Told to work later...

[Nikko 40691]

Hi, this is a bit of a sticky predicament that I feel I am in.
Basically we haven't had a Manager now for two months and we've been desperately borrowing staff for cover on certain days.
I am the only full time member of staff and my hours are 8-1600 Monday to Friday. Whereas the other two members of staff are both key time workers meaning they're both on aero hour contracts and they essentially work wen they want to.

So one of the key time workers finish at two today meaning a Manager from another station that has sort of been overseeing things has told me via voicemail of a key time worker saying I'm going to have to stay till six.
I wouldn't normally mind too much but I'll be arranging fleet and I have no experience in this, probably one or two hours maximum?

Looking in my colleague handbook it says you'll be expected to work overtime at short notice. Am I within my rights to say no and finish at four like I normally do?

The line of work I do is car rental and I apologise if this is a struggle to read as writing this on a phone is tricky!

[Nikko 40691]

Here's what it says about being told to work later...

[madbadger]

Looks like your terms and conditions make it pretty clear.

[liner33]

I think they should do more than leave a voicemail if they want to make a permanent change to your contract, if they are however making a request for you to work until 6pm for a short period of time then your handbook confirms they can do that.

Still I would want a written request and chance to discuss this with a manager rather than just accept.

I dont think you have to accept but if the business demands an extra 10 hours from your role each week then it puts you in a difficult position depending on how long you have been there

[Nikko 40691]

madbadger said:

Looks like your terms and conditions make it pretty clear.

I appreciate that but does an Employer not normally have to give you 24hr or something warning before making me work overtime?

[madbadger]

I read it as just today, rather than a permanent change of conditions.

If so it meets the definition of 'often at short notice'. If they had to give 24 hours notice it would say so.

You should be able to take the time back as lieu, though.

[Nikko 40691]

liner33 said:

I think they should do more than leave a voicemail if they want to make a permanent change to your contract, if they are however making a request for you to work until 6pm for a short period of time then your handbook confirms they can do that.

Still I would want a written request and chance to discuss this with a manager rather than just accept.

I dont think you have to accept but if the business demands an extra 10 hours from your role each week then it puts you in a difficult position depending on how long you have been there

I guess this is what has gotten my back up, this Manager from a different station has called me enough to discuss job related stuff and she doesn't have the nerve to call me to confirm wherever it is okay for me.
I've emailed her enough times requesting holiday and she just ignores it...

I've worked here for six months and to be fair it's really not very nice place to work for, always short staffed and they take people for granted.

The people that oversee the rota have known for weeks that there are some days that we need cover and as you can see, they always leave things til last minute.

[barwea]

They've not asked the OP though, have they? They left a voicemail on someone else's phone saying the OP would need to stay later. If you want something from someone then surely you ought to ensure they are asked. Leaving a voicemail for someone else to pass is insufficient imo.

[Foliage]

So you don't mind doing the extra hours this once at short notice, but your real concern is that you haven't had the required training to cover the full role.

If that's the case then it would be worth advising the manager that there is a gap in your knowledge with regards to covering, so if do mess up then he is forewarned.

[boyse7en]

barwea said:

They've not asked the OP though, have they? They left a voicemail on someone else's phone saying the OP would need to stay later. If you want something from someone then surely you ought to ensure they are asked. Leaving a voicemail for someone else to pass is insufficient imo.

Are you sure that the voicemail wasn't a "well, if you want to leave at 2, you'll need to make sure that 'OP' can stay til 6" - in other words, did the key time worker request leaving at 2pm from the manager and was asked to check staff cover before permission was granted.

Either way, the contract is pretty clear that overtime/hour changes may be required at short notice, and that is now happening. If it is occasional/one off then I guess you have to go with it, if it becomes a regular occurrence then I would talk to manager about improving staff coverage.

[Nikko 40691]

I can't help but to feel maybe I haven't got a choice about this...

[liner33]

I wouldnt do anything until you have official confirmation from your manager but no you dont really have a choice

[myvision]

Foliage said:

So you don't mind doing the extra hours this once at short notice, but your real concern is that you haven't had the required training to cover the full role.

If that's the case then it would be worth advising the manager
that there is a gap in your knowledge with regards to covering, so if do mess up then he is forewarned.

Exactly this.
E mail her so you have it in writing that you have warned her you lack the skills in case something does go tits up.

[Foliage]

My gut says getting it written down is OTT but it's a good idea BUT you would need to get it confirmed in writing too,

Best practice ass covering,

Call to discuss
email to confirm
print & file confirmation email (the reply from the manager)

[TurricanII]

liner33 said:

I wouldnt do anything until you have official confirmation from your manager but no you dont really have a choice

No choice on doing overtime perhaps, but can always choose to get another job if the overtime demands are no longer acceptable.

[liner33]

Yes there is always the choice to quit , if that's a choice . Its not necessarily overtime though it may be a change to the contract making the hours 8-6 instead of 8-4

[Nikko 40691]

Well work wasn't that bad afterall but I guess it's the principle of it.
Obviously I'm looking elsewhere.

[GreatPretender]

Nikko 40691 said:

madbadger said:

Looks like your terms and conditions make it pretty clear.

I appreciate that but does an Employer not normally have to give you 24hr or something warning before making me work overtime?

No.

As long as it's not in conflict with the WTD/applicable law, your contract can say anything and by signing it, you agree to be bound by it.

Them's the rules.

[anonymous-user]

You were asked to do two extra hours and you now want to change jobs?

[Mojooo]

Breadvan72 said:

You were asked to do two extra hours and you now want to change jobs?

hardly