Employer increasing Contracted Hours - Salary the same..

Employer increasing Contracted Hours - Salary the same..

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Bohally

Original Poster:

943 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Evening All,

I started a new job in the tail end of last year. I was totally up front about my previous experience and previous qualifications. My employer offered me a bit of a pay rise from my previvous job so I took the job.

My employer has turned around and stated that they "believed I was more qualified" and as such I am "Overpaid" for what I am doing. I disagree, I'm working my contracted hours plus doing maybe 10 hours a week travveling to clients (unpaid) and have been told I can no longer claim business mileage, despite the fact somedays I am doing a 200 mile round trip.

Instead of taking a pay cut (I don't want to work for less) they have increased my hours by 5 per week. As the work I do is charged out to clients per hour, the boss is in effect gaining an extra £500 per month (minimum) out of the work I am doing.

Aside from it being a totally stty situation, can they legally increase my hours but pay me the same seeing as I was totally up front about my abilities when I applied for the job? I've been informed I'm getting a new contract on Monday. If I was to turn around and refuse to sign it, could they legally fire me because they think I am overpaid?

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
IANAL, but:


Yes they could let you go if they wanted, they'd simply say you weren't qualified for the job they wanted you to do.

I don't think they can just change T&Cs on your contract without you agreeing to it. No doubt, there are many ways around this.

I don't think that they can make any relationship between your alleged lack of qualifications and increasing hours, sounds like a con to me.

Have you looked at the ACAS site ? they have a helpline that you can call to ask for advice http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

Ref the hours change, their website says:

An employer may be able to change the terms of an employee's contract (written or verbal) if one of the following applies:

there is a clause in the contract that allows them to do so (a variation clause), or
the employee agrees to the change, or
the employer gives the correct period of notice.


There is more detail there, I'd go have a read and give them a call tomorrow.

Meantime, dust down the CV and have an eye on the market.

Bohally

Original Poster:

943 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Crafty_ said:
IANAL, but:


Yes they could let you go if they wanted, they'd simply say you weren't qualified for the job they wanted you to do.

I don't think they can just change T&Cs on your contract without you agreeing to it. No doubt, there are many ways around this.

I don't think that they can make any relationship between your alleged lack of qualifications and increasing hours, sounds like a con to me.

Have you looked at the ACAS site ? they have a helpline that you can call to ask for advice http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

Ref the hours change, their website says:

An employer may be able to change the terms of an employee's contract (written or verbal) if one of the following applies:

there is a clause in the contract that allows them to do so (a variation clause), or
the employee agrees to the change, or
the employer gives the correct period of notice.


There is more detail there, I'd go have a read and give them a call tomorrow.

Meantime, dust down the CV and have an eye on the market.
The problem is... 95% of the work I do is absolutely fine. I never hear back unless I ask for feedback and even then it's "Yes - everything perfect. Thanks".

I've been involved in a few jobs recently that the client has kept their own Sage backup, made various mistakes, reconciled items (which are a total pain to unreconcile) and has generally made a hash of it. I've spent days trying to get to the bottom of the situation but as we only have 1 licence for Sage (and numerous of us need to use it at the same time) the job is dragging on. FWIW - I never had any complaints about the standard of my work in my previous roles (and was often dealing with more complex work).

I'm going to give ACAS a call tomorrow. The CV has been dusted off!

Crafty_

13,248 posts

199 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
Why not chat to your line manager and ask them what they want you to improve with your work. If they can actually give some decent feedback and give you some things to work on (that 5% maybe?) thats fair enough. If they can't I'd be a bit concerned.

Bohally

Original Poster:

943 posts

146 months

Thursday 26th February 2015
quotequote all
I don't think that's an option sadly. The boss is very difficult to talk to and doesn't want to know. We are expected to work in evenings and weekends if there are issues.

There is no support, no training, we don't even have the proper tools to do the job.

I realise the answer is to find work elsewhere!

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
Bohally said:
I've spent days trying to get to the bottom of the situation but as we only have 1 licence for Sage (and numerous of us need to use it at the same time) the job is dragging on.
You work for a cheap bd who's putting your jam on his toast; find a new job.

Burrow01

1,802 posts

191 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
Bohally said:
Evening All,


My employer has turned around and stated that they "believed I was more qualified" and as such I am "Overpaid" for what I am doing. I disagree, I'm working my contracted hours plus doing maybe 10 hours a week travveling to clients (unpaid) and have been told I can no longer claim business mileage, despite the fact somedays I am doing a 200 mile round trip.

Instead of taking a pay cut (I don't want to work for less) they have increased my hours by 5 per week. As the work I do is charged out to clients per hour, the boss is in effect gaining an extra £500 per month (minimum) out of the work I am doing.

So they think you are not qualified enough for the job but want you do do more in the same position?

Sounds like they are taking the piss - the no business mileage and only one Sage licence would be enough to put me off.

Whatever the outcome of the current discussion I'd be looking for another job pronto

Slurms

1,252 posts

203 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
Bohally said:
I've spent days trying to get to the bottom of the situation but as we only have 1 licence for Sage (and numerous of us need to use it at the same time) the job is dragging on.
You work for a cheap bd who's putting your jam on his toast; find a new job.
^this

wise words