Getting sick of new job

Payless_2

I've been in this job for only 5 weeks and am getting fed up already. They keep changing my shifts at the last minute and this week I have absolutely no idea what hours I am working from Wed to Fri. Today I am finishing work at 10.30 tonight and they want me in the office at 9 tomorrow. I desperately need to go to the hairdressers plus I don't know what to buy from the supermarket each week as I don't know who will be cooking it - my son's culinary skills are very basic.

Surely employers should have to let you know your working hours more than a day in advance. I only found out about tomorrow 5 minutes ago.

fluffnutter

You might also want to try moving this to the employment board. The first thing that springs to my mind is have you been asked to sign something that voluntarily opts you out of the Working Time Regulations. If not, then the following applies:

The legal number of hours between shifts is determined by the Working Time Regulations 1998. They state that the minimum rest period in a 24-hour period should not be less than eleven consecutive hours. In brief, workers are entitled to at least 11 hours rest per day, at least one day off each week and a rest break during the shift if it is longer than six hours. An employer cannot insist that a worker works more than 48 hours per week. Any more than 48 hours are voluntary and subject to an Opt Out agreement.

Are you being asked to work more than this? What time did you start today? I'm also trying to find a link about your employer being obliged to let you know what your shifts are in advance (I believe they do) but haven't found anything yet.

dini1963

I dont think there is something about notifying you of shifts - it would be good practice tho. The difficulty is with only having worked there for 5 weeks, if you kick off about it they will end within probation. While you could sue that your termination was for "asserting a statutory right", i.e. rest breaks etc, its of little consolation when you have not job! You mention a son - how old is he, you could make a case under flexible working perhaps? Jsameds is right tho - best place to start is your contract - does it refer to hours, patterns of working etc

by rights your contract should include information on your hours of work but some employers do this as basic as "you will work 40 hours per week on a rota" which really tells you nothing & of course they dont have to issue you your contract until you hit the 8 week mark so you could have another 3 weeks before you know what you are supposed to be working!

My advice would be to ring the ACAS helpline - their advisers will give you more specific advice (08457 47 47 47)

scheming_gypsy

First thing you should do, before speaking to ACAS or giving links to the boss.... is to speak to them! just ask them if they can work with you and give you notice on your shifts so you can plan your time around them.
If they don't know you're unhappy with it then they'll presume you're ok with it.

Payless_2

Thanks all.

My son is 24 (lol) so he can fend for himself. However, I like to make sure he eats one healthy meal a day because if he is left to his own devices he'll live on chips and chocolate.

I started work at 3.20 today and finished at 10.30. I did have a 30 minute break in this time. I enjoy the actual work and I knew that I would be working shifts but expected to know in advance which ones they were. I'll have to look at my contract to see what it says about notification. I remember it said that I must be flexible but I feel they are going to extremes with this. I can't make any plans as I could be working a shift at any time between 6 am and midnight. Everyone else is working a 3 week rota so they know where they are with them. I'm still training for part of the job and I think this is where the problem lies. I'm an expert at one part as I have been doing it for 3 and a half years but my new employment requires me to also do a different type of work which is where the shift patterns come in.

I was really fed up this afternoon. I e mailed my boss to ask him what times I would be working for the rest of the week but he still hasn't replied. There is a meeting tomorrow afternoon (which I haven't been told about officially) so I'm going to bring this up there. I only know about it because colleagues have told me. They also told me that I'm only going to the office to pick up a new machine. I shouldn't be hearing these things from colleagues, it's the management's job to tell me.

Never mind. I'll just have to see what happens tomorrow.

bobwilson

LOL ahhh dear how ridiculous. They tell you soo late in the day and then not give you a choice?!

fluffnutter

I think you just have a boss who can't be bothered to communicate well. It probably hasn't occurred to him that he's inconveniencing and upsetting you so much. Having said that, it's not necessarily the easiest thing to resolve - some managers simply don't communicate and any efforts to encourage them end up with your being thought demanding or 'difficult'. Have a low key chat face-to-face (perhaps not even anything as formal as a meeting), explain you appreciate that you're having to gain new skills and work in different areas but you're feeling rather worn out and would appreciate being able to plan your life and work a bit better and for that you need his help. Don't mention 'your rights', 'employment law' or anything as inflaming as that. It might not do you any harm to try to get a hold of your contract but other than that, just appeal to his human nature and tell him you need to know in good time what hours you're doing at the moment.

robchap_2

hi

not got much input for you apart from read your contract but i know how it feels.
i was working for a company a few years ago doing order picking for a big supermarket chain
my shifts worked out as follows

mon to thur 2pm to 10pm
fri 6am to 2pm

next week mon to wens 6am to 2pm
wens and friday 2pm to 10pm

then back to the start along with other shifts added at weekends as and when they wanted

i lasted there for 2 years before i got another job

bobwilson

fluffnutter wrote: »

It probably hasn't occurred to him that he's inconveniencing and upsetting you so much.

Yeah, this is really unacceptable.. I'd always check with my staff even a week in advance if their rota is ok. Let alone half a day in advance, without asking them!

I always find it bizarre when bosses assume their employees have no life outside work :rotfl: like we live for and dream about our job.

Payless_2

I had a chat with my boss and I now have a rota for the next week and I'm hoping that it doesn't change in the mean time. I'm on early starts for the rest of this week and lates next. I don't mind that as long as it doesn't change! He's promised me a proper, long term rota next week so that I have an idea of my future working times.

Fingers crossed. I still don't think he understands what a hassle the last couple of weeks have been though.

katerinasol

Glad you sorted things out!