Employment contract and salary advice - urgently need help

[NettlesAreEvil]

I had a short thread in Employment Issues, but I think I may need some legal advice. I think that for all my not being happy about it, I have no choice but to comply.

Here are the details. I'm sorry it's long:

I have worked for several years in the same job.
6 months ago, my colleague died at work. It was an extremely traumatic experience as I was alone with him at the time.
Despite the flashbacks and nightmares, I did not take any time off work, and continued working in the same room, which I found very difficult. I had no formal support over this.
Another consequence of his death has been that my job description and responsibilities have changed and increased significantly over the last 6 months, as I am now covering a lot of what my colleague used to do.
However, my salary has not changed and I am still earning half, if that, of what my colleague was.
I discussed the possibility of a pay rise with my boss, on two counts, that I had worked there for two years and was overdue an annual salary review, and also the very changed job responsibilities.

I was told that I would definitely get a 2% annual increase, as is standard across the company, (though I still haven't had this), and that he had requested an increase above this to reflect my changed responsibilities, totalling approximately 10%.
However, it now turns out that this also involved me increasing my hours, which I am very unhappy about. I am a single parent and had a total career change to be able to work around child care. As it is, he spends an hour in after school club every day and I work evenings to make up my hours.

Currently I am supposed to work 9-5 (or equivalent) with 1 hour for lunch, but I generally work through most of this due to the extra pressure after my colleague died.
The salary increase is dependent on me increasing by hours by half an hour a day.
I have calculated that if I stayed in my previous role, increased my hours in line with the above and factored in the 2% standard increase, the new role salary increase amounts to less than £700 a year, which feels like quite an insult.
My boss says I should just agree to the hour change as I generally work the extra anyway, but that he wouldn't expect me to actually increase my hours. I am really not happy to do this. If I have to sign a contract to say I work longer hours, then I will work the extra hours. We work for a much larger organisation.

Any suggestions? I am really not looking forward to discussing this again tomorrow. It is just the two of us in the office and I think he is losing patience with me over this already.

[Pumpkintopf]

Hi op, if you work for a larger organisation any chance you could discuss with HR? IMO expecting you to cover your colleague's work long term without additional recompense is unreasonable.

[Pumpkintopf]

Sorry also meant to ask - you say your job description has changed. Has this been put in writing? If so did you agree to it? Did you request a pay rise at this point?

[NettlesAreEvil]

My boss went to HR with the request to increase my salary, as he also felt I should be being paid more. It was HR that came back with the hour increase, which in effect cancels out most of the proposed pay increase.
It seems that if I want to earn more, I just have to increase my hours and accept that I'm not really getting a pay increase for the changed role and much increased responsibility, (including not being able to take holiday in the first two weeks of any month, which is very difficult being a single parent - I will have to pay for holiday childcare and lose this time with my son).
The increased hours would be really tough. I have my son in tears some evenings as it is, if he needs me with him, but I can't be because I have to get my work done.

[NettlesAreEvil]

The changed job description would be in writing in the new contract - which also includes the hour change that I have not agreed to. There was no mention of this before.
I have done everything extra that has been asked of me and more in the 6 months + since my colleague died.

[Pumpkintopf]

Nettles if you have in fact been taking on the increased workload and responsibility since the loss of your colleague you have shown you can achieve it within your existing hours and should be paid accordingly, ie with a salary increase recognising your increased responsibility and no requirement to increase your hours.

If your line manager has been fighting your corner on this, ask if you and he can meet with HR together.
You should not have to increase your hours and time away from your son to do a job you're already doing on your current schedule.

Failing that you'd be entitled to say you need to revert to your previous role and responsibilities on your existing hours and schedule and your company would need to employ a replacement for your colleague.

Additionally the lack of support for you after your colleague's death is very poor and may be worth raising if you feel you still have issues that would benefit from eg counselling.

You don't say whether you enjoy the job otherwise - the holiday schedule certainly doesn't sound ideal - time to look elsewhere perhaps?

[NettlesAreEvil]

Thanks.
They are taking on an extra person, but to replace the job I used to do, as I have taken on a lot of what my colleague did do.
I have been doing extra hours and not been paid for it, but I don’t want to continue working beyond the 9-5 equivalent. It’s just not sustainable with a young child.
The understanding was that as I will have much more responsibility, including managing a new employee, I would get a pay increase. As it is, what they have actually offered me is longer hours + £700 a year for the extra responsibility, which will just go on holiday childcare.