Shop working hours

Reverbe

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

What was agreed between you and the store regarding this issue when you began your job? Do you have a written contract?

20 hours was statedto me at interview

What are your regular paid hrs of work a week?
nothing regular have been on odd shifts and different number of hours each week. never totalling the number of 20 told to me at interview. mostly a lot below such as 15.

If you are already on the min wage for your hours then by making you work beyond them unpaid means they are not actually paying the min wage.
This is what i have been told by acas this morning

I don't understand employers who think people work for them out of charity, the cheek of it.

nor those that feel they have you body and soul in your own time..IMO if we finish their pay clock 6.30 then we are not to be kept prisoner in a locked store til 7 unable to go home to our families and live outr own lives on our own time.thanks for your support.

Gillyx

The only option available to you is to speak to the manager and say you're not prepared to work past your finishing time unless you get paid. In my OH's work, what they then do is offer an extra break in the middle of your shift, paid, but still expect you to stay the extra amount of time.

Reverbe

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

No worker should be expected to work for nothing, retail or not.

This is not Nazi Germany.

Ignore chattie. I have them on block and have done for some time. They take issue with every post I make on any subject for some strange reason.

I have in fact only posted a few on this latest position as tbh I find this company unprefoessional and very exploitative of their workers and at my age and with my experience I am not sitting back and taking this like an inexperienced 16 yr old who doesnt know their rights. Companies cannot get away and must not get away with treating their staff like slaves. Staff are a companies biggest asset particualarly in retail and often work like trojans for poor pay and with no recognition. I love shopping and have found some diamond sales assistants etc. I always make sure i treat anyone I encounter as customer and as assistant with respect and decency and a good heart.

Reverbe

GalmOne wrote: »

There is a very simple solution to this that I'm surprised your management haven't spotted, or more likely are ignoring. Rota late staff to start and finish 15 mins later than the closing time. Opening/closing procedures are a necessary chore, and there is most likely a security policy in place on minimum staffing levels at these times but this should be reflected in the rota.

I wouldn't know how to resolve this, maybe a confidential call to your HR department would give you a start on how to proceed if you understandably don't want to put youself in the firing line... so to speak.

Galm we are already rotaed at end of day to stay 30 mins past store closing time. Shop shuts at 6. we stay til 6.30 BUT they still have been keeping us an additional 20-30 mins on average.

Reverbe

jazzyman01 wrote: »

Many contracts have reference to additional work being expected and it is included in the contracted pay. It does mean many employers get additional work from staff without the cost element. In the current market I think many more employers are taking advantage of this. However, the only point at which it would be unlawful is if it takes the pay below the national minimum wage.

Even Germany is not Nazi Germany, thankfully they also have moved on.

Thanks jazzy. According to another poster it does take pay below NMW..

Reverbe

Folks thanks for all your help and input here. Much appreciated.What I was also hoping for input on was the issue of being locked in and unable to leave which to be fair does make me begin to think of NazI Germany.

Gillyx

Reverbe wrote: »

Galm we are already rotaed at end of day to stay 30 mins past store closing time. Shop shuts at 6. we stay til 6.30 BUT they still have been keeping us an additional 20-30 mins on average.

That's not right then, I can't see any reason why you'd have to. I'd take it up with HR.

SHIPSHAPE

Reverbe, I'm glad you have a positive input from ACAS too.

Why your employers, and some members from here too, see nothing wrong in not paying you in exchange for your labour is beyond belief.

Good luck.

ceridwen

Reverbe wrote: »

nor those that feel they have you body and soul in your own time..IMO if we finish their pay clock 6.30 then we are not to be kept prisoner in a locked store til 7 unable to go home to our families and live outr own lives on our own time.thanks for your support.

There is something that is nagging at my mind re having to work at least 16 hours a week....think its the fact that one has to work at least 16 hours per week to be eligible for Working Tax Credit (assuming income is low enough to qualify for this)????

There is something or other definitely lurking in my mind re workers HAVE to work at least 16 hours per week to ensure they are "covered" for everything employees expect....can anyone else clarify on this?

*************************

EDIT: I must admit that this is the first time I have become aware that apparently many shopworkers dont get paid for the last 15-30 minutes they work each day. I automatically assumed that if, for instance, a shop shuts at 5.30pm - but the worker has to stay on to "finish up" until, say, 6pm - that the worker concerned was told at interview "Your finishing time is 6pm and you will be paid until then" and it had been agreed with them. I didnt realise that its apparently widespread to expect shop staff to stay on later than they had been told AND often not paid for that extra time.

fluffnutter

Margey wrote: »

Hi,

I worked in a high street retail shop and sometimes we were expected to stay half an hour to an hour after we finished. Unpaid. It is unfair and you shouldn't have to do it, but by law they can keep you there for 15 minutes unpaid. And as far as calling them to get them to let you in that is just standard. It takes a few secnds and really doesn't cost a lot of money. If you have a real problem with it, does your store have a head office or someone you can speak to about it?

Does anyone have a link for this?

As far as I'm aware if your contract states you work X - Y with no mention of something like 'additional hours as and when required' then you work X - Y and expecting you work outside of those hours for no pay is unlawful.