To turn down a job after accepting because they lied re. hours

[MrsH99]

This is my first post although I have been a long-time lurker. I wasn't sure whether to post this here or on the 'Jobs' section.

Anyways, I have been looking for part-time work for a little while now and recently applied to a well-known budget shop that sell mostly frozen food (hint: It's not Iceland). It was advertised as part-time, three days over seven. At the interview I was told it would be 20 hours a week over four days and was even given the days and times of work. I thought great, that's exactly what I'm looking for, the hours was the biggest appeal to me of the job. I'm not really fussed what I'm doing work-wise or where it is, it's the hours that is most important to me.

I was offered the job and accepted. Went in on Wednesday to hand in some documents and asked again about hours so I was clear in my head what days and times it was going to be, was told again the same hours as at the interview.

Then on Friday, the manager casually mentioned in a conversation while I was in doing my training would I be okay doing a 7:30 to 7:30. It soon transpired they want me to do 12-hour shifts on a fairly regular basis i.e. at least a few weeks in the month from the sounds of it. Also, I have now just seen the rota for the next three weeks and every week I am working at least 30 hours, not the 20 it was advertised.

I'm totally gutted and feel really tricked that they weren't upfront about this at the interview. I do remember something being said at the interview about being "fully flexible" but I thought this meant with regard to the days and times worked and was fine with it - I didn't take it to mean that they could put me down to work any number of hours in a week. I can be fairly flexible with regards to days and the hours worked in that day, I just can't manage to work anywhere near full-time hours right now.

If it was up to me alone, I would tell them now that I do not want the job as it is not as advertised but my husband and SIL are putting pressure on me to accept it even though it won't work for us! I feel totally trapped into accepting this job because if I don't it is going to cause a huge argument with DH .

I suppose this post is a bit of a rant as I don't have anyone else to get opinions from - I don't have any friends as I don't enjoy socialising and I don't really have any family to speak to either.

AIBU in feeling so disappointed and angry that they blatantly lied about the hours? Are these sort of shady antics commonplace now in low-paid jobs (from my experience job-hunting recently, it seems they are or maybe I'm just unlucky).

So as not to dripfeed, the reason I want to work part-time is not to do with childcare or benefits. It's because I suffer what I suppose you could term 'gynaecological issues' and suffer with chronic migraines and I find it more manageable to work part-time especially when I have a lot of doctors and hospital appointments and am having a particularly bad time re. pain. DH acts supportive in the sense of running me around to appointments and taking time off when I've had surgeries (I've had four in the past five years) but I often get the feeling that below the surface he doesn't really quite 'get' how bloody difficult it is to do 'normal' things or just carry on when I'm in pain on a weekly basis or so dizzy from migraines I can barely stand up.

Any opinions welcome as I really don't have anyone else to speak to about this.

[Burlea]

What's is got to do with your SIL. Regarding the job have you asked your manager why the hours are different from what was discussed at the interview.

[Liverbird77]

I think, if it'll make you so unhappy, quit now and find something that suits you. Good luck.

[7yo7yo]

Tell your sil to piss of. Who is she to interfere.
Can you take the job then refuse shifts?

[Mammylamb]

What the fuck has your sil got to do with this? None of her business

[Isleepinahedgefund]

A job had to work for both the employer and you. Why not go back to them and explicitly as the question? They said you were working 20 hours and you’ve been rostered for 30. That’s taking the piss out of the “fully flexible” as far as I’m concerned, and it give you an indication of what they’re going to be like. If it doesn’t work for you, decline the job.

[Bofster37]

When you queried the new hours with the manager, what did he say?

[Lougle]

Have you tried talking to them and saying that you can really only do 20 hours?

[Hahaha88]

Well it's nowt to do with your sil.
It sounds like your hubby thinks you're a free loader so Tbh I don't think he gets a say in it either. I'd cut my losses now and tell them you're only working 20 hours if they want more than that they will have to readvertise

[Hahaha88]

And fwiw it doesn't matter one jot why you only want 20 hours , you don't need to justify whether it's to do with benefits or not

[CottonSock]

Just tell them you applied on the basis of the hours advertised. That might just think you want to work more

[ClemDanFango]

You need to discuss this with your manager before you make any decisions.
Go in and tell them you accepted the post on the basis of the hours they offered because those are the hours you can do. Explain you’re happy to be flexible with days and start times but are unable to work beyound the 20hrs a week.
See what their response is and make a decision from there.

