Zero hour contract but having to put in a written request for time off wtf.......

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

Honestly I hate my job but feeling stuck at the moment because if I left they would be screwed or at least my colleagues would.I work 30 hours per week and have done for 3 years despite recently asking for a day off once a week as struggling with fultime work. This was discussed never happened because work is so busy at the moment :-/At the end of each year we are all warned our hours may change/reduce until business picks up etc. But we have been constantly busy so it never happens. Recently we received a handbook saying we should try to reschedule hops/doc appointments etc around work. Also any time off for school plays/sports days will need to have a written request and only one employee from each seeking can attend if this shift can be covered. Any other time off for holidays etc will also need a letter in writing which will then go to the committee. I am absolutely :-0 by all of this I mean wtf. I work term time only but they have again asked us to come in on a Saturday to work a fun day and if you cannot attend you need to give your reasons why!!!! Although the money is handy I desperately have had enough however I don't want to upset my colleagues and leave on bad terms as I have worked my ass off there and want to come away with good references. I am really struggling to find out what my rights are which is so unfair.

Rowgt yes as long as you keep in touch. As you don't get set hour you're not obligated to work. We used to have a lot of student's, retired people and people who had families overseas on zero hour contracts. It suited them because they could have a lot of time off, more that part time, or full timers get, and could fit he work around their other responsibilities.
Zero hours contracts should work on your terms too, if you're not available you don't have to work.

Interesting. Employer put non entitlement due to zero hour contract! Was deemed correct by ACAS and DWP.

It still seems unfair that if someone has 2 days off for illness they do not get paid.

Why?

My DH has a permanent, full time contract. He doesn't get paid for being off sick. I can't understand why you think you should get paid when you aren't in work? Obviously long term sickness is different entirely...but 2 days?

Your employers sound like shits in everything else, but in that regard I think you are way off the mark.

That doesn't good Liz, can employers do that??? We work in an environment with children and although we have built up good immunity there have been occasions where we have picked illnesses up from work so to me it seems unfair.

Plenty of employers offer no sick pay until SSP kicks in. It's shocking that it's legal, but it is.

That's why I have an income protection policy, as SSP is about 10% of my takehome.

As for booking time off, I go on the online scheduler, mark up my unavailable days and if they don't like it they can do the other thing.

Dh doesn't get paid for the first three days off sick at a loss of eighty pounds a day. He's salaried.

Wow that is shocking. I really cannot believe company's are allowed to do this.