Unpaid staff meetings at night

freelancepuddle

I have began working for a bar so on hourly pay. I was told that they have mandatory weekly staff meetings. The next one is at 10pm and could take 1 to 2 hours, or more (they won't specify). It's unpaid and I'm not working that day (In fact I'm at my better job all day, so will be exhausted come 10pm). Surely it's not legal to not pay for staff meetings?

I'm not sure if it's in my contract or not because they never gave me a copy after I signed it, but 10pm meetings for a small pub seems very odd. Your thoughts?

paddedjohn

My thoughts are that you should not attend, up to you though, how much do you need the job?

scd3scd4

They expect 4-8 hours free every month!.........plus the travelling.




Saying no will probably mean they will suddenly not need you. Time to look for another job I would think.

getmore4less

how many paid hours do you do and if you add these unpaid what would the hourly rate be.

MIn wage is your backstop on unpaid hours.

bugslet

I'm struggling to think what on earth they need to hold staff meetings about every week!

I've held one in 26 years and even then it was fairly optional. Rest of the time, I either speak to people in work time or drop a note into pay advice.

Personally I think if they are taking up that much of your time, they should pay.

Sncjw

I thought you had to have 1 24 hour uninterrupted period of rest each week for 48 every two week.

enjoyyourshoes

Just say you have other commitments and can they send you a email with the action points etc. Be vague with commitments, but it could be childcare , other work (voluntary ) etc

andygb

Totally out of order IMHO.
The fact that it is unpaid on a regular basis, and so late at night, when the staff are knackered.
It sounds like a "control freak" in charge of this.

TELLIT01

The travel element of any job is not the employer's problem (travel to and from normal place of work). If on minimum wage then I would have thought they would be breaking employment law if these meetings are mandatory but unpaid.

scd3scd4

Travelling time is relevant if you are also not getting paid while you are there. Its your personal time, not there's.

Masomnia

They should pay you if it's mandatory, and if you're paid minimum wage then they're likely breaking the law on that too.

At the end of the day though really it depends on how much you want the job.

Or complain about not being paid minimum wage and then try to claim unfair dismissal when they sack you for not turning up...