Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be cross that I have been told I must work 7 days a week for the whole of January?

56 replies

Yawnarama · 20/12/2012 13:15

I normally work 4 days per week; Saturdays and Sundays, plus two days during the week. This cuts down the cost of childcare for us as we only need it on the 2 weekdays I work.

Due to staff holidays and a couple of longterm sicknesses, I have been told by my supervisor that I must work 7 days a week for whole of January. Apart from the fact that I don't wish to do it as I'll be exhausted, I have absolutely zero childcare to enable me to do this. I might be able to get my parents' to cover the odd day but that's about it. My supervisor wouldn't listen to reason at all and her suggestion what that my DH (who earns far more than me) took unpaid parental leave to cover the month so that I can work.

I am generally very flexible. I work extra hours after my shifts if necessary, and will try to cover the odd day at short notice if at all possible, but I think this is very very unfair.

I know about the working time directive law, but if I don't do as I'm told then I can imagine my work time won't be very pleasant. The supervisor is very prickly anyway and has a lot of mood swings.

Feel between a rock and a hard place tbh.

OP posts:
wonderstuff · 20/12/2012 13:32

I think that this is so unreasonable that no one could reasonably support her in this request - I would say no and document everything.

GiveMummyTheWhizzer · 20/12/2012 13:34

Thats illegal for a start.

Tell her no and log it with HR in case she tries to use it against you in future.

SantasENormaSnob · 20/12/2012 13:38

I absolutely wouldn't be doing this.

Your supervisor is totally unreasonable.

Speak to hr, join union.

Legal advice if supervisor continues to be a cunt.

SugaricePlumFairy · 20/12/2012 13:41

Unbelievable that she actually expects you to comply with it, what a nerve!

Agree with others about it being illegal.

juneybean · 20/12/2012 13:44

It's against working time regulations for a start. You're entitled to a day off every week or two every fortnight.

Will this take you to a 48 hour week?

Original poster
Yawnarama · 20/12/2012 13:46

It would be 50+ hours juneybean. bearing in mind I would be working longer days than normal too to cope with the staff shortages

OP posts:
Atthewelles · 20/12/2012 13:51

I would go over your supervisor's head about this and also make it perfectly clear that if there is any bullying behaviour from her as a consequence you will be taking action on this as well. I would actually put it in writing to the HR Dept quoting the working time directive. Your supervisor sounds like a complete idiot. Not only is she breaking the law but she has managed to create a situation where she has not provided enough cover for an entire month (during which she herself is taking three weeks holiday despite lack of cover),. She really hasn't a leg to stand on.

InLoveWithDavidTennant · 20/12/2012 13:53

tell her to bog off and stuff it. its her problem as she messed up with agreeing to people having time off at the same time. tell her to cancel her holiday (or cut it short) if they are that short staffed!

BumpingFuglies · 20/12/2012 13:53

What is your job, OP if that doesn't give too much away?

TheCraicDealer · 20/12/2012 13:55

According to the government website the 48hr week is based on an average over 17 weeks. I'd get down to a Citizens Advice Bureau asap, see what the ramifications are with that and what to do next.

Your supervisor sounds like a cock though. Any chance you could slip a fish in her locker while she's away so she gets a nice surprise after her three week break?

StuntGirl · 20/12/2012 13:59

Definitely her problem, probably her fault and she is out of her mind if she thinks someone working 28 days straight is he solution. Beyond unreasonable.

I agree withatthewelles, contact HR/line manager and tell them hell no no.

Pantomimedam · 20/12/2012 14:05

thecraic, indeed, but that advice doesn't cover days off - just total number of hours. I think expecting someone to work a month without a day off is illegal.

Yawn, I'd check the ACAS website as well as govt. And I agree with santa and athewelles, join a union, complain to HR and make it clear she can't bully you.

