M&S Employment rules

Cliecost

Hi,

Just a quick one.

Someone I know who works for them has told me that recently M&S have changed their contract so that new people who start with them have to put up with this:

• 2nd instance of sickness within 3 months isn't paid on the first day
• You can now no longer opt out of Sundays
• If you take leave from work for bereavement this will count towards your absence and will effect your eligibility for a pay rise at the end of the year

I know employment law is a hard one to say 'legal/illegal' but...is it?

Thanks.

Tiddlywinks

As your friend already works for them, and this only relates to new recruits, why worry?

Cliecost

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

As your friend already works for them, and this only relates to new recruits, why worry?

I'm not worrying for them I'm just (for some reason) worried that loads of new recruits will be taken for a ride.

Southend1

Terms and conditions are constantly being eroded to screw ever more profit from each individual employee. This is one reason why it's so important to join a union and stand up for your colleagues and future generations of employees.

powerful_Rogue

Cliecost wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick one.

Someone I know who works for them has told me that recently M&S have changed their contract so that new people who start with them have to put up with this:

• 2nd instance of sickness within 3 months isn't paid on the first day
• You can now no longer opt out of Sundays
• If you take leave from work for bereavement this will count towards your absence and will effect your eligibility for a pay rise at the end of the year

I know employment law is a hard one to say 'legal/illegal' but...is it?

Thanks.

Thats quite shocking especially after the lastest uproar M&S have caused in relation to religion.

anamenottaken

Cliecost wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick one.

Someone I know who works for them has told me that recently M&S have changed their contract so that new people who start with them have to put up with this:

• 2nd instance of sickness within 3 months isn't paid on the first day
• You can now no longer opt out of Sundays
• If you take leave from work for bereavement this will count towards your absence and will effect your eligibility for a pay rise at the end of the year

I know employment law is a hard one to say 'legal/illegal' but...is it?

Thanks.

An employer can set their own rules for any payment above the statutory requirement which is a minimum.
Statutory would not pay for the first 3 days of sickness absence (though if the second period of absence was linked to the first according to the SSP rules, then SSP would be paid).
IIRC statutory right to opt out of Sunday working ended some time ago.
Criteria for eligibility for pay rises are set by the employer.

powerful_Rogue

anamenottaken wrote: »

IIRC statutory right to opt out of Sunday working ended some time ago.

Not true im afraid.

All other shop workers and betting shop workers can opt out of Sunday working by giving 3 months’ notice.


An employer needing staff to work on Sundays must tell them in writing that they can opt out. They must do this within 2 months of the person starting work - if they don’t, only one month’s notice is needed to opt out.


Staff can opt in to Sunday working, but mustn’t be treated unfairly if they opt out.

https://www.gov.uk/sunday-working

Poppy9

Cliecost wrote: »

I'm not worrying for them I'm just (for some reason) worried that loads of new recruits will be taken for a ride.

Trouble is no one cares, not even current employees.

I work public sector and as well as changes to T&C they are cutting the pay of at least 20% of staff by as much as 1/3rd and the union and staff are accepting the offer if they are okay and not losing pay. They don't give a stuff about those facing losing such a huge chunk of their pay and just take the attitude of "get another job" - which in current climate is easier said than done.

I would happily strike at the injustice of it but most won't.

AP007

Cliecost wrote: »

Hi,

Just a quick one.

Someone I know who works for them has told me that recently M&S have changed their contract so that new people who start with them have to put up with this:

• 2nd instance of sickness within 3 months isn't paid on the first day
• You can now no longer opt out of Sundays
• If you take leave from work for bereavement this will count towards your absence and will effect your eligibility for a pay rise at the end of the year

I know employment law is a hard one to say 'legal/illegal' but...is it?

Thanks.

Well lots of jobs do not pay sick at all and that's legal so nothing odd there.

Not sure about opting out but I know when you apply for most retail work if you are not available for Sunday work you can not go much further with your application

Absence for the death of a close family member where I worked would be unpaid and (not sure) but could go down as you not being there that day.

It all sounds fair to me.

Southend1

Scrootum wrote: »

Ones employers is not ones mother. If you are offered a job on certain terms, either take it or leave it.

If only the choice were that simple.

Gas_Powered_Toothbrush

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Not true im afraid.

Bear in mind that if you do opt out of Sunday working in your first two years, they'll just get rid of you. (I know you're not allowed to be treated differently for opting out, but the opt out is not the reason they'll give for letting you go, and good luck proving that it is)