Lay-offs and short term working clause in contract ?

[StringFellow]

Has anyone been offered a job with a layoffs and short term working clause (unpaid) in their contract?

It basically means that if an employer does not have enough work for their employees they can temporarily lay them off or reduce their hours.

I think it may be more common in construction industries or similar? Which mine isn’t but it could be linked to less work due to pandemic restrictions or struggling financially..

Help! It doesn’t sound great to me!

My company added those clauses on the advice of their HR support post pandemic. They had never used them before and don't think they'll use them again, but are just being careful.

Might be nothing more than that?

My work tried but I refused to accept it

I'd add that my company is fully flexible and I don't work a minute of overtime that isn't given back in lieu, so it isn't a dodgy tactic on their part.

@thecatsthecats

My company added those clauses on the advice of their HR support post pandemic. They had never used them before and don't think they'll use them again, but are just being careful.

Might be nothing more than that?

Thanks for your reply, yeah I assume it’s to cover them post pandemic but it basically means I would be unpaid for a potentially unlimited amount of time which seems pretty unfair and I can’t afford that!

@gogohm

My work tried but I refused to accept it

Did they try and add it mid contract?

I'm not a lawyer but I always understood that the law of the land takes priority over a contract. So if UK labour law does not protect you, then does that clause makes difference?

@Coyoacan

I'm not a lawyer but I always understood that the law of the land takes priority over a contract. So if UK labour law does not protect you, then does that clause makes difference?

It’s perfectly legal to put it in contracts unfortunately! www.acas.org.uk/lay-offs-and-short-time-working

My partner has it in his contract. He is in manufacturing. Its quite common in manufacturing to have short time etc. Hes on short time at the moment (60% of his working week) you just need to weigh up the pros and cons. They also have a clause that if it goes on beyond 12 weeks (i think its 12 weeks) then redundancy can be requested by the employee. So all of the older people who have been at DPs company for 30 odd years reaching retirement have requested redundancy after the 12** weeks is up.