Work Duties rules....

Frecklecoz

So I don't even know if this is a thing that Employers can get in trouble for as I am sure most push their luck. Anyway, I work for an independent opticians as an receptionist/assistant. But ever since I've started (few years ago) he will ask me and other members of staff to do various PA duties. Which will include sorting out parking tickets, booking plane tickets, phoning certain companies or even doing stuff for one of his other companies. Nothing to do with the opticians. 
My question is is this allowed? I know for a fact PAs get paid a lot more than I do, which is minimum wage. 
Surely he shouldn't be asking us to do these things and it certainly wasn't in the job description.
There are a few other things like we don't get heating in the winter etc and keeps fobbing off fixing the boiler. Can he just ask and do anything because he's our boss?! He can be quite angry and stressful to be around sometimes too. 
Any feedback is appreciated. We are all just becoming increasingly frustrated with how he runs his businesses and how he treats us, and patients. (There's obviously other things that annoy us etc or things that we've noticed, that I haven't posted) 

Frecklecoz

I should also add we do not have an HR department as such, he's the only one we can complain to which makes things even more difficult. 

Lomast

Every contract I have ever had has had a clause in that allows the employer to vary job role depending on the needs of the business, at the end of the day he is paying you to be there why does it matter to you what you are doing in that time?

Unless it is a large organisation that can afford an actual PA then i would expect the receptionist/assistant to do PA type tasks as required

robatwork

Sounds like you're unhappy and you can and should be doing a more senior role for more than minimum wage. Nobody should be frustrated, angry and stressed all the time.

There's no slavery here, just a bit of being taken advantage of. You should find another job 

comeandgo

Yes, it’s allowed but you can now update your cv and add your PA duties to it.  Instead of asking you or other staff to do these things would you be able to convince him you would like to do all these extra duties and get the increased remuneration along with it, though I don’t think many PA’s make much more than minimum wage.

ReadingTim

What do you think the A in PA stands for?  Clue: it's in your job title too, and that's why you're being asked to do these tasks....

Anyway, if you don't like what you're being asked to do or the money you're being paid to do it, find a job with tasks or a wage more to your liking.  

Grumpy_chap

Frecklecoz said:

So I don't even know if this is a thing that Employers can get in trouble for as I am sure most push their luck. Anyway, I work for an independent opticians as an receptionist/assistant. But ever since I've started (few years ago) he will ask me and other members of staff to do various PA duties. Which will include sorting out parking tickets, booking plane tickets, phoning certain companies or even doing stuff for one of his other companies. Nothing to do with the opticians. 
My question is is this allowed? I know for a fact PAs get paid a lot more than I do, which is minimum wage. 
Surely he shouldn't be asking us to do these things and it certainly wasn't in the job description.
There are a few other things like we don't get heating in the winter etc and keeps fobbing off fixing the boiler. Can he just ask and do anything because he's our boss?! He can be quite angry and stressful to be around sometimes too. 
Any feedback is appreciated. We are all just becoming increasingly frustrated with how he runs his businesses and how he treats us, and patients. (There's obviously other things that annoy us etc or things that we've noticed, that I haven't posted) 

Those activities you describe sound like they are within the scope of "Receptionist / Assistant".

Most employment contracts include a requirement to perform ""others tasks as reasonably required" so the activities would fall in that if not the specific job description.  You are not being asked to do anything that is unlawful or immoral from what you mentioned.

You can ask for a salary review to reflect your increased experience and additional duties.  The employer may say no.

If you are unhappy, update your CV and look for alternative opportunities.

TELLIT01

What do you expect the role to entail is the first question which needs to be answered.