Advice needed re Christmas day pay please

richardc1983

Hi everyone,

Really hope I can get some advice on the below please...

I work permanent night shifts on a 4 on 4 off basis. This year I am scheduled to work xmas day, boxing day and the 26th as my normal shifts. I managed to book xmas eve off as annual leave but the other days I have been unable to book so I have no choice but to work it or arrange someone to cover this shift.

The company have said they will pay double time for hours worked on christmas day. Being a nightshift worker my shift start at 2130-0800. Now bearing in mind I have 2.5 hours that are actually in christmas day and the rest being in "boxing day" the company in previous years have granted double pay for the full 10 hours if your shift crossed over... eg Christmas eve into Christmas Day (2130-0800) or Christmas Day into Boxing Day (2130-0800). This year the company is only paying the actual hours that are officially Christmas day so for me that will be 2130-0000 (2.5 measly hours at double)... the rest is being paid at our standard time plus our standard 0.5 enhancement rate.

During normal days through the year working nights we get paid our standard time (1.0) and an enhancement (0.5) which is a night shift allowance for working night shifts. Adding this together gives 1.5 (time and a half) which we all include in our wages as part of our salary but it is not written into our salaries and our salary on our T&C's is only the 1.0. So technically anyone working Christmas and getting double time we should really be getting 1.5 x 1.5 but we dont we can only put down 1.5 + 0.5 to make it upto 2.0. This in itself is bad enough and in previous years we have challenged this as the incentive to work a night shift over christmas is really only another 0.5 on top of what we already get when the days staff come out better than us and they are working their shift during the day time!

Staff who who work day shifts who are covering Christmas day will get 1.0 (standard time) and then another 1.0 to give them double time.

The fact the company has decided this year they will only pay the official hours of Christmas day 0000 - 23:59 at double time is a very poor decision and has caused some upset amongst those scheduled to work and its as if we are not regognised for how this affects our christmas. Not to mention that I am also working boxing day also.

As we work the night shifts we will not be able to make the most of xmas day, have a drink with family and friends and will have to prepare ourselves with sleep that afternoon before we go to work. Not to mention driving from family in another city to go to work. Yes it is our choice to work nights but it is also days choice to work days yet they are being treated differently. In previous years the company giving double time for the full shift has offset the anti social side of it and has been recognition that we are keeping the place running over the festive period.

I have challenged this with management and been told it is non negotiable and that it is my fault I am working as I could have booked it off. I tried to book it off but as only one person out of 3 who work the nighshift is allowed off (2 people have to be on shift) someone is already off that night. When I mentioned it to her she said well you can arrange someone to cover the shift for you... I said I have already tried when we thought it would be double time for the whole shift who is going to want to do it now for no additional incentive and spoil their day.

Sorry for the long rant but thought best to put lots of detail down rather than not enough... any help greatly appreciated.

We are being taken over by another company on the 1st of Dec so it is possible we could take this to the new HR department and see what their view is on it. We have already had our 1-2-1s witht he new company as we are being TUPE across to the new company and some issues highlighted already are being looked into by the new HR department.

Kind Regards.

kingfisherblue

What does your contract say about working over Christmas?

paddedjohn

unless its stated differently in your contract you have no rights to enhanced pay for xmas/boxing day/new years eve etc etc, its just tough really but someones got to work and this year its you.

richardc1983

I worked it last year too.

kingfisherblue

You may have worked Christmas last year, but what does your contract say?

richardc1983

kingfisherblue wrote: »

You may have worked Christmas last year, but what does your contract say?

I need to find out... papers are in a bit of a tip at moment and need to sort them out.

LittleMrsThrifty

Perhaps you'd be better speaking to your colleagues about a system for working holidays, booking leave etc that everyone is happy with.

For example, you may arrange it so that you work two Christmases then get another off completely so you have several days free. You may decide you each want to take one extra day off over Christmas and New Year and either express a preference or rotate each year. There may be a colleague who is happy to work Christmas in exchange for first pick of a fortnight off in the summer.

This would only really work if staff turnover is low but is worth considering.

corbyboy

To be fair you aren't really working Christmas Day, just the evening. You will have plenty of time to spend with family, open presents etc. You really think you are getting a worse deal than those working during the day? If I had the choice I know which shift I would rather work.

So what if you can't have a drink? It's hardly a big deal.

I understand the concern about salary enhancements, but in my opinion those working during the day on 25 December deserve more money than those working in the evening.

Also, you should think ahead to next Christmas and book that off. Since you work 4 on 4 off you should have seen this coming months ago.

richardc1983

corbyboy wrote: »

To be fair you aren't really working Christmas Day, just the evening. You will have plenty of time to spend with family, open presents etc. You really think you are getting a worse deal than those working during the day? If I had the choice I know which shift I would rather work.

So what if you can't have a drink? It's hardly a big deal.

I understand the concern about salary enhancements, but in my opinion those working during the day on 25 December deserve more money than those working in the evening.

Also, you should think ahead to next Christmas and book that off. Since you work 4 on 4 off you should have seen this coming months ago.

The point is people are being treated differently... night work already makes you feel tired cos you are battling with your body clock so recognition at that time of year. When I have my first day off it takes me 2 days before I am feeling back to normal and in a day pattern.

There is skeleton staff on xmas day during the day time so they will be 3/4 staff in as apposed to 50 as they will treat it as if it is a weekend. People are also not doing their full shift and resource have said if it is quiet people can go home. However nights we are here for the full 10 hours as we are seen as different yet we are not entitled to the same.

I have tried to book next year off but as only 1 person on shift allowed off someone else has gotten in first. I am working boxing day next year though.

carebabe

maybe there is someone rostered to work d/s who has young children and would rather spend the day with family regardless of the enhancement for d/s. if you were prepared to do a d/s and they did the n/s means everyones happy....assuming the management were agreeable.

richardc1983

carebabe wrote: »

maybe there is someone rostered to work d/s who has young children and would rather spend the day with family regardless of the enhancement for d/s. if you were prepared to do a d/s and they did the n/s means everyones happy....assuming the management were agreeable.

This is what used to happen however management stopped it as there are more women with kids than single folk.