Desperate work situation.

Bryando

Hi,

I am pretty desperate so any help would be great.

I have a mental illness and work full time on a zero hour contract. The pattern goes 52 hours next 66 repeats. 10 hours between shifts. Do security, therefore, the protection of 11 hours does not apply.

They send a month rota I confirm.

I have asked three times for at least 14 hours between shifts as an adjustment owning to I require rest and my medication. Take antipsychotic medication. 1 hour and 30 mins each way. So that is 7 hours to sleep, eat, shower and get back out the door.

They ignore my contact re the adjustment. I used the equality website for a letter template and sent that by email. Still nothing. Yet they will respond to any other email.

Recently was sectioned and they think the hours are not helping me. I feel like killing myself so they detained me. Even have thoughts at work. Feel trapped.

I am scared of losing my job. Partner laid off so rely on my income. Too much to claim housing benefit so my wage covers the lot.

Somebody told me to just accept shifts I want when they send my monthly rota. BUT I am scared they bin me due to that. So I am trapped.

What do I do here?

Guest101

Legally both parties can refuse to work / offer work.

Nothing you can do as you're classed as a worker, not an employee. Time to look for new work

Bryando

Really? How am I a worker not an employee?

Bryando

My contract says this under hours of work:

Your contracted hours of work are 0 to an average 48 hours for each 7 days. You must give 1 months notice in writing to terminate this section of the agreement.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE EMPLOYEE IS THE HEADING.

You hereby agree that as a condition of your employment you will work your assigned shifts during the Christmas period from the 13th December to the 1oth Jan each year.

Under holidays is saying, full-time employees........ The contract is a mess as contains passages the govt banned such as I can't work elsewhere .

EVERY reference in the contract is an employee, not a worker eg. An employee may be dismissed for......

Sicard

I won't ask what your illness is, but I used to work with people experiencing mental health issues taking anti-psychotic meds, mostly schizophrenics.

I'd suggest also reading some self-help books and getting subliminal tapes to play before sleeping to convert the negative thought processes into positive ones. These all help in the overall picture.

I can't help on the work front but I thought the government were doing something about these zero hour contracts that are virtually paid slave labour with no protection for those employed.

I'd suggest having a word with CAB and see if you do have any rights.

Good luck.

-taff

Post on the employment board

henmuffin

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/

Try Mind. They can help and advise.

professor~yaffle

Sicard wrote: »

that are virtually paid slave labour

Sorry to nit-pick, but that is a bit of an oxymoron!

I worked temp contracts for years, and managed to pay the rent, etc.

OP's problem is that the type of work they're doing is not suitable because of their health condition.

OP can your partner not just take any job for now, to take the pressure off you?

LannieDuck

Can you find anything closer to home?

Sicard

professor~yaffle wrote: »

Sorry to nit-pick, but that is a bit of an oxymoron!

I worked temp contracts for years, and managed to pay the rent, etc.

OP's problem is that the type of work they're doing is not suitable because of their health condition.

OP can your partner not just take any job for now, to take the pressure off you?

But you didn't have any protection or the same rights as those not on zero contracts and could have been out on the streets quicker than you can say oxymoron.

Guest101

Bryando wrote: »

Really? How am I a worker not an employee?

Because you are on a zero hours contract. So employment law doesn't apply in the same way.


There's no unfair or constructive dismissal claims possible. If they don't like you, they simply stop offering you work.