HR question re employment

[moggy]

Only been in the job about 14 months.
At the moment I work 40 hrs Monday to Friday.
That's in my contract.
There's every chance soon the company will want the 7 of us
(field service engineers that is) to be on call at weekends as they've promised
Some new customers a 3hr response time.
I'm not willing to do this if it happens.
If seems to me they'd have to draw up new contracts etc but can they enforce it?
I'm not sure if I have any rights as I've not been with the company 2 years so probably I'd get dismissed?
Any advice most welcome

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I don't know the answer but I would certainly start making a note of any conversations you have with your boss about this as well as any other disagreements.

 

[Goldstone1976]

They will need your consent to change the contract as fundamentally as introducing weekend working. With 14 months employment, you have very few employment rights. If you're not prepared to work weekends, as you say is the case, you can either resign or wait for them to give you notice. If you're pretty certain they're going to introduce weekend working, and you're not prepare to reconsider whether you're happy to work weekends, start looking for another job. Good luck...

 

[Ernest]

Under the Tories your employment rights are next to nothing unless you're in a union, best bet if you're not is to get in touch with ACAS and get some proper advice

 

[CHAPPERS]

Start worrying if you hear the name Jeremy Hunt mentioned.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Under the Tories your employment rights are next to nothing unless you're in a union, best bet if you're not is to get in touch with ACAS and get some proper advice

I agree. You don't have to have union representation at work to be in a union. You can pay by direct debit to a union who are then happy to legally represent you in any dispute.

I'm not sure of the consequences of your job but I used to work Mon-Fri, 8.15-5pm, when the company I worked for decided to open 6 days a week, 8-8, but negotiated it on a voluntary basis, with hours being filled by new recruits.

It is difficult for them to change your contract without negotiation, so get proper advice as soon as possible.

 

[drew]

I agree. You don't have to have union representation at work to be in a union. You can pay by direct debit to a union who are then happy to legally represent you in any dispute.

I'm not sure of the consequences of your job but I used to work Mon-Fri, 8.15-5pm, when the company I worked for decided to open 6 days a week, 8-8, but negotiated it on a voluntary basis, with hours being filled by new recruits.

It is difficult for them to change your contract without negotiation, so get proper advice as soon as possible.

Need to check the small print. When I joined Unite, I was aware that there was a six month period after joining before you could get legal representation (although I think you could get free advice).

 

[wellquickwoody]

Under the Tories your employment rights are next to nothing unless you're in a union, best bet if you're not is to get in touch with ACAS and get some proper advice

Your rights are the same if you are in a union or not. But Ernest knew that anyway.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Watch out for any small print in your contract along the lines of 'or at times as directed by management'.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Weren't The EU quite big on workers rights too?

 

[Ernest]

Your rights are the same if you are in a union or not. But Ernest knew that anyway.

Haven't you left YET ?

 

[Gullflyinghigh]

Watch out for any small print in your contract along the lines of 'or at times as directed by management'.

Or 'needs of the business', which is used where I am fairly often. Thankfully not to me I should add.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Your rights are the same if you are in a union or not. But Ernest knew that anyway.

But you probably won't know what they are, until advised.

 

[Ernest]

But you probably won't know what they are, until advised.

It's no good having rights if you haven't got anyone to tell you them and represent you and no good having rights if you can't afford the grand to go to a tribunal

Wellthickwoody knew that anyway

 

[Westdene Seagull]

http://www.ms-solicitors.co.uk/ - ask for Fiona Marin. Cost me just shy of £500 to get an extra 2 months money ( tax free ) out of my previous employer !

 

[happypig]

What do your colleagues think ? There's a heap of difference between one person not wanting to do it and everyone.

 

[moggy]

What do your colleagues think ? There's a heap of difference between one person not wanting to do it and everyone.

Only spoken to two of the others. One started same time as me and other one been there over 2yrs.
Both said they won't do weekends either.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Only been in the job about 14 months.
At the moment I work 40 hrs Monday to Friday.
That's in my contract.
There's every chance soon the company will want the 7 of us
(field service engineers that is) to be on call at weekends as they've promised
Some new customers a 3hr response time.
I'm not willing to do this if it happens.
If seems to me they'd have to draw up new contracts etc but can they enforce it?
I'm not sure if I have any rights as I've not been with the company 2 years so probably I'd get dismissed?
Any advice most welcome

Not sure what type of field service engineer you are, but my friend who runs a company servicing, installing and repairing industrial washing machines is currently trying to employ two more, but can't find enough staff.

He doesn't offer weekend call outs, although he has been asked about it by some of his customers.

 

[Justice]

If there is a few of you you only might have to cover one weekend in four not the end of the world.

 

[wellquickwoody]

It's no good having rights if you haven't got anyone to tell you them and represent you and no good having rights if you can't afford the grand to go to a tribunal

Wellthickwoody knew that anyway

Turning an old adage on its head, ignorance is no defence in the eyes of the law. And as someone else pointed out earlier, unions expect six months membership before offering legal representation. It's called taking responsibility for yourself, but the far left don't want people to think for themselves do they?