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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Or are my employers?

70 replies

Oneinthegrave · 08/07/2018 10:50

I clean for a well known pub company, I work 12 hours a week only, for some reason my contract says 9. I work in the early morning before DP goes to work to avoid paying out for childcare.

This morning I was told there’s a meeting thats absolutely compulsory tomorrow at 9.30pm and that it’s been advertised on the facebook group for weeks.

I don’t have a Facebook account, nor do I want one.

This morning is the first time I’ve been told about the meeting. My manager says if i don’t attend, i’ll face disciplinary action.

DP works late then goes straight to his hobby on Mondays (which I never work anyway) and doesn’t get back until gone 10pm. DS is 11 months, The only childcare option i ever have is DM and DF who live 30 miles away, but are on a cruise for another week.
Can they discipline me for not attending? There’s no other notices apart from the one on Facebook

OP posts:

kaldefotter · 08/07/2018 11:27

If you’re working the following morning at 5am, they can’t require you to attend anything after 6pm. Working Time Regulations entitle you to an unbroken 11-hour break. If you attend the evening meeting, you shouldn’t then be required to work the following morning (and it should still be paid).

ferntwist · 08/07/2018 11:32

Poster above is spot on. They can’t make you do two duties this close together, you’re protected under the Working Time Directive.
Totally unreasonable of them to let you know at such short notice.
Is there a union rep at the workplace?

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/07/2018 11:32

Facebook is an extremely unreliable method ( and is shortly going to get more unreliable) of communicating something like this. Depending on the settings you have the algorithm means that there is no guarantee that it appears on everyone's feed. As an employer this means they can not guarantee that this is a reliable communication method.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 08/07/2018 11:34

Are you sure that it's only on the Facebook group, and not on a staff intranet/on a noticeboard too but most people have seen it online?

It'd be bizarre for them to solely use Facebook.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 08/07/2018 11:35

Working Time Regulations entitle you to an unbroken 11-hour break.

Not sure this would apply - I think this is more related to shift work.

BoneShaker · 08/07/2018 11:40

Your DP would rather see you face disciplinary action than miss out on a hobby for one night???

Your employers may well be taking the piss but they're clearly not the only ones.

Original poster

Oneinthegrave · 08/07/2018 11:43

It’s definitely not advertised anywhere else, I checked the noticeboards and company website. DP says he’ll come home early ‘if he has no choice’ but he isnt happy about it at all

OP posts:

Scrumptiousbears · 08/07/2018 11:47

Meeting aside your DP doesn't sound very supportive and just because you work a 12 hour cleaning job doesn't make your job any less important than his hobby. That was a mean thing to say.

notangelinajolie · 08/07/2018 11:49

Yes they can.
Tell your DH to cancel his hobby so that you can go to the meeting.
Seriously - your job at stake!

I think you are making a meal out of nothing. Does it really matter how you found out about the meeting? Now that you know about it there really is no excuse not to go.

SharronNeedles · 08/07/2018 11:49

I'm hospitality they ask you to opt out of the working time regulations in terms of working 48+ hours if required ... I think that also applies to the 11 hour break...

whiskeysourpuss · 08/07/2018 11:52

Not sure this would apply - I think this is more related to shift work.

The WTD does apply here:

Staff must have 11 consecutive hours rest during each 24 hour period. This period must be consecutive & must not be interrupted.

Staff must also have a minimum of 24 hours weekly rest for every period of 7 days.

As OP doesn't usually work a Monday & if she finishes before 9:30pm tonight then the 24hrs weekly rest is covered but by attending a meeting on Monday at 9:30 until approx 11pm & returning to work at 5:30am on Tuesday means that she won't get the 11hrs daily rest required.

FreeofPills · 08/07/2018 11:52

"Can they discipline me for not attending? "

maybe ask MN if they can move this over to "employment issues", you will get more specific advice there.

Cornettoninja · 08/07/2018 11:52

I think your dh needs to buck up tbh. Employment trumps hobbies it just does.

Out of interest does he support you working? My dp very much pushed for me to go back to work after dd, not in a nasty way but because it was better for me to regain an identity outside of dd - he was 80% in the right I reckon in retrospect. My point being we’ve clashed over dd’s sickness. My job isn’t big or important but it’s a job that I’ve committed to and shouldn’t be treated as a flight of fancy.

