Company is providing a new contract, do I have to sign?

mummybearx

I have worked here for almost 6 years. When I first started I was told I would get a contract that I would need to sign and hand back. To this day I'm still waiting on this contract to be sent to me, despite numerous phone calls, emails and face to face conversations with managers from Head office.

I've been told today that bossed from head office will be here in the next few days to give us all new contracts that we need to sign. Apparently this will involve new working hours, which has never been discussed or agreed.

Do I need to sign this contract? Technically do I even have a contract with my employers seeing how I've never signed anything or even seen a contract from my company? Will this 'new' contract be classed as my original contract??

Thanks in advance for any help with this
x

Evilm

You have a contract - a verbal one that is in force by the fact you are working for them at all. This contract will class as a new or amended contract.

You don't have to sign the new contract - but essentially they can basically say if you don't you are sacked. If you continue to turn up to work for them its pretty much taken as agreeing to the new contract also.

This is a simplified view of the situation - hopefully one of the more experienced people can fill in the details a little more.

mummybearx

So in effect they can give me a new contract extending my hours, adding in any clause they want, and I can either work it or leave? Oh that sucks!

If i refuse to sign am I then made redundant, with a redundancy payoff or am I just unemployed? Seems really horrible that they can just change my contract with no consultation or anything

dseventy

zepsgal wrote: »

So in effect they can give me a new contract extending my hours, adding in any clause they want, and I can either work it or leave? Oh that sucks!

No they cant put in unfair contract clauses.

Why dont you wait to see what is in the contract that differs from your current? Post here, people will help.

The employer should consult, read :

https://www.gov.uk/your-employment-contract-how-it-can-be-changed/dealing-with-problems

zepsgal wrote: »

If i refuse to sign am I then made redundant, with a redundancy payoff or am I just unemployed? Seems really horrible that they can just change my contract with no consultation or anything

Redundancy is not a option here as your post is not going.

Are you in a trade union?

D70

mummybearx

Thank you I'm hoping it will be this week, think it may be Friday. At least that will give me the weekend to read over it.

I'm not in a trade union. I was told when I stared that it was 'frowned upon' by management to be part of a union, and when I enquired about joining a union myself a boss from head office warned me against it. Not sure that's bloody legal either, they seem to make it up as they go along!

X

anamenottaken

zepsgal wrote: »

Thank you I'm hoping it will be this week, think it may be Friday. At least that will give me the weekend to read over it.

I'm not in a trade union. I was told when I stared that it was 'frowned upon' by management to be part of a union, and when I enquired about joining a union myself a boss from head office warned me against it. Not sure that's bloody legal either, they seem to make it up as they go along!

X

You don't need your boss to give you permission to join a Union. They don't need to know - unless something goes wrong and you want the support of a Union in dealing with them face-to-face. It doesn't matter if no one else in the company is a member.