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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to start work 20 minutes early every day, and not get paid for it.

50 replies

littlemisssunny · 19/09/2012 17:18

I have recently been taken on as a casual kitchen assistant by my local council and started my first job this week.

I arrived in plenty of time on my first day so I could get changed etc, and then every day this week I have been there in time to get changed and still be 10/15 minutes early but start work straight away.

The job is very physical and it's my first in a school kitchen. I only do 2 hours a day which I am paid for.

My first job when I get in is the washing up of all the big pots and pans. Today the boss said to me, you should come in earlier to get everything done. (not get paid any extra though).

I thought they had a cheek as I already start earlier than I should, it's a long walk (40 mins each way) and I get changed when I get there and still start early, why should I go in earlier than I do, meaning I work for 20 mins extra which I don't get paid for!

Anyway Aibu or are they!

OP posts:
jamdonut · 19/09/2012 18:23

A bit like working as a TA.
I'm always 20 mins early to help the teacher get ready.
I'm at least half an hour late finishing every day, sorting out children and parents and displays etc, not to mention staff meetings.
It's not just me, all the TA's are the same. But they will only pay as for 27 and a half hours a week. I keep arguing that to get our jobs done properly we need to be full time...but no.Hmm

solidgoldbrass · 19/09/2012 18:27

Whar's going on here is cost-cutting - they don't want to pay for the amount of hours the job actually takes so they tell staff to work harder, get in early etc.

MoreBeta · 19/09/2012 18:35

littlemiss - don't do it.

Arrive on time, leave on time.

Its funny how employers always want flexibility from employees but never pay for it or allow employees any flexibility on their hours. In reality they are really paying you less than minimum wage and that is illegal.

Ask to be paid for the hours at proper minimum wage or leave the job.

cocobongo · 19/09/2012 18:38

jamdonut, not quite the same as a TA- you are not just getting paid for 2 hours a day. to expect someone to do extra over and above this when they are only getting paid for 2 hours is taking the piss to the extreme.

and, to the other posters who said it was because she isn't efficient enough to finish what others would in the same time- note that she was advised to come early before she had even started doing this task, so there would have been no way of knowing whether she would be efficient or not. clearly there is too much work to be done in the paid time allocated to it.

OP- I would start arriving ready for work bang on 11.30, unless they are willing to offer additional hours paid.

MistressIggi · 19/09/2012 18:50

Far too big a proportion of your actual hours to do fo free, as pp has said. You could find out if they are happy with how you are doing things, so you'd know the extra time they want is nothing to do with your work being slow.

crisisofidentity · 19/09/2012 18:59

I would start work at the time allocated. 11.30. If you need to work after your two paid hours, to finish off, do so for acouple of weeks to give yourself time to speed up. If you really can't do the work as fast as they need it, consider a rethink. iWork in a school an they find it hard to recruit lunch time workers because of the hours. If you can stick it for 6 months, you should get a good reference.

WofflingOn · 19/09/2012 19:03

'A bit like working as a TA.
I'm always 20 mins early to help the teacher get ready.
I'm at least half an hour late finishing every day, sorting out children and parents and displays etc, not to mention staff meetings.
It's not just me, all the TA's are the same. But they will only pay as for 27 and a half hours a week. I keep arguing that to get our jobs done properly we need to be full time...but no'

Jamdonut, that is your choice, the school are not making you do that,nor can they.
Same as me really, I'm in school from 7.30 to 6pm and bring work home several times a week through choice and because I want to do a good job. Directed time is from 8.15am until 3.45pm.

DilysPrice · 19/09/2012 19:04

If it's your 3rd day you will presumably get quicker and stronger though, and pretty soon you will be able to do the allocated work in the allocated time.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 19/09/2012 19:07

Perhaps I'm just not cut out for the job, I go as fast as I can, and in the shop I work in I work in a cafe and we never have enough staff in so I muck in and we all go as fast as we can, so it's not that I am not prepared to work hard, but this might just be too much for me!

It is apparantly the hardest kitchen in the area to work in as it's so busy and a big school, I think they would be better off putting people with more experience in there. It's my first casual job with the council and it's not put me off working in a school just a smaller one might be better.

