Do I have to work for free?

KiKi

liam92 wrote: »

In the Staff Handbook, it says the minimum period for overtime to be paid is 1 hour - does this mean to be paid, each period of overtime has to be at least 1 hour, or that you need to save overtime up until you reach 1 hour before you can be paid for it?

I would assume that the 1 hour means at least one hour each time. But it's worth asking. In my previous workplace there was a 15 minute rule before you could get overtime, as so many people would work 2 mins over and try and claim for it!

ETA - call them, and don't accept a referral as your answer. Insist on an explanation because it's unclear. (I'm sensing you'll make a good barrister. )

KiKi

nicolax

liam92 wrote: »

In my case, I work as a bank clerk and am contracted to work Saturdays 9.00 to 17.00 (the hours the bank is open.) We are expected to arrive at 8.45 so we can open up our tills and have to clear up at the end of the day, cash-up, log off and then set the alarm which usually takes us up until 5.10 or 5.15pm. So hence for 25-30 minutes per day I (and all my colleagues) work for nothing.

my take on working 9-5 (and im guessing many others) is that you should be working from 9-5 thats not necessarily the exact hours you will spend in the building

in my opinion you should be at your desk/station/shopfloor/whatever dead on 9 ready to start. which would often mean getting in 15mins before to put your bag/coat etc away, get a cuppa (if its a job where you can!) and any other things so that you are ready to work
and with leaving, rather than be walking out the door at 5 many companies would say that you stop work at 5. (ie. log out of your system at 5) and therefore of course would take a little longer to get your stuff together/neaten up your desk etc.

i work in retail and we can stay after shift anything from 10-40mins afterwards mainly because we're waiting for customers to leave as obviously cant all leave the shop if theres still customers about and we dont get paid for any of this. yes it can get annoying sometimes, especially if you have somewhere to go. but its a job and regular money coming in - there are much worse jobs out there

liam92_2

KiKi wrote: »

In your other thread you say you've only been there a year! I'm not suggesting you're lying (as I don't think you are) but how does that one year work with the four years? That's quite a difference!

KiKi

Did I? Which thread?

If I have written that, it is a mistake, so sorry for any confusion.

Very touched that you've read my other thread, though!

pinkbob

If your working day starts at 9am then you should be on the till ready to go at at least a few minutes to 9.

If you arrive at 8.45, it's not working for free it's showing a good attitude, being prepared and being reliable! It's always a good thing to arrive slightly early. My partner was once on the shop floor 2 whole minutes late and his pay was reduced for that time....

And if you leave work only 15 minutes after you finish then consider yourself lucky

KiKi

liam92 wrote: »

Did I? Which thread?

If I have written that, it is a mistake, so sorry for any confusion.

Very touched that you've read my other thread, though!

I wouldn't be too touched; most people get annoyed when you go through their previous posts. (Click on the username and see them all.)

You posted two threads on the same topic:
This was the three year one: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3383762

This was the one year one that you posted a week earlier: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3374904

liam92_2

To those who think it is acceptable that people should work unpaid either side of your shift, how would you feel if your company decided to no longer pay you for the first 30 mins of your working shift, citing this as 'induction time?' (Obviously assuming this didn't take your average wage below the NMW.)

Would you still defend the company and proclaim your luck at having a job, or would you be more than a little bit miffed?

liam92_2

KiKi wrote: »

I wouldn't be too touched; most people get annoyed when you go through their previous posts. (Click on the username and see them all.)

You posted two threads on the same topic:
This was the three year one: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3383762

This was the one year one that you posted a week earlier: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3374904

My bad - sorry!

What field are you in Kiki, out of interest? You're not actually Kiki Dee?!:D

liam92_2

KiKi wrote: »

I would assume that the 1 hour means at least one hour each time. But it's worth asking. In my previous workplace there was a 15 minute rule before you could get overtime, as so many people would work 2 mins over and try and claim for it!

ETA - call them, and don't accept a referral as your answer. Insist on an explanation because it's unclear. (I'm sensing you'll make a good barrister. )

KiKi

2 minutes? I'm not that tight; I tend to round up / down to 15 minutes.

KiKi

liam92 wrote: »

My bad - sorry!

What field are you in Kiki, out of interest? You're not actually Kiki Dee?!:D

If my surname had been Dee, then my parents would have had some dreadful sense of humour.

I work in HR as a freelance consultant, but my focus (and most of my career) has been in leadership development, talent, and performance. So I don't do the 'typical' HR stuff of employment law and the transactional admin / old-style personnel. I know some employment law - the basics to get me by - but employee development is my main role. I do a lot of training and development programme design, curriculum design and employee assessment, as well as career coaching, interviewee coaching, CVs etc. I used to be heavily involved in talent, but haven't done much of that recently.

I'm also a freelance writer and editor - or trying to be - which makes for an interesting mix to my working week.

But right now, I'm going to bed.
KiKi

marywooyeah

liam92 wrote: »

No thanks, I'm not aiming for a 'clock-on and clock-off career,' I'm aiming to become a barrister and hence be salaried and work as cases require.

However the job I'm in now (just a stop-gap before uni,) I don't enjoy and don't want to progress, so why should I work unpaid?

you do realise that most barristers are self employed don't you - so aren't salaried but their pay varies depending on their workload. some, but very few are employed.

I think it's great that you are aiming to go into such a challenging but rewarding career - I take it you are starting uni this september? the best advice I can give you - from a fellow law student - is to start applying to firms and chambers for work experience as it can increase your chance of getting a pupillage at the end of your degree.