Working - Contracted Hours
Discussion
Afternoon.
Currently work in accounting practice and am looking for a few opinions on the situation.
I'm contracted for 35 hours a week. I was previously informed that any hours would be paid at my hourly rate. Fine.
I thought I'd double check at the start of the month and have been told it is now time back in lieu (which given I have loads of holidays still to take - feel it is unlikely I will actually get to take the time back).
I've received an email saying we are expected to work weekends, evenings etc. I'm pretty much against this. There are realistically no progression opportunities where I am so not too fussed if it suddenly means I'm not flavour of the month,
What you would do?
Currently work in accounting practice and am looking for a few opinions on the situation.
I'm contracted for 35 hours a week. I was previously informed that any hours would be paid at my hourly rate. Fine.
I thought I'd double check at the start of the month and have been told it is now time back in lieu (which given I have loads of holidays still to take - feel it is unlikely I will actually get to take the time back).
I've received an email saying we are expected to work weekends, evenings etc. I'm pretty much against this. There are realistically no progression opportunities where I am so not too fussed if it suddenly means I'm not flavour of the month,
What you would do?
Our company hires a lot of accountants and explains at interview there are long hours involved, OT is not applicable but you get time-off in lieu for working more than a certain number of outside-hours in a row + weekends. It's pretty much standard for that industry; my sister is a chartered accountant for one of the big banks and she does crazy hours, but then gets weeks and weeks of time off - same as the junior members of her team.
Anyway, to answer your question, refer your employer to the wording on your contract. However you might find yourself being pushed towards the door (especially if you're still within 2 years of starting) as they might not consider you the correct fit for the job. Unless the lied to you at interview and mis-sold you the job.
Anyway, to answer your question, refer your employer to the wording on your contract. However you might find yourself being pushed towards the door (especially if you're still within 2 years of starting) as they might not consider you the correct fit for the job. Unless the lied to you at interview and mis-sold you the job.
I think the issue here isn't so much the long hours - BUT
Doing them - but not getting paid beyond 35 hours AND not getting the time back.
If the pay is really good - and still works out good when extra hours are taken into account that's fine.
The difficulty I see is that over at 5 hours extra time a week over the contracted hours - then EVERY 7 weeks the OP will have a FULL weeks work done - but not paid for.
Over a year that's 7 weeks - ON TOP of the amount of holidays OP would already be due.
Long hours is fine - but unless the pay is extremely good and reflects the long hours actually worked as opposed to the contract hours - then in my world - expecting someone to work 5 hours UNPAID every week is NOT COOL.
Id do the hours - KEEP TRACK OF ALL extra hours over the contract done - and if those hours are not paid for - after a period of time - raise the issue again.
For example "Just a question I wanted to raise with you - for the last 21 weeks - ive done 5 hours extra EVERY week unpaid. I make that 3 full weeks work ive done without being paid. What happens now - will I be able to take some or all of this time back as time in lieu"
Now in the above scenario - all you've done is ask a couple of questions - if they get huffy about it - then they REALLY are not worth working for - so who cares what they think
Doing them - but not getting paid beyond 35 hours AND not getting the time back.
If the pay is really good - and still works out good when extra hours are taken into account that's fine.
The difficulty I see is that over at 5 hours extra time a week over the contracted hours - then EVERY 7 weeks the OP will have a FULL weeks work done - but not paid for.
Over a year that's 7 weeks - ON TOP of the amount of holidays OP would already be due.
Long hours is fine - but unless the pay is extremely good and reflects the long hours actually worked as opposed to the contract hours - then in my world - expecting someone to work 5 hours UNPAID every week is NOT COOL.
Id do the hours - KEEP TRACK OF ALL extra hours over the contract done - and if those hours are not paid for - after a period of time - raise the issue again.
For example "Just a question I wanted to raise with you - for the last 21 weeks - ive done 5 hours extra EVERY week unpaid. I make that 3 full weeks work ive done without being paid. What happens now - will I be able to take some or all of this time back as time in lieu"
Now in the above scenario - all you've done is ask a couple of questions - if they get huffy about it - then they REALLY are not worth working for - so who cares what they think
As an aside - for employers out there - a general question
If you were to pay someone a set wage every week to work 35 hours a week - youd be RIGHTLY very annoyed if that person only worked 25 hours a week - yet you were still paying them for 35 hours a week.
Obviously this isn't very fair.