I have a decent work ethic and it’s not in my nature to treat any job as optional iyswim.

The FB thing is bs though.

trojanpony · 08/07/2018 11:53

Tell your husband not to be a complete prick!?
It’s one week

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 08/07/2018 11:54

Could you tell work again that you are trying to work on childcare but are struggling and ask if you can attend by teleconference or Skype so you are kept up to date but don't have to physically be there? All it needs is someone you call you and put them on speakerphone.

If nor your husband will have to cancel.

I would also ask them how they are going to communicate meetings etc going forward as you don't want to miss out as you're not on social media. Explain to them if you're not on it for anything else you'd be worried about not getting updates and see what they say.

kaldefotter · 08/07/2018 11:55

The UK has an opt out in terms of the maximum hours worked, so some employers do put pressure on their employees to sign an opt out form.

However, there is no opt out for the entitlement to a daily break of 11 hours, or to a day off per week (which could be 2 days off in a fortnight). So no, an employer cannot require an employer to attend a 9.30pm meeting, AND work at 5am the next day.

NapQueen · 08/07/2018 11:57

Your dp is being a dick.

Is he always this dismissive of things which are part of your life? Does he facilitate you having hobby or free time?

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 08/07/2018 11:58

Staff must have 11 consecutive hours rest during each 24 hour period. This period must be consecutive & must not be interrupted.

That 11hrs could be between the time OP finishes her shift and the time the meeting starts.

NapQueen · 08/07/2018 11:59

kale there are exeptions especially around the hospitality industry. I would work till 11.30pm and return at 7am. Believ me we looked into the legalities. Its legal

LakieLady · 08/07/2018 12:03

No way would I be going to a meeting at 9.30 at night!

How do they expect people who are lone parents to manage this? Or caring for elderly relatives? But of course, 90% of those are women, so it really doesn't matter.

You won't even have time to get 8 hours sleep before you have to get up for work on Tuesday, ffs.

The organisation I work for is having a meeting for all staff on Monday, when I don't work. I can go if I want, but it's not compulsory because I'M NOT AT WORK THEN. However, if I want to go, I can take TOIL, including for the travelling time, and claim mileage.

It is being held as centrally as possible, and won't start till 10.30, to give people time to do the school run and still get there. It will end at 12.30, followed by lunch. Staying for lunch isn't compulsory, because they realise that some people live/work 1.5 hours away and need to get back because of child care. Car sharing is encouraged, but not insisted upon, so if people want to to take the piss and rack up loads of miles to make money, so be it. The needs of staff to deal with their lives outside of work is paramount.

Unsurprisingly, the organisation won a national award for being a family-friendly employer. Their way should be the norm, not the exception.

Fairenuff · 08/07/2018 12:08

Would it be so bad if they 'disciplined' you anyway?

What are they going to do, lose a reliable, hardworking, trustworthy member of staff?

I don't think so. Tell them you can't make meetings outside of your hours of work. I think they'll suck it up.

What a cheek!

SandyY2K · 08/07/2018 12:17

Your employer is wrong. Are you in the UK?
Since when did Facebook become a means of communicating important messages to employees?

It's totally unreasonable of them. Also you need contract update letter if you're regularly working 12 hours. A contract variation letter or ASOP (amended statement of particulars) letter will suffice.

Original poster

Oneinthegrave · 08/07/2018 12:32

Sandy- it says in my contract 9 hours with the option to work more? But even when i took the job they told me it was 12 hours, 4 days a week. I only get holiday entitlement for 9 hours a week though because of this

OP posts:

WaterOffaDucksCrack · 08/07/2018 12:34

Yes your employers are being unreasonable. However, if I were you I would find the husband even more unreasonable! Won't come home early from a "hobby" meaning your employment will be affected. That is terrible, just shows he doesn't value you or your job.

ilovesooty · 08/07/2018 12:47

He said he would come home early if he has to but isn't happy. He made it clear that the main problem was the short notice.
I think the employer is being far more unreasonable than he is.

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