care too much.

Sambucus_Nigra

I can't see what the problem is. You are contracted to work 7am until 1pm. So leave at 1pm.

ceridwen

The thing is that you are being conscientious and trying to do the job properly. But - these days - many managers (for any firm, etc) dont want the job done properly. What they want is for it to take the amount of time they have been told by higher-ups that it takes.

Lots of people are exposed to this these days in a variety of workplaces.

What you need to do is to stop letting your work colleague put pressure on you to make her life easier by doing unpaid overtime every day to try and get the job done properly. You have explained to your work colleague what the situation is and that you want to do the job properly - but arent being allowed enough time to do this. So - just do your job until 1pm and then leave each day.

You know/we know that that means things will probably "mess up" - but it wont be YOUR fault. It will be the firms' fault for not having thought this through properly.

Leave at 1pm and throw all the blame for the job being messed-up right back where it belongs (ie at the firm).

I understand why your work colleague is pressuring you - but they are being totally unreasonable to expect you to do 3 hours unpaid overtime per day to make life easier for them. Would they put in 15 hours unpaid overtime per week to make YOUR life easier? I doubt it...

PasturesNew

Also, legally, you'd have to stop at 1pm as by then you'll have done 6 hours' work.

So, at 1pm, pick up your bag and go - it'll hurt ... it'll hurt a lot, feeling you left work undone. But do it.