Querying a contract for prospective new job
Discussion
Hello all,
I currently work in the state sector (education), but I'm looking to make a move for promotion. I'm applying for jobs across the independent and state sector. One particular job seems to fit me quite well. However, looking at the description, I notice some odd wording regarding working hours. Owing to being in the state sector, where holidays, working time agreements etc are all enforced by big unions, I don't really know how things work in the independent sector. At the moment I'm meant to work 36 hours a week (this is more like 60-75) and I get something like 12 weeks holidays a year. The job I'm looking at says:
" Normal Working Hours will be within the hours when pupils attend the School during each school
session in accordance with the timetable. In addition to Normal Working Hours you will be required to work such additional hours and at any other times (including during school holidays, School Closure, at weekends and before and after the school’s normal starting and finishing times) as may be necessary for the proper performance of your duties. You will not be entitled to any overtime payment for any such
additional hours worked. "
What does this actually mean though?
Also, it says I would get 8 weeks paid holiday, but when studying the school term timetable, there is at least 13 weeks of school closure time. I can only imagine this means school is closed, but I'm still working (prepping courses and stuff). However, I would still be paid on the national pay scale, but I imagine that given its an independent school, they can ultimately pay you anything?
I currently work in the state sector (education), but I'm looking to make a move for promotion. I'm applying for jobs across the independent and state sector. One particular job seems to fit me quite well. However, looking at the description, I notice some odd wording regarding working hours. Owing to being in the state sector, where holidays, working time agreements etc are all enforced by big unions, I don't really know how things work in the independent sector. At the moment I'm meant to work 36 hours a week (this is more like 60-75) and I get something like 12 weeks holidays a year. The job I'm looking at says:
" Normal Working Hours will be within the hours when pupils attend the School during each school
session in accordance with the timetable. In addition to Normal Working Hours you will be required to work such additional hours and at any other times (including during school holidays, School Closure, at weekends and before and after the school’s normal starting and finishing times) as may be necessary for the proper performance of your duties. You will not be entitled to any overtime payment for any such
additional hours worked. "
What does this actually mean though?
Also, it says I would get 8 weeks paid holiday, but when studying the school term timetable, there is at least 13 weeks of school closure time. I can only imagine this means school is closed, but I'm still working (prepping courses and stuff). However, I would still be paid on the national pay scale, but I imagine that given its an independent school, they can ultimately pay you anything?
kiethton said:
That clause is fairly standard and means if you haven't finished the work required within your specific contracted hours you need to finish it off but will not be paid an hourly rate for doing so, or if there is a period of heavy work flow you will be expected to chip in and help.
This is effectively what I do anyway. It just seems so ambiguous! Even more so given that one of the "duties" described is that you must "undertake any duty requested by the headmaster." Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff