Employment law

Lolomc

Good evening, I am looking for some advice on behalf of a family member. They have worked in job for 12 years. Before lock down they worked 40 hours per week, this is what their furlough payment was based on. At the start of April got a text to say they were now on a zero hour contract so therefore they would not accrue any holidays during furlough, which was incorrect after advise from guidance on government website. On return to work, back full time hours  for a month then given one day's notice that they would  be dropping down to 55% of hours, no consultation. They are now also on top of all this been underpaid by a week in monthly wage. This has caused a great deal of stress for them and wonder the best course of action of where to go from here. Thank you in advance for any response. 

Dox

One for ACAS - plenty going on here that shouldn't be. Sounds like an employer who is pretty clueless. https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

Lolomc

The employer does not have the best reputation for treating employees well and will try anyway out their legal obligations to staff. I have advised to get everything written down in a grevience letter so it is documented asking employer to respond to the issues. 

Undervalued

Lolomc said:

The employer does not have the best reputation for treating employees well and will try anyway out their legal obligations to staff. I have advised to get everything written down in a grevience letter so it is documented asking employer to respond to the issues. 

I would suggest getting some professional legal advice on the contents of that letter before sending it.

Although ACAS has it uses it is not a substitute for legal advice. At the first level ACAS is a call centre staffed by people with only a limited amount of training so do double check any "advice" they provide.

Lolomc

Thank you, I will pass on this advice. 

steampowered

It sounds like this company might be about to go under.

Personally I would start searching for another job.

I wouldn't rock the boat too much if you think the company is about to go insolvent. Once you are out of a job, you are only an unsecured creditor. You could sue the employer for unfair dismissal in Employment Tribunal, but that is a waste of time if the company is insolvent and doesn't have any money.

If your family member is in a job when the company goes under, he or she will qualify for a redundancy payment from the government given their length of service. Have a read of https://www.gov.uk/your-rights-if-your-employer-is-insolvent.