Just feeling rather depressed about it all, feel like I am trying my best for them and they want me to do everything super fast when I have never even done it before!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 19/09/2012 19:09

Be careful because if you continually work longer hours for "free" it does then actually become part of your contract!!!

DoMeDon · 19/09/2012 19:16

No you shouldn't have to start early, agree it is work for no pay. There may be a problem if others are doing the same amount of work in less time though - they may just end up having to replace you.

I remember having a strip torn off for being 'late' when I worked in a ban was there at 8.50 instead of 8.45. I was paid from 9am to 5pm but expected to be there from 8.45am to whenever I finished cashing up. Finish time could be anything up to an hour later if there was a till discrepancy!!

DoMeDon · 19/09/2012 19:16

*bank

holyfishnets · 19/09/2012 19:32

Start coming in on time even if it means sitting outside reading a book. Tell boss you are happy to start earlier as long as they pay you for it.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 19/09/2012 19:35

My trouble is I'm scared to say anything! I am going to phone the lady at the council who looks after the casuals in the morning and say I shall see out the week, but tell her why! (in a nice way of course!)

I am hard working and willing to give anything my all but they are taking the piss in more ways than one!

OP posts:
Nagoo · 19/09/2012 19:41

Don't say anything, carry on arriving 'in time'.

If they want to move your working hours than they can ask you to start at 11 officially.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 19/09/2012 19:41

I wouldn't want to sit outside fishnets it's not a nice area!

OP posts:
Nagoo · 19/09/2012 19:45

why would you leave? To avoid confrontation? You need to stick up for yourself.

Can you tell your boss to phone up the casuals lady and arrange any changes with her? You are doing your job, if they want to get rid of you, let them. It doesn't sound like the sort of job you will be asking for references from, and giving up after a week gives a bad impression as much as refusing to work for free IMO.

Sokmonsta · 19/09/2012 19:49

Yanbu unreasonable. But it seems to be parr for the course in council catering. A friend got a job as the school 'cook' (satellite kitchen, mostly heat up delivered food). She was expected to put in at least an hour a day unpaid to ensure the day's duties got done. School did their best to ensure she was paid the hours she worked, inc the extras but it was more hassle all round than it was worth. another, full time, staff member now just had those duties incorporated into their hours.

GoldandOrangeAnnunziata · 19/09/2012 19:49

You'd be silly to leave now, you've only done a few shifts! Turn up on time, get ready at home, work as hard as you can and leave.

Original poster
littlemisssunny · 19/09/2012 22:07

I can't get ready at home as we have to change into our stuff when we arrive, no outdoor clothes for hygiene reasons.

I have been working as hard as I can, but it's not enough for them. Yes maybe I am being pathetic but I don't deserve to be treated like crap either, the job just isn't for me, and I think the lady in the council who arranged the placement for me won't be surprised as before I started she said it was a very hard kitchen and i could try it if i wanted, but didnt have too as its a hard one for your first, i want to give it a go the end of the day it's casual so why break my back for 2 hours pay at minimum wage a day, when it takes me nearly as long to get there and back?

OP posts:
porcamiseria · 19/09/2012 22:15

what bella vita said??? sorry

ZacharyQuack · 19/09/2012 23:09

It's your 3rd day! Don't just give up.

Sometimes people are a bit shitty and try to push you into doing something for nothing. Very calmly just refuse to be pushed. Say things like "I can't get here any earlier, sorry" or "The council have asked me to start at 11:30, would you like to arrange with them for me to do longer hours?"

OrangeImperialGoldBlether · 19/09/2012 23:21

With that sort of job you should be doing the hours they set and no more. With a job that's a career you would need to work longer hours (often) than those specified.

wannabedomesticgoddess · 19/09/2012 23:25

I once worked for a company who left me in sole charge, doing two peoples jobs. 15 hours a week more than what I was contracted for, every week for 6months.

They wouldnt pay the staff past 5.30 but expected them to stay to 6.

I left when I got a job with another company. Who then did exactly the same.

People want everything for nothing. If you are competant and willing they take advantage.

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 19/09/2012 23:25

YANBU. Say what Zachary suggests.

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