Being made to stay past contracted hours?

Takeaway_Addict

Undervalued wrote: »

I would agree.

OP, how long have you worked there?

As you probably know, if it less than two years they can dispense with your services without even giving a reason.

If you have worked there more than two years and they were to sack you for leaving promptly at 5.30 they you would probably have a valid unfair dismissal claim. However whilst that may eventually, after a lot of hassle, get you some compensation it probably wouldn't be all that much and you would still be without a job. Also, they probably wouldn't be stupid enough to give this as a reason which would make things harder.

So, realistically it is a case of reach an agreement with them or look for another job.

OP says 3 years.

OP how often is the need to stay late actually? By the sounds of it not very often so you have to ask the question...is it really worth kicking up a fuss?

getmore4less

start kicking the customers out so there are none left at 5:30

catkins

getmore4less wrote: »

start kicking the customers out so there are none left at 5:30

Having worked in several shops, I know that this is easier said than done

Savvy_Sue

If there are normally 3 staff there, and it's a small shop, then it doesn't seem unreasonable to leave two behind and the OP leave, as long as colleagues don't mind. However I can see why the shop would not wish to leave one member of staff alone while there is still a customer in the shop.

So yes, how often does this happen?

I can see that it's a real problem from the childcare provider's POV, btw, whatever anyone else says. I used to run an afterschool club: if a parent was late collecting their child then I had to pay staff to stay late, they had to wait outside the club room because that was then used for something else, it was not a good experience for the child and so on. And when I used a childminder, I could see that it wasn't fair on them if I was late because they wanted to get on with their own family life - they were always still lovely to the boys, but it wasn't fair.

LutonGirl

cazsmith99 wrote: »

thanks for the replies! Yes the shop closes at 530 and by then we are normally ready to leave ie. banking and end of day routine completed. Till is logged out at 530 on the dot and we leave.

No one can make a purchase after you've closed the till presumably. I don't think it's unreasonable (as it's a small shop) to politely let them know you have to close the till and is there anything you can help with? It's happened to me before in a small shop and it's certainly focussed my mind and got me to purchase. Might weed out a few time wasters too.

Large stores often make an announcement before shutting up shop.