Help needed re working rights

jlw_3

Hi, I need some help. I work for a bank and have done so for 19 years. I work reduced hours leaving at 4.00pm on a Tuesday. I have done so for the past two years. My problem is that my branch has brought in weekly till balancing on a Tuesday - all tills only have to balance once a week. For the past 2 weeks it has been nearer 5.00pm when I have left work. My problem is that I changed to finishing at 4.00pm so that I could take my daughter to dance class starting at 5.00pm. I have asked what is the position regarding my staying beyond my finish time - the bank will not pay overtime for looking for errors (even though the till has been shared by 4 different cashiers and the error could belong to any of us - last week the error had happened on a day that I don't work) so I asked if it would be okay for me to leave at 4.00pm even if the till was wrong (other staff are paid until 4.45 pm and someone else could look for the error) only to be informed that I would have the error logged against me. Sorry to rant on but feeling a bit peeved. It wouldn't bother me but to I have to explain to a child that they can't go to dance class through no fault of their own - it really annoys me. I know I could look for a different dance class but this would cause me a lot of hassle. Does anyone know how I stand on my employment rights and is it worth involving my union.

hjb123

I think that the best option for you is to speak to your union who should be able to advise you on your situation and what you are or arent entitled to. It may also be worth contacting ACAS

You could always move the dance class if your daughter was willing to - but in the end why should you move something in case the tills dont balance at work?!

Just to confirm - are you not getting paid at all beyond 4pm?

I would also dig out a copy of your contract and see what it says.

jlw_3

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm paid until 4.00pm. Anything after that is supposed to be overtime except the bank doesn't pay overtime for looking for cash errors! It's very difficult to start balancing any earlier than I do as we are a busy branch and only have 3 counter staff on - I started to balance at 3.30pm. I'm more peeved than anything because I'm a very good cashier and make very few mistakes - when we balanced every night I was 99.9% right every time now that we're till sharing things have gone to pot. This week 3 other cashiers had been in the till as well so the mistake could have been made by anyone of us. Also I always start before my starting time and usually don't leave on time either - I have never begrudged doing this but it was more the attitude which was used that really upset me. I was made to feel as though I shouldn't be asking but that I should just shut up and look for the mistake. As it was I could still be there now looking for the error as I didn't find anything but I just wanted to get away so passed the error.

hjb123

Well if you arent getting paid past four I fail to see why you should stay! I would certainly get in touch with either your Union or ACAS to clarify your position.

CFC

You've worked there for a long time, try once again to resolve the situation before you have to start talking about your contract and your rights. You certainly don't want to work in a bad atmosphere and you risk that once you stand on your rights.

I'd like to suggest that you approach your boss again, point out that you changed your hours because you have a commitment on Tuesdays which means that you finish at 4pm and not at 4.45pm, and this reduction in hours has been agreed. Suggest that either they find an alternative to you staying to balance the till, or that you start the balancing process at 3pm at the latest and ask which would suit them best, given that you cannot stay past your contractual work time on Tuesdays, and ask your boss what the solution is.

If you get no joy then speak to your union and have a copy of your contract for them to look at. It all depends what is in your contract. Not everyone has a right to overtime under all circumstances, and people can be expected to stay past their usual work ending time - it all depends what the contract states.

For example, I can (and on occasion do) make my staff work compulsoury overtime - but the interesting thing is that they have no right to be paid for that time...but I'm not so evil as not to pay them! :-)