So what makes an employee working for 45 hours a week but only getting paid for 35 hours a week - the exact opposite scenario fair.
If you were to pay someone a set wage every week to work 35 hours a week - youd be RIGHTLY very annoyed if that person only worked 25 hours a week - yet you were still paying them for 35 hours a week.
Obviously this isn't very fair.
So what makes an employee working for 45 hours a week but only getting paid for 35 hours a week - the exact opposite scenario fair.
Sir Fergie said:
I think the issue here isn't so much the long hours - BUT
Doing them - but not getting paid beyond 35 hours AND not getting the time back.
If the pay is really good - and still works out good when extra hours are taken into account that's fine.
The difficulty I see is that over at 5 hours extra time a week over the contracted hours - then EVERY 7 weeks the OP will have a FULL weeks work done - but not paid for.
Over a year that's 7 weeks - ON TOP of the amount of holidays OP would already be due.
Long hours is fine - but unless the pay is extremely good and reflects the long hours actually worked as opposed to the contract hours - then in my world - expecting someone to work 5 hours UNPAID every week is NOT COOL.
Id do the hours - KEEP TRACK OF ALL extra hours over the contract done - and if those hours are not paid for - after a period of time - raise the issue again.
For example "Just a question I wanted to raise with you - for the last 21 weeks - ive done 5 hours extra EVERY week unpaid. I make that 3 full weeks work ive done without being paid. What happens now - will I be able to take some or all of this time back as time in lieu"
Now in the above scenario - all you've done is ask a couple of questions - if they get huffy about it - then they REALLY are not worth working for - so who cares what they think
I think you've hit the nail on the head here.Doing them - but not getting paid beyond 35 hours AND not getting the time back.
If the pay is really good - and still works out good when extra hours are taken into account that's fine.
The difficulty I see is that over at 5 hours extra time a week over the contracted hours - then EVERY 7 weeks the OP will have a FULL weeks work done - but not paid for.
Over a year that's 7 weeks - ON TOP of the amount of holidays OP would already be due.
Long hours is fine - but unless the pay is extremely good and reflects the long hours actually worked as opposed to the contract hours - then in my world - expecting someone to work 5 hours UNPAID every week is NOT COOL.
Id do the hours - KEEP TRACK OF ALL extra hours over the contract done - and if those hours are not paid for - after a period of time - raise the issue again.
For example "Just a question I wanted to raise with you - for the last 21 weeks - ive done 5 hours extra EVERY week unpaid. I make that 3 full weeks work ive done without being paid. What happens now - will I be able to take some or all of this time back as time in lieu"
Now in the above scenario - all you've done is ask a couple of questions - if they get huffy about it - then they REALLY are not worth working for - so who cares what they think
I know that there a couple of staff "more junior" than me who are salaried for less (but get paid the extra hours they work). The money I'm on is OK, but nothing majorly special. Given that my employer has me traveling to clients 2 hours away ("in my own time") to then get home at 7pm and be expected do another 4 hours work is what pisses me off. There is no support in the office, there isn't even a "thanks for getting that done". Then when I refuse to work weekends they get huffy.
Christ.
Bohally said:
I think you've hit the nail on the head here.
I know that there a couple of staff "more junior" than me who are salaried for less (but get paid the extra hours they work). The money I'm on is OK, but nothing majorly special. Given that my employer has me traveling to clients 2 hours away ("in my own time") to then get home at 7pm and be expected do another 4 hours work is what pisses me off. There is no support in the office, there isn't even a "thanks for getting that done". Then when I refuse to work weekends they get huffy.
Christ.
Is this weekend work a work Monday to Friday (all 5 days) PlUS WEEKENDS type scenario - ie working 6 or 7 days a week.I know that there a couple of staff "more junior" than me who are salaried for less (but get paid the extra hours they work). The money I'm on is OK, but nothing majorly special. Given that my employer has me traveling to clients 2 hours away ("in my own time") to then get home at 7pm and be expected do another 4 hours work is what pisses me off. There is no support in the office, there isn't even a "thanks for getting that done". Then when I refuse to work weekends they get huffy.
Christ.
Or is it what sometimes happens - you work (for example) Saturday and Sunday and get 1/2 days off during the week.
And is your working day above something like this.
7 am drive to Client
9 am start work
5 pm leave Client for drive home
7 pm arrive home.
7,30 pm - do 4 hours work at home
11,30 pm finish for the day - bed????
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