Employment contract

aj16_2

I am after some advice as my current employer is soon to review/change roster details for staff. I currently work a 37 hour week on a shift pattern (7am-6pm), with a 36 mins lunch break, so 7.24 per day. This is Mon-Fri but you are required to work a Sat 1 week in 6 (the following Mon becomes a rest day). 28 days annual leave, plus the bank holidays. This is a good time to review my employment contract, specifically relating to hours of work. I have listed current details below. Do you think there are any details which are too vague and I should be asking further questions, or are their requirements satisfactory?


11. HOURS OF WORK

11.1 Your standards hours of work will ordinarily be 37 a week (exclusive of meal breaks).


11.2 In order to meet operational demands/exigencies of service it may be necessary for [employer name] to vary the number of hours/the days/start and finish times on which you are required to work.


- Note the shift pattern or days of work are not listed in contract. Does the employer have this covered in 11.2?

- 3 members of staff are required to volunteer to work a Bank Holiday (on double time). You then have an additional rest day. If not enough volunteers managers will choose someone to roster in. Again, there is no mention of this in contract. Is this something else covered by 11.2?

- In roster review there will, apparently, be an option to vary working week and work Sunday if you wish. In the unlikely event any staff will take up this 'offer' surely the Sunday would amount to extra pay? It seems this is being sold as being part of normal shift. In fact, should the current Saturday working be at least time and a half?

Marcon

aj16_2 said:

I am after some advice as my current employer is soon to review/change roster details for staff. I currently work a 37 hour week on a shift pattern (7am-6pm), with a 36 mins lunch break, so 7.24 per day. This is Mon-Fri but you are required to work a Sat 1 week in 6 (the following Mon becomes a rest day). 28 days annual leave, plus the bank holidays. This is a good time to review my employment contract, specifically relating to hours of work. I have listed current details below. Do you think there are any details which are too vague and I should be asking further questions, or are their requirements satisfactory?


11. HOURS OF WORK

11.1 Your standards hours of work will ordinarily be 37 a week (exclusive of meal breaks).


11.2 In order to meet operational demands/exigencies of service it may be necessary for [employer name] to vary the number of hours/the days/start and finish times on which you are required to work.


- Note the shift pattern or days of work are not listed in contract. Does the employer have this covered in 11.2?

- 3 members of staff are required to volunteer to work a Bank Holiday (on double time). You then have an additional rest day. If not enough volunteers managers will choose someone to roster in. Again, there is no mention of this in contract. Is this something else covered by 11.2?

- In roster review there will, apparently, be an option to vary working week and work Sunday if you wish. In the unlikely event any staff will take up this 'offer' surely the Sunday would amount to extra pay? It seems this is being sold as being part of normal shift. In fact, should the current Saturday working be at least time and a half?

Doesn't seem to be anything untoward or unduly vague - you've accepted the contract, so have accepted that the employer can vary your work patterns. 

Unless your contract states otherwise, there is no entitlement to anything in excess of your normal rate of pay.

TBagpuss

There's no automatic right to higher pay on Saturdays or Sundays - as long as you are being paid at least minimum wage that would be down to negotiation. And yes, 11.2 basically makes it clear that the employer can tell you what hours to work and that this may at times me more or less than 37 hours and that the start / finish times may not always be consistent.