Working more hours than my contract says

Miaxoxo

I started working as a healthcare worker last week and I was given a 16 hour contract. My rota this week says I’m working a 15 hour day Sunday. I phoned the office and told them I’m not happy doing a full day as I got told I wouldn’t be doing them. However I got told I have to work 24 hours a week even though my contract is 16 hours. This week I would be working 36 hours so they have actually doubled my contract.

Any ideas what my rights are and what I can do?

Marcon

Rather depends how much you want to keep your job. You can simply refuse, but you are likely to be sacked with no recourse, given you've only just started there.

Not sure who you spoke to at 'the office', but could you perhaps talk to your immediate line manager, or if necessary HR - unless they are the ones telling you this is the case.

General_Grant

Miaxoxo wrote: »

I started working as a healthcare worker last week and I was given a 16 hour contract. My rota this week says I’m working a 15 hour day Sunday. I phoned the office and told them I’m not happy doing a full day as I got told I wouldn’t be doing them. However I got told I have to work 24 hours a week even though my contract is 16 hours. This week I would be working 36 hours so they have actually doubled my contract.

Any ideas what my rights are and what I can do?

Maybe this is a small employer who thinks they only have to pay you holiday in respect of working 16 hours a week even when you work more. They are wrong if they think that and you are regularly required to work more.

Have you been given written particulars of your employment yet? These should include how holidays are calculated. However they can two months from your start date in which to provide this information.

Marcon

General_Grant wrote: »

Maybe this is a small employer who thinks they only have to pay you holiday in respect of working 16 hours a week even when you work more. They are wrong if they think that and you are regularly required to work more.

Have you been given written particulars of your employment yet? These should include how holidays are calculated. However they can two months from your start date in which to provide this information.

Don't think OP is asking about holiday....

Sea_Shell

Are you sure you haven't signed up for a "minimum" of 16 hours??

Not sure you've got any options really as a new starter.

CakeCrusader

Check your contract. Mine has 'extra shifts as required'. I often find myself doing 50 hour weeks (not healthcare) and I'd be delighted with 36 hours!!

Retrogamer

As mentioned above, you could refuse to work the hours but will possibly lose your job due to that.

Or you could work the extra hours, keep a record / copy of all the hours you're working and then make sure you get your holiday allowance brought up to match the extra hours.

But as you've not been worknig there 2 years yet, they can essentially sack you for anything they want. As long as it's not due to a discriminatory reason based on gender, race, colour, sexuaulity etc

Marcon wrote: »

Don't think OP is asking about holiday....

Nope, but there are employers out there who issue a 16 hour contract to employees in the hopes they can get them in for much more hours, but still give them the holiday entitlement a 16 hour a week worker would get.

The poster was just explaining the reasons why the situation may be the way it is

System

You're going the right way to lose this job OP...

General_Grant

Marcon wrote: »

Don't think OP is asking about holiday....

Of course the OP was not asking about holiday - but the reason for the employer stating 16 hours in a contract but wanting them to work more is because of what I suggested regarding holiday entitlement belief.