New sickness policy on 0 hours contract

Hevding

Hi

I returned to work this week (I work term time) and I was handed a new sickness policy to read and sign.

It's worth noting that I have no written contract but have worked 5 days a week full time term Time for the last 2 & 1/2 years for the company. There was no previous policy in place.

The new policy states that our sickness days will be monitored and further action taken if we have 3 or more episodes of sickness in a 6 month rolling period. 5 or more in a 12 month and 10 days over 1 episode in 12 months.

We get no sick pay, if we are sick, we don't get paid for that day, simple as, it's always been this way but they've never had a limit on the amount of days.

My question is how can they actively monitor sick days when they don't pay us any sick pay?!

Under a 0 hours contract we have no obligation to accept work so next time we are sick what's stopping us from just saying we are busy? Or the car broke down? Or have an appointment?

Please help me with what to say to my employer about this as I do not intend to sign. From the research I've done I would clearly be classed as an employee rather than a worker although we have no documentation of this apart from on the self certification form signed by 'employee'.

Undervalued

Hevding wrote: »

Under a 0 hours contract we have no obligation to accept work so next time we are sick what's stopping us from just saying we are busy? Or the car broke down? Or have an appointment?

Indeed.

However, equally they have no obligation to offer you any work. Generally the people that they find most flexible and reliable tend to get the bulk of the work!

~Beanie~

We get no sick pay, if we are sick, we don't get paid for that day, simple as, it's always been this way but they've never had a limit on the amount of days.

My question is how can they actively monitor sick days when they don't pay us any sick pay?!

Of course they can monitor sick days, doesn't matter whether they pay you or not, if you are phoning in sick then you are having a 'sick day'. If you don't want to work that particular day you just don't accept when its offered.

Under a 0 hours contract we have no obligation to accept work so next time we are sick what's stopping us from just saying we are busy? Or the car broke down? Or have an appointment?

Whilst you probably don't have any obligation to accept work, surely you would say you were busy and decline in advance, rather than phone in on the morning of your shift and say that you are sick?

pinpin

I guess they want their staff all throwing up at their desks whilst they work, lol

Hevding

I just don't understand how they can try and dictate how many sick days we can have when they don't pay us sick pay and we aren't contracted any hours.

pinpin

We're all just slaves, unfortunately. Employers can do whatever they like.

stevemLS

They have to be able to plan. Surely you have rotas planned in advance, they don't just ring you up each morning and ask if you are available that day?

Hence, if you are on the rota to work and not available, it is disruptive to their business.

sangie595

You could argue - I wouldn't, but you could! - that they are simply being transparent and telling you what would affect their decision making when it comes to allocating hours. The truth is that people who aren't available - for whatever reason - are not flexible enough for their requirements. Yes you can turn down work for any reason you like. But they can not offer it for any reason they like. So obviously being off sick a lot in their eyes will be one of the reasons they don't offer hours. And now you know that.

Andy_L

perhaps they are using the same contact terms for both ZH & std contracts and thus, whilst is fairly irrelevant to you it matters more for the full-timers

custardy

Hevding wrote: »

Hi

I returned to work this week (I work term time) and I was handed a new sickness policy to read and sign.

It's worth noting that I have no written contract but have worked 5 days a week full time term Time for the last 2 & 1/2 years for the company. There was no previous policy in place.

The new policy states that our sickness days will be monitored and further action taken if we have 3 or more episodes of sickness in a 6 month rolling period. 5 or more in a 12 month and 10 days over 1 episode in 12 months.

We get no sick pay, if we are sick, we don't get paid for that day, simple as, it's always been this way but they've never had a limit on the amount of days.

My question is how can they actively monitor sick days when they don't pay us any sick pay?!

Under a 0 hours contract we have no obligation to accept work so next time we are sick what's stopping us from just saying we are busy? Or the car broke down? Or have an appointment?

Please help me with what to say to my employer about this as I do not intend to sign. From the research I've done I would clearly be classed as an employee rather than a worker although we have no documentation of this apart from on the self certification form signed by 'employee'.

Sign or dont sign.
What do you think you can do about it?
Its a fairly standard policy.

tomtontom

Andy_L wrote: »

perhaps they are using the same contact terms for both ZH & std contracts and thus, whilst is fairly irrelevant to you it matters more for the full-timers

Indeed, ZH workers want equal rights - that means they have the same obligations also.

I don't see the difficulty with the policy, if you agree to do a shift then you call in sick, or cancel for any other reason, then you're marked sick.