Piece Work Advice

Mayforher

Good morning all

I'm after some advice on piece work price changes. My employer has given us a letter on 31st October saying the below points:

* in recent years a large number of models have been allocated estimate values rather than all models being timed
* due to this they have been carrying out time study activities over the past months
* from 1st February all items will be allocated a time/price based on standard minute values at the time of study AND derived synthetics values (I get from this it means historic prices?)
* the results of the studies will be available for discussion if necessary

The problem is, it is now 6th December and they have not said what the prices will be going down to. They have said the prices won't be ready until 1st feb (when they change). They are also claiming the contracts of employment are not changing.

My questions are

A) do they have to give notice of what the prices are going to change to before they change them?
are they changing my employment contract?
C) do they have a duty to show us the studies and explain where they got their prices from?
D) do I have a right to refuse it? Essentially my pay could be getting reduced by £150 a week which will affect everything in my life.
E) if i refuse it am I entitled to redundancy?

So many questions sorry...I just don't know whether they are being underhand or not, we have recently been taken over and have had so many problems since the change, we feel a lot of things they are doing are not in accordance with regulations but because its piece work I'm not sure if I have a leg to stand on.

Thanks

Comms69

how long have you worked there? What are you contracted hours?

nicechap

Mayforher wrote: »

Good morning all

I'm after some advice on piece work price changes. My employer has given us a letter on 31st October saying the below points:

* in recent years a large number of models have been allocated estimate values rather than all models being timed
* due to this they have been carrying out time study activities over the past months
* from 1st February all items will be allocated a time/price based on standard minute values at the time of study AND derived synthetics values (I get from this it means historic prices?)
* the results of the studies will be available for discussion if necessary

The problem is, it is now 6th December and they have not said what the prices will be going down to. They have said the prices won't be ready until 1st feb (when they change). They are also claiming the contracts of employment are not changing.

My questions are

A) do they have to give notice of what the prices are going to change to before they change them?
are they changing my employment contract?
C) do they have a duty to show us the studies and explain where they got their prices from?
D) do I have a right to refuse it? Essentially my pay could be getting reduced by £150 a week which will affect everything in my life.
E) if i refuse it am I entitled to redundancy?

So many questions sorry...I just don't know whether they are being underhand or not, we have recently been taken over and have had so many problems since the change, we feel a lot of things they are doing are not in accordance with regulations but because its piece work I'm not sure if I have a leg to stand on.

Thanks

Its not clear what or how current remuneration is structured.

Are you on an hourly wage? If so, do you get a 'bonus' for completing so many "pieces' of work within a set time?

Or, are you paid solely by the number of "pieces" of work you complete, irrespective of how long it takes?

I presume you have a contract of employment and are not a sub-contractor? - Employers can change your pay, as long as you are earning over the National Minimum Level. If you are not happy with the resultant level of pay once you know what the level or remuneration is, you are free to find alternative work.

Redundancy is for when roles within an organisation are no longer required. From what you've written it doesn't sound like redundancy.