Contract Hours Changes

Reverbe

I am currently working for a minor high street retailer and was told by Asst manager that Xmas Temps are generally retained by company until June . I was not informed of this at interview nor at any time during my employment by store manager. However hours will be extremely variable.I am on a 20 hr contract and this was outlined to me by manager at interview. (have been doing variable hours each week but on average at least most of that 20 hours is covered -if not more)My hours after Christmas for the weeks that have been rostered have been cut by half. I fully expected this company to ditch all temps after Xmas as TBH this company does cut costs in a large number of ways(while making the usual astronomical profits of course).

I have done the maths and have worked out that this tiny amount of hours on NMW will make me not only worse off than being on the dole but due to possible changes in domestic circumstances in the new year leave me seriously below the poverty line and unable to make ends meet.I have been told that hours can and do go up and down due to seasonal variations/demand but cannot feasibly live on a handful of hours ie an effective one full day a week. Are there any benefits etc that I would be able to get in addition to wage if I am working only a small amount of hours? The dole classes a job as being fulltime at 16 hours a week. I anticipate my weekly hours becoming a LOT less than this. I will be needing to be able to pay for rent and food etc every week not just the times of year they can offer me a decent level of hours.

Would it be reasonable ot me to request regular days and hours in order to get a second job? I do not wish to be one of those ppl who say I'm not working cos i'm better off on the dole. I have a strong work ethic.However I must be able to pay for food and rent etc and my living expenses will in all probability rise with changes in domestic circumstances.(this will be caused by flatmate selling flat. am not married etc)

agrinnall

Option 1 - get another job that offers enough hours for you to live on and tell the first one where they can stick their variable hours.

Option 2 - get the second job (less than 16 hours if you want to remain eligible for benefits), tell the first job what days you can work, either they accept that and you have more hours overall, or they don't and sack you and you can claim benefits.

Reverbe

in the current jobmarket I dont partic want to tell anyone to stick their jobas it may not be possible to find another job, nor do I wish to go back on benefits. I just want to be able to work and pay my essential living expenses. until an better paid job/one with more hours comes along surely i should be better off than dole or at least guaranteed a way of making sure i dont have an income of less than dole. I have heard of working tax credits but they apparently only apply to those working low wages over 30 hours.