work hours cut what can i do?

gemma85_2

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and in need of some help, I hope this is the right section.
In my current job I normally do between 25-30 hours a week and now I have just been told my hours will be dropping to between 5 and 14 hours per week. That is just not enough for me at all as I have a family to support. I was thinking of looking for another job until I got my contract out and it states in it if I look or apply for another job whilst I am working for this company I can be sacked. I can not afford to be sacked and also don't want that down on my CV as I have learnt a lot in this job so I will be wanting to use them as a reference. I was thinking about handing my notice in then start looking for a new job straight away but I have been on the jobcentre website and if I hand my notice in I will not be able to claim jobseekers allowance for 26 weeks although I don't really want to be claiming this anyway I still need to be able to support my family but I can not go 26 weeks with no money. Im so clueless and feel I have nobody to turn to in my work as we have no union and the managers cant keep anything confidential. Can anyone please give me any help, advice or guidance as to how I can leave work and still support my family while looking for another job. Can I offer my company voluntary redundancy on the grounds of not enough hours would that be acceptable to then be able to claim JSA while I find a new job? I am not looking for a redundancy pay out or anything of that nature.

Thank you in advance

agrinnall

Whether there is union recognition at your workplace or not is irrelevant, you have the right to join a union of your choice, so if you feel belonging to a union would be of help to you then find one and join it.

As to your reduced income I would suggest you investigate whether there are any benefits available to you to top up what you are being paid while you look for another job, I believe you can do this here http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

getmore4less

What are your contractual hours?

Does the contract allow for variations in hours?

How long have you worked there?

gemma85_2

getmore4less wrote: »

What are your contractual hours?

Does the contract allow for variations in hours?

How long have you worked there?

I'm on a nought hour contract but always been promised at least 25 hours. I have worked there 16th months.

getmore4less

You will need to read the contract carefully but I suspect there is not a lot you can do about the hours.

check it is continuous contract and not some kind of repeating casual which loses continuity if you have a week off.

What have they been paying for holiday pay

patman99

Here's a q., if you are on a zero hours contract and your employer can only give you 5 - 10 hours work, can you take another zero hours contract elsewhere to make-up the hours for another employer ?.

gemma85_2

patman99 wrote: »

Here's a q., if you are on a zero hours contract and your employer can only give you 5 - 10 hours work, can you take another zero hours contract elsewhere to make-up the hours for another employer ?.

Sorry for the late reply. No I can't take on another job as it states in my contract I will be sacked if I look/apply 4 another job.

firesidemaid

Personally, seeing as they are reducing your hours, i would ask them re. the not being able to take another 0 hours contract.

acswales

gemma85 wrote: »

Sorry for the late reply. No I can't take on another job as it states in my contract I will be sacked if I look/apply 4 another job.

Is this actually legal? Seems ridiculous, how are you supposed to move on!!

getmore4less

How long have you worked there? (need more than a year)
What are the details of the contract?

If they did terminate just for looking you probably have a case but thing is with a zero hours they don't have to sack you they just stop all hours.

best option is to probably start looking but keep a low profile and hope they don't find out.

If they do find out and sack you then consider your situation and if you want to fight.

PennyMoney

OP first can I say I really sympathise. Last year my OH's hours were reduced for a few months from 5 to 4 working days a week. In addition to the financial impact, we found it a legal minefield.

We did find ACAS quite helpful and there is also information on the DirectGov website. As a new user I can't do links I'm afaid but if you google short time working they should appear.

For the first five non-working days there's the possibility of Guaranteed Payments , but I'm not sure if that, or a lot of the information on the above websites, would be applicable as you're on a nought hours contract. Also I'm sure I read before that help might be available from Jobcentre Plus to supplement wages reduced due to shorter hours but I've not been able to find that today. When we were in similar situation I did find the Acas helpline quite useful so it may be worth phoning them. Hope things work out O.K. for you.