ShamyFarrahCooper · 20/12/2012 14:06

This is completely against the working time directive and I urge you to go over her head. Working this could leave you susceptible to exhaustion through no break & CAN have serious consequences. I know it sounds dramatic but it is true.
You would make yourself ill not having a rest. You are being more than reasonable offering a compromise, if the manager cannot manage holiday allocation better then she needs to have a serious think. YOU should not suffer for others taking time off.

susanann · 20/12/2012 14:11

Yes I agree its totally ridiculous. If she gets away with it she will do it again. If she makes life hard for you afterwards then complain to a higher person and/or look for another job.

TheCraicDealer · 20/12/2012 14:13

Aye, but I mean that was in response to those going "+48 hour week = illegal".

According to this employment website "A worker is entitled to a minimum of 24 hours break once a week or 48 hours one a fortnight (2 days for a young worker, age 16 ? 18)" - here. Stick that in yo' pipe, supervisor.

MerylStrop · 20/12/2012 14:15

Take it higher

Are you able/prepared to do some extra work?

She's scrabbling about because she knows she can't realistically take 3 weeks off if there's no cover. Who organises the rotas and authorises holiday.

Karoleann · 20/12/2012 14:15

All you need to say is you've spoken to DH and can't cover the extra days, so you will just be in on your usual days. Don't apologise or say anything else. When she says you have to just re-itterate that its not possible.
Maybe you should be less flexible in the future!

Allergictoironing · 20/12/2012 14:33

Try to make sure you get everything in writing - her request, your response & HER response back to you etc - in case the worst comes to the worst & you need to go to a tribunal. Any emails/letters you send make sure HR and senior management are copied in too, so there's a paper trail of the unreasonable behaviour.

OnTheBottomWithAStringOfTinsel · 20/12/2012 14:39

"lets just say she knows which bums to kiss and which not to kiss, so she is very highly thought of by all senior staff"

If the senior staff are any good, and get wind of what she's done, their opinion of her will change drastically.

Apart from all the pressure on you, she's exposing the company to a lawsuit.

Plus, she's the one causing the situation, not just by managing the rota very poorly, but by going on holiday for three weeks . I'll bet if news of this gets to her supervisor they will make her cancel her hols pronto...

jumpingjane · 20/12/2012 15:42

Definitely illegal as others have said.
I suggest you email her and put her suggestion to do 28/30 days straight in writing. Tell her that you understand that working so many days back to back is illegal (contravenes European Working Time Directive) and that, although you are willing to be flexible and work some extra hours, you will not be able to do as she suggests. Be polite but firm. Hopefully, she will back down once it is in writing.
If not, forward the email to senior management, HR, etc with a complaint.

Putting it in writing is really important as it is contemporaneous evidence, whereas she can easily deny conversations and may well be believed over you.
Good luck. She sounds like a total cow!

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 20/12/2012 15:47

This approach might work if she is awkward

"I'd love to help out like the but it is illegal for the company to ask me to work so many days without a break. I'd hate to accidently be involved in something that might get the company in trouble as I am sure you would too so we are going to have to think of something different"

DontmindifIdo · 20/12/2012 15:53

I think Chaz's answer is good. It would be what, 28 days on a run with no day off? Keep saying no, if she's not prepared to discuss a reasonable compromise, you'll just do your contracted hours and she can fill all those extra days some how or other, and of course if that means someone's holiday has to be cancelled, so be it.

Atthewelles · 20/12/2012 15:55

I think Chaz's suggestion is great. It also, if things escalates, makes you look very calm and reasoned while she will look ridiculous.

sarahtigh · 20/12/2012 16:02

I think as you said your contract mentions extra hours when busy you have to do a few extra shifts, there is a max of 48 hours a week, though sometimes it can be averaged, there is also a limit as to how many shifts in a run you can do maybe 7

it would be different if holiday had been better planned ie 1 person was on holiday then someone else got ill had car accident then as that was unforeseen going the extra mile is good though it can not be demanded it does look a bit bad if you will not help in crisis

everyone is entitled to holiday so nothing wrong with her having 3 weeks but is her holiday overlapping with someone else's or is someone sick, on ML etc?

Atthewelles · 20/12/2012 16:04

You're not 'entitled' to a holiday if it means one of your staff has to work for a full month with no days off. It is her job to organise the rota so things like this don't happen.