Is this acceptable?

getmore4less

happyandcontented wrote: »

Where she works is in a town but not close enough to amenties that she could get there and back in 1.5 hours. She lives a bus ride away so going home wouldn't be feasible either.

The short staffing issue impacts the break because there is no other body to cover the period from 3pm to 4.30 so she can't just pull her hours forward. If there was the employer would easily find her work to do for the break, it isn't that she couldn't be employed during that period just that if she was the later slot would have no cover and she would have used all her hours so they won't let her do that.

if still getting the 30hr then but won't pay for more she need to look how the other hours can be moved into those hours.

If there is work to do then who is doing that now?

is all her work time dependent
ie. has to be done at the times she currently works

obviously covering the phone or reception is but other tasks may not.

takman

happyandcontented wrote: »

Where she works is in a town but not close enough to amenties that she could get there and back in 1.5 hours. She lives a bus ride away so going home wouldn't be feasible either.

The short staffing issue impacts the break because there is no other body to cover the period from 3pm to 4.30 so she can't just pull her hours forward. If there was the employer would easily find her work to do for the break, it isn't that she couldn't be employed during that period just that if she was the later slot would have no cover and she would have used all her hours so they won't let her do that.

She should get a Bicycle and use that during her 1.5 hours to go to the local town, it would also be good exercise. If she didn't want to ride the Bike to work she could just leave it there to be used for her break.

FBaby

Can she increase her contracted hours and work these 2 hours extra?
Alternatively, she can use the time to deal with all the admin most people have to do in the evenings/week-ends, ie. pay bill, look at changing insurance/utilities/look on internet for holidays, presents, on-line shopping etc... Would she be able to use a computer during that time?

Have they said how temporary it might be?

lincroft1710

Is this short-staffing temporary or permanent.

To answer your question, this is "business needs". The business needs someone between certain hours only, not all the time. So start and finish times can be adjusted within reason.

happyandcontented

Thanks for all your comments, it is interesting. My friend does usually sit at her desk, have a leisurely lunch and go on the internet.

Would this not be classed as a split shift though? That is not in her contract.