Need Help Regarding Lack of Hours

TheDeadlyEnigma

Ok so here's my problem. I am planning on going to Australia in the new year on a holiday/working visa and am desperately trying to save up funds for my flight and to take with me. I was planning on giving in my notice on my accomodation in 1-2 weeks (need 4 weeks notice) then quitting my job when my notice period was up and spending christmas with my parents who live 2 hours away from where I am now (I am 25).

Unfortunately (and here's where I need help) I am on a 0 hour contract at work, I have been getting 37.5hours a week but now the managers are deciding to cut back and sent me home today 3 hours into my 7.5hr shift despite me saying I dont want to go home. "Your on a 0 hour contract so tough your going home". This is likely to continue now until I leave so what do I do?

a) Am i entitled to get an income subsidy off the Government if I am doing 15-20hrs a week?
b) Do I try stick it out and see what happens
c) Do I storm into my managers office and demand he either give me a 37.5 hour contract or that he sacks me - I say this because i understand I can only claim job seekers if I am sacked? If I were to be sacked I could give notice in on flat and move back in 4 weeks then get job seekers over the christmas period whilst I am at my parents?

Help would be appreicated!

Wicked_witch

Afraid I can't help too much, but you are very unlikely to get job-seekers after being sacked, so you should probably check the situation there.

paddedjohn

You should be able to get some help with your rent (shared accomodation rate) but even 15hrs will put you over the JSA rate. Since its only for a couple of months why not try for a seasonal job with Asda/Tesco etc.

t0rt0ise

You can't claim job seekers if you're sacked so forget that. You also can't demand extra hours. I'm in a similar position on 0 hours contract and they mess me about something rotten. Sad to say we can't do anything about it. You might get housing benefit if you don't have much savings, but that's all.

Uncertain

t0rt0ise wrote: »

You can't claim job seekers if you're sacked so forget that.

Wildly simplistic! The OP could certainly claim. Whether or not they would be sanctioned and, if so, for how long would depend on the circumstances. Equally this is true if they resign for sound reasons.

I wouldn't "storm" anywhere! What you could do is to quietly explain to the firm that there is a minimum number of hours that is acceptable to you otherwise you will have to consider leaving. If they are happy with your work they may well agree.

System

Uncertain wrote: »

What you could do is to quietly explain to the firm that there is a minimum number of hours that is acceptable to you otherwise you will have to consider leaving. If they are happy with your work they may well agree.

Or they could take the line that with the OP leaving it would allow them to give the OPs hours to the remaining staff so helping them.

An altruistic sacrifice by the OP.

Uncertain

!!!!!! wrote: »

Or they could take the line that with the OP leaving it would allow them to give the OPs hours to the remaining staff so helping them.

An altruistic sacrifice by the OP.

I said "have to consider leaving".

TheDeadlyEnigma

Ok so I've been doing some research and it seems if i work 15 hours or less I would receive some housing allowance and council tax benefit and if I work 16 hours or over I receive nothing! So therefore I would be much better going to the general manager and saying that since they are mucking me around and sending me home early everyday that I am only available for 15 hours a week...

Worst outcome is he sacks me or gives me 0 hours a week but keeps me on the books, what am I entitled to if I am contracted but not getting any hours, is that basically unemployment?

And from what i read you can claim benefits if your are sacked... I was sacked in March and received benefits for 3 months until I got this job so I dont see why the law would of changed

t0rt0ise

What were the circumstances of your last sacking and subsequently receiving JSA? In the circumstances you have outlined this time, you would be unlikely to get JSA. Still, try it and let us know.

Here's the rules.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@benefits/documents/digitalasset/dg_199994.pdf

TheDeadlyEnigma

Well in my last job they sacked me for "not following orders" but it was only an agency anyway so they could let people go at will.

So if my manager agreed to sack me for being useless - I am on 6 months probation as I am a slow learner haha, then that would qualify me for benefits?

lauren6283

How long have you been doing 37 hours a week? I have been told that as I am doing regular overtime and have been for two years now, that it becomes an unwritten contract of 22 hours rather than 21. But it is the same hour I do every week extra. I would check with Citizen's Advice if you can.