working saturdays????

new_start_2

Im posting on behalf of someone else so if I need to post more details let me know and I will endeavour to get all the details.

If someone is employed by a large company who exists throughout the UK and is salaried and works 37.5 hours per week as per contract but actually works more through choice can they be forced to work Saturdays. Basically the company is now saying the employees need to work Saturdays if the business is struggling. This only applies to middle and lower management, the higher management wont be working. There is no extra financial reward and the employee does not want to work Saturdays as has a family and prefers to spend his 2 days off with his young child. Can they be forced to work the Saturday aswell?

Torry_Quine

Depends very much on what the contract says. Does it specify Mon-Fri for instance?

new_start_2

Ive got the contract now and it actually states:

Your normal working week will be 35.00 hours, Monday to Friday.

You will however work such other hours as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time, to carry out your duties properly and effectively. Overtime is not payable for additional hours worked.

I suspect they may have him by the balls with this statement but it seems extremely unfair that they can just say you need to work Saturdays now. where does it stop, will it be Sundays next?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Would he prefer for the company to fold if it is struggling? Surely anyone would want to help the company to survive as it's in his best long term interests?

AP007

They could change the contact to included Saturdays so 6 out of 6 days worked or they could make them work for free on the Sat with no day off as over time maybe as long as they don't go below the NMW

AP007

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Would he prefer for the company to fold if it is struggling? Surely anyone would want to help the company to survive as it's in his best long term interests?

If they firm are struggling then I guess they are not going to be paid for the extra work?

new_start_2

The company isnt struggling and they most certainly arent folding. This is a massive company who just want more and more from their employees and customers. I wont name them but trust me if I did not one single person would stick up for the company.

He doesnt want to be paid for more work, he wants 2 days off per week to spend with his family, is that really too much to ask for? I understand some people arent that lucky but he doesnt need to earn more money and much prefers the free time.

AP007

new_start wrote: »

The company isnt struggling and they most certainly arent folding. This is a massive company who just want more and more from their employees and customers. I wont name them but trust me if I did not one single person would stick up for the company.

He doesnt want to be paid for more work, he wants 2 days off per week to spend with his family, is that really too much to ask for? I understand some people arent that lucky but he doesnt need to earn more money and much prefers the free time.

So its it to be a 6 day week or one day off in the week?

they are changing the contract?

nearlyrich

My contract says exactly the same as your friend's, if my company expected me to work every Saturday I wouldn't continue to work there.

Can (s)he negotiate a more flexible working pattern? Is it specifically Saturday they want covering? Retail?? You say in the opening post the company is struggling and then in post 7 you say they aren't ??

zzzLazyDaisy

new_start wrote: »

Ive got the contract now and it actually states:

Your normal working week will be 35.00 hours, Monday to Friday.

You will however work such other hours as may be necessary or appropriate from time to time, to carry out your duties properly and effectively. Overtime is not payable for additional hours worked.

This is a standard clause in employment contracts and it means exactly what it says. The employer is acting within the terms of the contract in making a business decision that it is necessary for employees to work Saturdays. The fact that your friend 'prefers' not to do this doesn't come into it - that is within the terms of his contract of employment, and a perfectly reasonable management instruction.

He should also check the company's disciplinary procedures, particularly the section on gross misconduct, which normally states something like 'refusal or persistent failure to comply with a reasonable management instruction will normally be viewed as gross misconduct, which may result in your dismissal'.

Oh, one other thing - when did your friend start working for the employer? (This also may affect the situation)

D

new_start_2

The company used the word struggling but please dont take this as meaning what it would for other businesses. Without saying who the company are its difficult but struggling to them is their staff/workers not making customers take products they really dont want/need. Its not retail either.

Negotiating a flexible working pattern wont make any difference. The company want the employees out on a Saturday as an extra on top of the Monday to Friday week and another day off during the week isnt possible. If he has to work Monday to Saturday then that leaves 1 day for family time. For a business that has always been Monday-Friday and was never expected to be anything other its unfair on the employees. I know this doesnt make it illegal but it just seems unfair they can make these demands. He has worked for them since 2000. He works more hours than 9-5 by going in early or leaving very early for meetings out of area and getting back late after meetings help out of area so this isnt a case of a work shy person.