Making hours up??

linclass

Morning all,
I have a 15 hours/wk job working from home. As is common these days, if one is sick for 3 days or less, they are not paid. Over 3 days, a Dr's cert is necessary. I was off a couple of weeks back on a Monday and Tuesday returning on Wednesday morning.
I received a message on Friday, telling me 'we expected that you try and make up as many of the hours (you was off) as possible during the 3 days you was back at work'. I would of course be paid what I worked. I've scoured the staff handbook, and NOWHERE is it mentioned that, if off less than 3 days I would be expected to work the extra hours. I was then advised 'However, should you be sick on a Thursday and Friday, you won't be expected to make up those hours.
What do you think of this? I'm confused...

LincsLass.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

linclass wrote: »

Morning all,
I have a 15 hours/wk job working from home. As is common these days, if one is sick for 3 days or less, they are not paid. Over 3 days, a Dr's cert is necessary. I was off a couple of weeks back on a Monday and Tuesday returning on Wednesday morning.
I received a message on Friday, telling me 'we expected that you try and make up as many of the hours (you was off) as possible during the 3 days you was back at work'. I would of course be paid what I worked. I've scoured the staff handbook, and NOWHERE is it mentioned that, if off less than 3 days I would be expected to work the extra hours. I was then advised 'However, should you be sick on a Thursday and Friday, you won't be expected to make up those hours.
What do you think of this? I'm confused...

LincsLass.

I am not clear on what your confusion is.

It appears to me from the final quote that they are just letting you know what the normal expectation is for next time. Do you have a problem with that system?

MKonrad

I'm confused to what your question is about?

linclass

Thanks both, for answers. No - I didn't make it clear, did I! It's my first job in 14 years (took early retirement) and no - that last sentence wasn't telling me for the future, she expected me to make up the Monday/Tuesday hours on Wed/Thu & Friday for THAT week. Question is, is this usual nowadays? Obviously, I won't be paid for Mon & Tues sick days, but surely - rather than be expected to to the making up, should I be given the option so as not to loose money? Additionally, if this is what the company expects, should it not be outlined in the Staff Hand book?

Thanks

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

I can't see how they could be telling you on Friday that you had to make up the hours that week - are you saying they expected you to work an extra six hours on the Friday? This still isn't clear.

As to whether it's outlined in the staff handbook, it doesn't really matter. If that's what they expect of you then you have the choice of doing it, or refusing. And if you refuse they might well get rid of you altogether; only you know how valuable you are to them and whether they will do this or not.

linclass

Crikey!
I'll trrrry and be even clearer then. They 'inferred' in a msg on Thursday evening, that I might manage to make up the hours by Friday. Then, Friday morning, I was asked to advise whether I had managed to make up the hrs. Then that 'Hopefully you've been able to make some of them up' . It was only when I queried this, that I was told it was expected that I 'make up' the hours.
Don't worry though, if no one reading this has encountered this type of requirement that personally I would have EXPECTED to be outlined in the Staff Handbook, I'll leave it at that.

sangie595

This wouldn't be normal, and unless you were told in advance it is unreasonable to expect it. But as was said previously, they can have any rules they like and if you can't comply they could dismiss you. Since you are working from home, maybe you are on a contract for services rather than employment? That would mean you are paid to do specific tasks, but could choose when you do them.

[Deleted User]

Are they saying that you can make up the hours so you are paid for the "sick days" rather than being short?

iammumtoone

How is you contract worded is it 15hrs per week or 3 hours per day?

If it is 15 per week maybe that is what they expect, 15 hours per week regardless of what days. Therefore if you are unable to work for the first three days they still expect the weekly hours to be done. Where they were saying if you were sick thurs and fri as well then the hours wouldn't have been expected to be made up as you were unable to work all week.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

iammumtoone wrote: »

How is you contract worded is it 15hrs per week or 3 hours per day?

If it is 15 per week maybe that is what they expect, 15 hours per week regardless of what days. Therefore if you are unable to work for the first three days they still expect the weekly hours to be done. Where they were saying if you were sick thurs and fri as well then the hours wouldn't have been expected to be made up as you were unable to work all week.

Sounds plausible, although I would think the Thursday/Friday part is more that you can't expect someone to work additional hours on Monday in anticipation of being ill on Friday.

theoretica

If it is 'we expect you to prefer to make the hours up so you get paid' that is one sort of expectation, and I think a good offer - and maybe they are right to assume most people would take them up on the offer.
If it is 'we expect you to do the hours for our benefit and will get annoyed if not' then yes, they should have made that clear in advance!