To not accept this work schedule?

[MaddestOfTheHatters]

First time AIBU, long time lurker.

Background is I work in a hotel so the show must go on over the Christmas period. I'm not opposed to this, plenty of people have to work over Christmas! We work on a rota basis given a month in advance, however our schedule for the Christmas and New Year has not yet been given.
Everybody is usually given a fair chunk of a few days off to celebrate etc. no problems.

It is now... 6? days until Christmas and my boss has rung and basically outlined that he wants me to work every single day between now and Jan 6th. He and I usually get on well and he is accommodating to my child care hand overs etc. but I'm pretty sure this is taking the piss. My contract is flexible part time only.

Should I put my foot down and say I can't do all that and have plans?

yes, you should. Compromise, of course but that's a bit silly.

Do you want the work or not? Can you negotiate double pay or not?

Depends on what you want to do, doesn't it?

Is that even legal?

Yep, just say you need more notice than that and maybe offer to do half/three quarters/whatever you can manage of it if it's decent pay.

I don't think this is legal I'd check this. that is taking the piss though! hope you do put your foot down totally not fair xx

I really don't want the work. I'm happy to work my fair share so that other people can have time with their families but I'd also like to go visit my own.

The only double time days are days classed as bank holidays. Anything else is normal hourly pay.

No, I would not accept this. I say that as someone who's worked plenty of holidays in the restaurant biz. It's entirely fair to say that if you were expected to work to that extent, you needed more notice. Who waits until the 19th to do the xmas rota!

No doubt everyone else is trying not to work too much and he's trying to find a mug who will do it.

I'd offer to work either xmas or ny and no more than 5 days in a row.

How many hours do you normally work? What does your contract stipulate?

They are seriously being U. What about the other members of staff?

I don't think you should have to do it. But don't go in like a bull at a gate. Tell him that you can't do all the hours he wants, but ask him if there is some kind of problem and can you help resolve it.

Could you help find people who might be able to help with a few shifts or something?

If he is normally decent it sounds like he might have a crisis on his hands.

So he is reqiesting you work 14 days in a row?

As a fellow Hotel employee I assure you this is not enforcable.

If your contract states 40hpw then anything over tjat is overtime which you can decline

Wow - that's one of the most dickish moves I've heard of.

Have you any hours specified in your contract? If your contract says e.g. 20 hours tell them that's how many you're working - they can schedule them for when they like as long as it's whole shifts and not a minute over (bare in mind saying the last bit will ensure you get the shittest shifts going).

I'm guessing you can't afford to lose this job, but I would be seriously considering my options if I were you.

Thank you very much for all your replies.

dreamingbohemian I have no idea why the rota hasn't appeared. I have asked numerous times to be told he was 'still messing around with it'.

I've offered New Year with some days in the interim. He says he will ring round and see what can be done. I was very polite, no blazing guns or bulls. Keeping Christmas Eve as a bargaining chip.

I normally work no more than 20 hours a week, my contract is 16 hours with flexibility on the days and times. I'm not sure if I'm more cross at the short notice, or the schedule itself!

I will not be that mug!

Mortified - thank you. Now I know where I stand. This is definitely considered overtime in my case, as my usual is only 20ish. At least I know I can simply decline.

Dick move doesn't cover it! Can't afford to ditch the job at the moment but will certainly be reconsidering in the new year.

I would be very hacked off. Not the same business, but I sort out our on-call rotas for our department, and I make sure Christmas/New Year is available 6 months in advance (because then it's other people's problem to find cover for it and not mine, if they're hoping to have time off.)

I know not everywhere can plan that far ahead, but it's still reasonable to give as much notice as possible, and ideally, no less than a month. People do plan stuff for Christmas and want to see families, and you're much more likely not to piss people off if you give them more notice, so they have the chance to rearrange things - and there's usually more goodwill - people are more likely to offer to do swaps or just cover for other people, if they feel everyone's doing a fair share, and there's time enough to sort things out. Being dumped on at the last minute doesn't engender that sort of environment.

My contract at one of my jobs is 6 hours at the weekend. Next week, they have kindly rota'd me in for 20 hours Monday to Friday, not including Christmas Day when we're closed. I also have a Monday to Friday job but the 6 hour job think I am being unreasonable to say I can't do these shifts, and apparently I should book holidays from my other job!!!!! I am inflexible and not pulling my weight. The temptation to tell them to shove the bloody job up their arse is very, very strong...