6 Day Working Week :(

ceetp

Hi guys,

Back story: I work as a helpdesk officer and administrator at a small office. When I first interviewed for the job I had just moved new to the town and needed any job I could get. In my interview I remember specifically that the interviewer explained in these exact words: "We work weekends, 3 on, 1 off"... To which I answered "Oh I am fine with that" as I was used to working weekends in my previous retail job. We then immediately moved on from the subject.
I don't know if it is my fault for being presumptuous, but I assumed that on the weeks in which I worked the weekend, I would get a day off in the week. However this was not the case.
It wasn't until my first week at the job when I was shown the rota and pointed out that I only had the Sunday off, I learned that I would be working a 6 day week 3 out of 4 weeks in the month.

As by this point I had moved to an entirely new town and had no other options lined up, I reluctantly stuck with the job. I have now worked there 9 months for a measly £16000 annum salary and despite searching extensively elsewhere I am struggling to find a new job and cannot afford to be unemployed. I am constantly exhausted as I have a lot to do at home caring for my aunt who has MS, and I myself battle with (diagnosed) depression and migraines. The company does not pay sick pay so even when I am feeling terrible I still have to go in 6 days a week (please note: I would never abuse this privilege should I of been lucky enough to work for a company that gives this benefit).
1 day off a week is just not enough to maintain a healthy work/life balance!
(I even just worked 6 days through the christmas week, and will receive absolutely no extra pay at all for working christmas day!!)

My team were told in June by our Manager that they were reviewing the rotas and hoped to change them "soon". We have complained ever since then and still there has been no result. The last update we had was 3 weeks ago, when we were told we "might" have a new rota from the first week of January. It is now a few days until then and they still haven't sorted anything for us.

Now here is my question: Is there anything I can do about this for myself?
Can I email/write to my companies HR department and request that I work a consistent 5 day week instead of 6? (I am happy to maintain my hours by spreading them over 5 days, meaning I would work an few extra hours per day). My contract does not state that I must work 6 days, only that I must do the contracted hours.
What is the likelihood of them granting this? and could there be any repercussions for me requesting this?
Should I make it a basic request or should I retrieve a doctors note outlining my issues to aid my case?
Any other ideas? (and please don't say "Just get a new job" as I am trying! I recognise that I work for a terrible company that doesn't give a damn about its employees).

Any suggestions anyone has I would be supremely grateful for!
Thanking you all kindly.

PasturesNew

I doubt they'd let you off - because that'd mean all the others would end up with no weekends off as they'd have to cover those weekends, so that's a non-starter.

I'm afraid that the only real choice is to keep your nose down and continue to look for another job. Unless you can find a new/realistic rota that everybody else would agree to and that the management could see wouldn't compromise the company's services to its clients at all .... so you could all go en-masse to the management with it....

tomtontom

Can you suggest a way that they do the rotas to provide the cover needed? If so, put it forward to your manager. Any other complaint is likely to get you on a short track to dismissal.

ceetp

Thanks for the reply PasturesNew.

In fact, we did try this. 3 colleagues and I sat down and used hours of our own time trying to figure out a new rota that would be permitted under their demands of having a certain amount of staff in on the weekends. We were at a loss because it appears that the company is understaffed. With the amount of staff we have now, it is impossible for us to work 5 days and still maintain the business in the way in which they'd like.
*sigh*

ACG

How many hours a week are you working? Are you above NMW?

ceetp

I work 42 on my 6 day weeks, and 35 on my 5 day weeks. So not particularly long hours.
I believe I receive above the NMW, though I've never sat and figured it out.

HappyMJ

ceetp wrote: »

Hi guys,

Back story: I work as a helpdesk officer and administrator at a small office. When I first interviewed for the job I had just moved new to the town and needed any job I could get. In my interview I remember specifically that the interviewer explained in these exact words: "We work weekends, 3 on, 1 off"... To which I answered "Oh I am fine with that" as I was used to working weekends in my previous retail job. We then immediately moved on from the subject.
I don't know if it is my fault for being presumptuous, but I assumed that on the weeks in which I worked the weekend, I would get a day off in the week. However this was not the case.
It wasn't until my first week at the job when I was shown the rota and pointed out that I only had the Sunday off, I learned that I would be working a 6 day week 3 out of 4 weeks in the month.

