Can my employer make me do this?

[thedoginthenighttime]

I'm a regular but have namechanged.

I work in a role with 'normal' office hours. I'm responsible for quite a large budget, of which a considerable amount is spent at a weekend (involves retail without being too outing).

Lately I've been having to log on and do a little work on the weekends, which is unpaid. Today my employer told me they are not happy and want to formalise weekend working.

This will be in the form of two hours each weekend day. It will be every other week alternating with another colleague.

In exchange for this they have offered four hours off during the week. There will be restrictions on when I can take this.

My concerns are:

1 - I already work lunchtimes, late nights to get my work done. The weekend workload will be an addition. I cannot foresee any day where I would be able to take back four hours.

2 - I don't see the weekend work can be completed in this two hours and worry I'm opening myself up for constant requests for work all weekend

3 - It means I'll work 7 days a week

4 - If will mean my whole weekend is disruptive and four hours back doesn't seem enough compensation.

When I raised these points today I was told
I was being difficult. I requested my manager set up a meeting with HR and was told to stop being disruptive.

WWYD? Is this fair?

If they need someone at the weekend, suggest they employ someone for that role. I'm sure someone with training could do it.

But speak to ACAS. It's massively unreasonable.

They need to employ a part-timer: they haven't thought through how they would allocate you holiday or cover your holidays.

You'll go mad with no days off.

If you can get another job as good, just leave. Time it to cause maximum difficulty and be just after payday. When you leave write to your employer’s board directors saying what your manager tried to bully you into doing. Also post it on work online noticeboard and email ALL your colleagues.

You won’t lose a farthing. He may get sacked. You won’t have to work weekends. What’s not to like?

There is a lot of inaccurate advice on here.

Only follow advice from an employment law specialist, HR professional (qualified) or ACAS.

Either ask for MN to move the post to employment. Or call ACAS for advice.

I would also suggest you find the Company’s Grievance policy and follow it with informally, or formally.

Only follow advice from an employment law specialist, HR professional (qualified) or ACAS.

I’m MCIPD (qualified HR professional).

Having a day off a week isn’t an automatic right. As I said up thread 48 hours in 2 weeks is also allowable. The new hours fall into this. Here is is straight from the govt’s mouth.

Like @TittyGolightly I'm MCIPD with a post grad qualification in employment law.

Some of the advice on this thread is astounding and wildly inaccurate.

It might also be a good time to dispel the myth that HR are there to support and advise employees.

Managers trump employees I'm afraid. Our job is to support managers in effectively managing its people resource and protecting the business from litigious claims.

I often think we'd make the best union reps if we weren't on the other side.

The business need to employ and train up another person for the weekend hours.

Working this pattern will significantly impact on your free time. What about the 2 lots of extra travel time to and from work this weelk.

The manager has proposed this change to squeeze more work out of you for no more pay - he’s going to present this to his bosses as a clever way ( and kudos for him) to get you to cover the weekends whilst fucking you over.

Oh and don’t individuals have to sign out of/ not sign out of the working time regs and not organisations?

I thought if changes were brought in then you shouldn’t be out of pocket / so payment for the extra travel expenses etc. etc - any mention of that?

4 hours off in the week doesn't seem like fair exchange to four weekend hours which bugger up your whole weekend.

Ask your bosses to come in on the weekend rota and see how they like it.

The business need to employ and train up another person for the weekend hours.

No, they don’t.

Working this pattern will significantly impact on your free time. What about the 2 lots of extra travel time to and from work this week.

The employer isn’t responsible for that. What they are proposing is lawful.

Oh and don’t individuals have to sign out of/ not sign out of the working time regs and not organisations?

You’re right that organisations can’t opt out, only employees/workers, but you can’t opt out of anything but the 48 hour limit.

I thought if changes were brought in then you shouldn’t be out of pocket / so payment for the extra travel expenses etc. etc - any mention of that?

There’s absolutely no requirement to do that.

So it’s not unlawful but it’s still unfair.

That’s subjective!

At one place I worked the head of personnel was known as the “weasel faced shit” and his sidekick as the “little shit”!

OP I would lol for a new job and vote with your feet!

At one place I worked the head of personnel was known as the “weasel faced shit” and his sidekick as the “little shit”!

Cool story, bro.

I don’t understand why you constantly work through your lunch. Can you learn to manage your time better?
Ask for help? Surely in a large company you have management systems in place.
Either you’re not working efficiently (which I doubt!) or you’re doing 1.5 persons job. If you keep effectively covering, then they are never going to know they need to employ someone else. Business needs change and grow.
What happened if you had a weekend wedding?
Had to travel to visit friends? Went on an all day shopping spree? You couldn’t log on at weekends. I can understand doing it once or twice if it eases pressure in the week or to go the extra mile. But as soon as it becomes regular, even though it’s not contracted, it suddenly becomes expected.
You’ve done the right thing getting HR involved. No HR in their right mind would ok this in one quick swoop

No HR in their right mind would ok this in one quick swoop

You have one side of the story. You have no idea what discussions have taken place.

Try to talk to hr today...this definitely isn't right...

MN at its finest.

OP: Can my employer do this?
Masses: No!
HR Experts: Possibly, seek advice from an expert.
Masses: No!

🙄

It explains a lot of the shit that ends up in my inbox, cranky.

Don't just leave, take redundancy. Isn't it constructive dismissal?

And so it continues.

🤣 am sat at work (being a shit faced weasel according to PP!) quite enjoying this and realising that most people haven't got a clue about their employment rights (or relative lack of).

Me too. My HR bingo card is filling up nicely (constructive dismissal was a corner) and I’m compiling a book of all the rights that will be lost in Tory Britain post-Brexit. If people think the OP’s situation is grossly unfair they’re in for a shock!