[GrimalkinsCrone]

You are having to fight on two fronts, which is unfair. Your DH should be supporting you. I’d go back and talk to the manager about wanting the job you applied for and accepted.
Retail coming up to Christmas is very intensive, if you cope with the next 3 months, you could handle the rest of the year. But you are the only one who should be making that decision.

[Pinkypurple35]

I would politely ask them why the hours aren’t as per your previous conversations and you’d happily be flexible on days it’s just the number of hours.

[frazzledasarock]

Did you sign a contract?

I’d speak to the manager and tell him you took the job only on the basis of the hours. They may change it back to what they originally advertised it at.

I would be telling my SIL to mind her own business.
Would be straight with H too, you physically cannot do it.

[Auba14]

It’s common with employers to have a base number of hours (as it usually fits in with their budget) and make sure staff are fully flexible to work whatever they need. Look at employers who offer zero hour contracts, their hours are usually huge per week!

Saying that, they should have been more clear in your interview that the hours assigned to you were ‘core hours’ and they need flexibility to be able to work more than required. Perhaps explaining to them may help? As an employer I know I’d try to be as accommodating as possible - but the fact is if they need someone for 30 hours they should have advertised for that in the first place.

I think if you explain to them, they’re probably going to leave you with no other option but to quit as those extra man hours need to come from someone in the team.

[HelenaDove]

If they have lied about the hours what else are they lying about.

And it also sounds like you have a DH problem If you DID do the extra hours as your DH wants you to do would he step up if it set you back health wise being as hes the one who wont be told.

[TeaAddict235]

Firstly, sorry that you are having gynae issues OP. My heart goes out to you and any woman (or man) who has these issues, they are a silent pain in the arse (pun intended).

Can you not write an email saying that you would still like the job, however due to personal reasons you can currently only work 20hrs a week. Leave them to hope that you will up your hours. Have you signed the contract already? If so, did it say 20 or 30hrs? Unfortunately you have to adhere to what is in the contract. Don't forget that the probationary period allows for both sides to end the contract, so see it as that for you too. If they are horrid or bullyish, then prepare your leaving letter to be sent before the end of the probationary period, stating the reason being the hours different to advertised.

Check out the Women's Returners website for better posts. And Listen to Mothers At Home podcast. Very helpful stuff .

Tell your DH that he needs to be on your side, as per the marriage. And mentally tell your SIL to stuff off

[Bibijayne]

Chat to the manager and say there's been a bit of a mix up and you've been given full-time hours which you cannot do. Ask if they can fix the rota to the agreed times. Follow up with a written email/ letter (send this to the regional manager as well).

If they argue, then quit. If they fix the problem, great.

On a separate note. Your SIL needs to butt out. This is for you and your DH not extended family.

[IWentAwayIStayedAway]

Do you live with sil?

[SirTobyBelch]

The job advert is part of your contract of employment. So are commitments made in an interview, although it's harder to prove these. What Form Faads have done is illegal. Unfortunately, that's no consolation to you unless you are fabulously wealthy and can afford to employ a lawyer to fight them for you. It might be worth a trip to Citizens' Advice, but I suspect there's still nothing you can do without a lawyer. Companies like this won't obey the law unless they are forced to.

[Hecateh]

Don't take it.

You will get even more hours than they have initially said as others take leave, are sick, and Christmas approaches.

It seems to me it's one step up from a zero hours contract.

On top of that your contract states x hours, you are expected to work twice that at least, every week but your holiday pay is based not on your average hours, as should happen, but on your contracted hours .

And, although it is minimum wage or less, you will be expected to arrive in plenty of time to take any hand over, updates etc before your paid time and probably clean/clear after the end of your paid shift.

[Nameisthegame]

What does your contract say? I would discuss it with them and tell them you applied on the basis that it will be 20 hours a week.

[CAG12]

Try and clarify with your manager before quitting. I think it sounds like they just want extra staff and their taking advantage

[Hecateh]

although it is minimum wage or less,

that should have said "although it is minimum wage more or less,"

[montysma1]

This happened to me in a supermarket job. The advert was for 16 hours. I was rostered for 35!

And as somebody said, the holidays are only calculated on the 16 hours.
Complete exploitation.