Part time workers directive - any teeth?

[Yellowroses1]

Hi. I'm wondering if anyone has used the part time workers directive to get anything changed at work? I have been given full time objectives for 2016 which are the same as my peers, and my manger refuses to make them prorata to my part time hours. No good reason given. I feel this is unfair but I've found HR unhelpful in applying common sense - just point to processes. It may lead to me opening a formal grievance which I'm reluctant to do. Any advice?

By way of background I'm just out of another grievance with my new manager as I was given a surprise poor performance appraisal for last year. It went my way but things are frosty now.

Many thanks for any advice.

[titchy]

What sort of objectives? If they are quantifiable, ie bring in £50k of chargeable income, and that's the same expectation as a full timer, then you'd clearly have a case for discrimination. But woolly objectives like behave in a professional manner, improve timekeeping etc would reasonably be the same for all regardless of hours worked.

[Yellowroses1]

The key only one I'm looking to change is a tangible £ objective to do with savings. The rest are so woolly and can't be quantified. I thought it was clear cut and can't believe I'm having this issue!

[flowery]

I'm not sure what you mean by HR not being helpful in applying common sense? Were they reluctant to comment or to advise your manager to adjust the objective?

You can't be treated less favourably as a part timer and on the face of it, not adjusting that specific objective might be less favourable treatment. As to how to get that changed without using a formal grievance, avenues would be approaching your manager informally, and if necessary, mentioning your specific rights in this area, or alternatively asking HR to advise your manager of your rights in this area, which is why I've asked what HR did/didn't do.

If neither of those less formal options work, then it will need to be a grievance.

[Yellowroses1]

Hi flowery. HR have let me know that there is a formal process I can follow to go back to my manager through them to get a response in 14 days. The option after that is a grievance. I would have thought that HR would take time to understand the issue and make an assessment but they seem reluctant to look at the specifics. As of today they have agreed to call my manager which is a small step.

Thanks titchy and flowery for your thoughts. They are a great help and give me some motivation. X

[HermioneWeasley]

But it isn't necessarily discrimination to give you the same target. There are lots of reasons why it might be possible to achieve the same income or cost savings part time - you might have the same size or bigger team, more lucrative accounts, bigger budgets etc.