New job can't afford me?

alibyte

Hello! I realise I'm probably over-reacting and being a drama queen over this, but this is my first job since leaving uni and I honestly have very little idea about how the world works even though I'm twenty years old :rotfl:
I started a new job in September in the bakery of a supermarket and my job is to make pancakes, which is great fun! I really like the job, the people are nice and the shifts are perfect, but since I've been there it's been consistently short-staffed despite being overspent and the line managers have been working ridiculous hours to get everything done.
Recently, the line manager that offered me the job has stepped down and the other line manager has been struggling to keep up - he's been stressed and a bit angry at the big bosses. Yesterday, he took me to one side while I was washing up and said "I can't afford for you to work until twelve today, I'm going to have to send you home an hour early, just let me check with my manager and see what he says." It didn't really bother me that much so I agreed to go home but my colleagues in the bakery seemed shocked I agreed at all? My parents weren't all that happy either.
I'm a little bit worried because:

• I'm still on probation.
• The department is overspent on wages by about what I get paid, and over on hours by 20 hours more than my monthly contracted hours - getting rid of me would solve a lot of their problems!
• Pancakes have been on special offer during October, so I've been making about 800 a day, but when the offer ends there won't be so much demand, so they'd only need about 250 - they must have been managing that before they hired me!
• The line manager that is stepping down did my exact job for two years before she became line manager, and can do a lot of other jobs in the bakery that I can't, and I don't think I'll be getting any more training. She'd be hours better spent, I assume?

My question is basically: Can they keep sending me home an hour early?

My parents and colleagues all say that I can tell the manager I'm contracted for 24 hours, and that's what I'm going to work. But I don't want to rock the boat and end up getting sacked for being difficult, since the way I was told to go home didn't imply I was getting much choice.
And can they sack me if they find that they can't afford me? I realise I'm over-reacting probably, I just like being prepared for all eventualities.


Thank you for reading that wall of text! I appreciate any and all advice

xapprenticex

Tough situation but as you are on probation, they could say its just not working out for whatever financial reason.

Its probably better to have a hour less and a job than argue contract and lose your job. just IMO though

shopbot

They do need to be paying for your contracted hours. You need to be firm with them about it.

The other question you need to ask is how this being processed through their payroll system? For example if their system is set up to automatically pay you 24 hours then how are they making the deduction? It's likely to be going through as some sort of absence. That will flag up somewhere and you need to be careful it doesn't negatively affect you.

Sometimes when in a tough situation people (i.e. your Line Managers) take the line of least resistance. At the moment it's you! If you say no, nothing will likely happen to you as what they are doing isn't really in line with good practice (and probably the law).

DCFC79

I'm surprised they didn't see about you working elsewhere in the store for an hour.

Id ask if there any other vacancies within the store you could put yourself forward for.

alibyte

shopbot wrote: »

They do need to be paying for your contracted hours. You need to be firm with them about it.

The other question you need to ask is how this being processed through their payroll system? For example if their system is set up to automatically pay you 24 hours then how are they making the deduction? It's likely to be going through as some sort of absence. That will flag up somewhere and you need to be careful it doesn't negatively affect you.

Sometimes when in a tough situation people (i.e. your Line Managers) take the line of least resistance. At the moment it's you! If you say no, nothing will likely happen to you as what they are doing isn't really in line with good practice (and probably the law).

As far as payroll goes, it's a sign in/sign out system with a card. I've worked with a similar system before at another job and it used to record anything on my payslip - down to leaving a couple of minutes early! So I'll have to check since I'm not sure the system knows what my hours are supposed to be at all, thank you for that.
I'm used to being the line of least resistance! I don't like conflict so being firm will be difficult, but I shall do my best!

xapprenticex wrote: »

Tough situation but as you are on probation, they could say its just not working out for whatever financial reason.

Its probably better to have a hour less and a job than argue contract and lose your job. just IMO though

If it is just this hour I have no problem to be honest. I'm worried that it's going to be an hour early every day from now on, which I also don't mind really, but I like the extra money :rotfl: I just would prefer my contract changed from 24 hours to 20 if that is what's happening.

alibyte

DCFC79 wrote: »

I'm surprised they didn't see about you working elsewhere in the store for an hour.

Id ask if there any other vacancies within the store you could put yourself forward for.

The whole store is overspent apparently, and I suppose it wouldn't have been worth anybody's while to train me for an hour to do anything else, though I would have been happy to continue working.
I shall do! I've asked before out of curiosity and they said I can't switch departments without having been with the company for six months, maybe they'd make an exception in this case and they'd let my probation start again elsewhere?

shopbot

alibyte wrote: »

As far as payroll goes, it's a sign in/sign out system with a card. I've worked with a similar system before at another job and it used to record anything on my payslip - down to leaving a couple of minutes early! So I'll have to check since I'm not sure the system knows what my hours are supposed to be at all, thank you for that.

I'm used to being the line of least resistance! I don't like conflict so being firm will be difficult, but I shall do my best!

Most sane people don't enjoy conflict so take comfort in that!

I'm pretty sure that the system will know your contract hours are (the Company will need to know what hours are contracted and overtime). Just make sure you don't get penalised as an absence etc.

r2015

My question is basically: Can they keep sending me home an hour early?

Typical supermarket way of working.

alibyte

shopbot wrote: »

Most sane people don't enjoy conflict so take comfort in that!

I'm pretty sure that the system will know your contract hours are (the Company will need to know what hours are contracted and overtime). Just make sure you don't get penalised as an absence etc.

Thank you, I will!
I will check all that tomorrow because I'm only allowed two absences on probation, and I will play the rest by ear - hopefully I get to do all my work this time!:D

alibyte

r2015 wrote: »

Typical supermarket way of working.

I've heard the horror stories! But this is my first time in a big store, I just don't know what is and isn't allowed yet

ACG

Whilst your living at home and the finances are not a major issue I would go with the flow in the hope they keep you beyond your probationary period.

Its all well and good colleagues saying this and that but would they say anything if they were in the same boat?

I think times are getting better and there are more jobs out there but if its your first real job I would try to keep hold of it, not only that as you like the job its worth being a little flexible as you could end up in a job you do not like all for the sake of £7 a week finishing early?