As by this point I had moved to an entirely new town and had no other options lined up, I reluctantly stuck with the job. I have now worked there 9 months for a measly £16000 annum salary and despite searching extensively elsewhere I am struggling to find a new job and cannot afford to be unemployed. I am constantly exhausted as I have a lot to do at home caring for my aunt who has MS, and I myself battle with (diagnosed) depression and migraines. The company does not pay sick pay so even when I am feeling terrible I still have to go in 6 days a week (please note: I would never abuse this privilege should I of been lucky enough to work for a company that gives this benefit).
1 day off a week is just not enough to maintain a healthy work/life balance!
(I even just worked 6 days through the christmas week, and will receive absolutely no extra pay at all for working christmas day!!)

My team were told in June by our Manager that they were reviewing the rotas and hoped to change them "soon". We have complained ever since then and still there has been no result. The last update we had was 3 weeks ago, when we were told we "might" have a new rota from the first week of January. It is now a few days until then and they still haven't sorted anything for us.

Now here is my question: Is there anything I can do about this for myself?
Can I email/write to my companies HR department and request that I work a consistent 5 day week instead of 6? (I am happy to maintain my hours by spreading them over 5 days, meaning I would work an few extra hours per day). My contract does not state that I must work 6 days, only that I must do the contracted hours.
What is the likelihood of them granting this? and could there be any repercussions for me requesting this?
Should I make it a basic request or should I retrieve a doctors note outlining my issues to aid my case?
Any other ideas? (and please don't say "Just get a new job" as I am trying! I recognise that I work for a terrible company that doesn't give a damn about its employees).

Any suggestions anyone has I would be supremely grateful for!
Thanking you all kindly.

Your company may not pay sick pay but the DWP does. If you can get signed off work you can claim Employment and Support allowance.

MS can get really bad at times. If your aunt is really bad right now then you can get carers allowance to look after her. It's not much but it might help.

It sounds like you don't like the job. If I didn't like a job I'd just walk out and worry about the consequences later. I'm not one for putting up with any stress at all. My GP has signed me off with work-related stress before and will do it again if I request it. Actually since being signed off work over 15 years ago I've never worked for anyone as an employee ever again choosing to become self employed and it was the best decision I've made. I've got 10 clients and if one annoys me I drop them and if a client no longer requires my services then I drop 10% of my income which is manageable and not 100% as an employer threatens to do at the drop of a hat.

You might think you can't afford to be unemployed but it really pays reasonably well and you don't have travel costs and other work related costs to pay out so you really aren't that much worse off at all. Your rent is mostly paid, your council tax is mostly paid and you get quite a reasonable weekly allowance to look after yourself and your aunt.

Kim_kim

ceetp wrote: »

Thanks for the reply PasturesNew.

In fact, we did try this. 3 colleagues and I sat down and used hours of our own time trying to figure out a new rota that would be permitted under their demands of having a certain amount of staff in on the weekends. We were at a loss because it appears that the company is understaffed. With the amount of staff we have now, it is impossible for us to work 5 days and still maintain the business in the way in which they'd like.
*sigh*

They are unlikely to employ more staff so existing staff can have a rota they prefer. I think you're better off to keep looking for another job, if you keep rocking the boat it's unlikely to go down well & you might end to loosing your job.

ACG

I thought you might be regularly doing about 45-50 hours and that would then probably drop you under NMW.

Im a little stuck. It probably is just a case of looking for other jobs whilst you wait and see about the contracts - I know you said not to say that but sometimes the answer you dont want is the only one.

You can ask them to accomodate your hours due to medical or personal reasons but they are within their rights to reject them. You then risk being on their radar as someone they do not want... Im not saying that would happen, but it could - you know the business and employers better than we do.

ceetp

Hmm thanks for your replies guys.

I can't figure out if making a request is worth the risk. I guess whilst I decide, in the meantime I'll just have to keep on with my job hunt.

Moneysaver199

Does your contract state how many hours you work? Are you on an hourly rate, ie are you being paid for all these hours? Or have you signed up to a salary amount without any hours being included?

Sounds really disappointing either way, but you need to concentrate your efforts on finding another job. Sorry I can't offer any other advice. Hope you find something suitable soon.