Employer has cut hours - one week on one week off

runninglea

Working for a shop fitting company, several weeks a go, got told that as from Monday (it was Friday afternoon) that we did not need to come in next week.

There are 12 ee's in the workshop part of the business which is the only dept that has been affected by this.

One week 6 ee's are in, then the following week the other 6 are in.

I know it is a tough economic climate but how long can this go on for?

Is it legal to do this?

jobbingmusician

What does your contract say? (You could be on a zero hours contract, in which case totally legal, or a FT contract, in which case have you been told that you must take this week as holiday?)

mozzie1

There are strict laws governing lay-offs or short-time working. Look at gov.uk and search for lay-offs and short-time working.

Your firm can only do this if it states in your contract of employment with them they can do this. Otherwise they have to pay you full pay even when you're not working, unless you agree to this rather than face the possibilty of redundancies further down the line.

Your employer must tell you whether you are on short time working or being temporarily laid off. The number of weeks they can do this for is limited or you could claim a redundancy position and be entitled to redundancy pay etc.

If you are really unsure what to do after reading the gov.uk website try speaking to ACAS. They are experts and wouldknow what best course of action for youto take.

Good luck

runninglea

contract is for 39 hours

last year we got told and got the first weeks pay in full, then were laid off for 4 weeks.

Then a letter came asking us to go back in

getmore4less

CHeck your contract for being able to vary and layoff

then read here

https://www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking/overview

in particular
https://www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking/guarantee-pay

and
https://www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking/applying-for-redundancy-