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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you’re part time you should work on days off

222 replies

Parttimeprisoner · 18/12/2018 17:47

Having a slight disagreement with my boss today and wondered what other people thought.

I work PT (20 hours a week) my boss said today ‘when you work PArt time you’re expected to do work from home when you’re not in the office’

I disagree, I’m not paid for more than my hours. I have 3 children, on my days off I don’t have time to work! I get my work done on my days there. Anything that pops up can wait imo. I’m not paid incredibly generously either - just over minimum wage.

I don’t get sick pay or holiday pay (whole other story!) and thought it was bloody cheeky that he’d suggest I should be working on my days off. He said it would be expected at any other company and is the norm.

Opinions?

OP posts:
Liefster · 18/12/2018 20:18

Definitely not. If you choose to work on your days off then that's up to you, but he can't expect you to. As other posters have said, are the full time staff expected to work at the weekends? I doubt it!

The lack of holiday pay doesn't sound right either but I appreciate that this wasn't the point of your post. I work in HR (and I work part time) so this sort of thing really bothers me, I hate seeing people getting screwed over by terrible employers!

Pollaidh · 18/12/2018 20:19

In fact, when I had a crisis period when I found I was working regularly on my days off, my boss offered to pay me full time again. I preferred to go back to PT hours and have a better work-life balance.

TheABC · 18/12/2018 20:21

After reading your latest update, that sounds very illegal! I would get some advice on this as you are over the 2 year mark, giving you rights & protection. I would also start looking for another job.

PooleySpooley · 18/12/2018 20:22

Sounds a bit like my boss - Expects PT people to change their days all the time. Even though she was once a single parent can not grasp that people sometimes have other jobs, commitments and childcare on specific days - which is WHY THEY WORK PART TIME HmmAngry

pippety · 18/12/2018 20:32

It’s so depressing that people like the OP’s boss a) exist and b) are in any kind of position of power.

OP, depending on your boss’s position with the company, I’d be wary of involving HR as they are only really ever there to protect organisational interests IME. Definitely ask for a copy of your contract though, as it should state your working hours clearly and the idiot can’t argue with that!

Are you part of a union? Might be worth joining one if you can.

pippety · 18/12/2018 20:33

Also, what TheABC said ^

Starlight456 · 18/12/2018 20:41

I would get advice from Acasa or somewhere . You are entitled to holidays. I would be looking for a new job

BarbaraofSevillle · 18/12/2018 20:43

I know jobs are hard to come by these days, but I'd really be looking for another job.

Not having a contract is probably illegal as well as the lack of holiday pay.

Holiday rights and what you can do if they don't give you your entitlement.

www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

Blueroses99 · 18/12/2018 20:43

If you have been turning up to work and they have been paying you for 2 years, you do have a contract, even if neither party has seen or signed it. Employment contracts can not override the law, and the law specifies a minimum number of holidays. The company couldn’t even argue that you are actually self employed (and therefore not entitled to holiday/sick pay) because you have been there more than 2 years. The expectation of working on a non-working day is just baffling. But it sounds like generally they don’t have a clue.

Tfoot75 · 18/12/2018 20:45

I work part time in a professional job on significantly more than minimum wage, I am entitled to overtime up to full time hours for time worked 9-5 on non-working days. It is approved without question and I regularly charge it. Anything more than simply checking emails is reimbursed. Your arrangement (and many others commenting) seems to really penalise part time workers!!

ReanimatedSGB · 18/12/2018 20:47

I knew this would be a small company run by a fucking chancer who thinks he's above the law. Sadly, the government is quite keen on the idea of stripping away what protections employees have (one of the reasons for Brexit is to be able to discard EU directives on workers' rights, of course...) so you are very unlikely to be able to make your employer comply with the law without making your own life worse: they'll sack you and draw out any procedures you try to bring against them until you run out of money and time.
Your best best is to look for another job if you possibly can. Your card is going to be marked at this company anyway as you're not 'flexible' and 'team-spirited' enough (ie you are not willing to do unlimited unpaid overtime...)

ohwellinthatcasetryprunes · 18/12/2018 20:53

Your employer is breaking the law.

There's a lot of it about - they think they can walk all over their employees because jobs are hard to come by in a lot of areas, and people will put up with it because they need the work.

You're entitled to holiday pay, sick pay etc and you should also be in the workplace pension scheme if you earn £10k a year or more.

Anticlockwatcher · 18/12/2018 20:54

I am entitled to overtime up to full time hours for time worked 9-5 on non-working days. It is approved without question and I regularly charge it. Anything more than simply checking emails is reimbursed. Your arrangement (and many others commenting) seems to really penalise part time workers!!

Brilliant work. I'm another three day per week part time person (albeit well paid) but do do a bit of work here and there outside of my days. But I am amazed you have such a brilliant place you can do that. Do full time workers get to bill over and above their hours too there though? That would definitely make a difference as in most jobs a little unpaid overtime seems the norm for everyone.

Wish all places were like yours!

Jcsp · 18/12/2018 20:58

Depends on the job - ie teaching there is always some overspill.

But Eddie Stobart drivers don't do a spot of truck driving on their off days?

Tesco till operators don't have an extra till at home to work on.

Theres a clue in the job description.

hoping2018 · 18/12/2018 20:58

You should call ACAS for free employment advice! I think you've been there long enough that he HAS to give you sick pay and annual leave by law - but check with them!

dahliaaa · 18/12/2018 21:00

15 years ago I was PT (3 days a week) but it was always slightly frowned upon. To ‘make up for it’ I stupidly used to work unpaid from home on the other two days (not just checking emails etc but proper full on work.) Not only did I miss out on the payment then (because I was ‘lucky to have the flexibility’ Hmm) but it’s only now that I realise what a huge impact it had on my pension.
Anyway as I say that was 15 years ago - I had hoped things had improved since then ...

madcatladyforever · 18/12/2018 21:00

Haha your boss is a massive prick. I expect to be paid for every second I am at work. You are not a charity.
I wonder where he would stand legally on this, i expect he wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Shazafied · 18/12/2018 21:03

I work 2.5 days and don’t even look at my email when I’m not I’m the office. Sod that.

katseyes7 · 18/12/2018 21:07

My ex line manager used to ring me on my days off. l wouldn't have minded if it was anything important, but it never was. Just wittering or repeating things we'd already discussed.
My senior manager said there was no reason for her to ring me at home, and laughed when l told her l'd started putting the duration of the phone calls on my lieu sheet at time and a half.
Line manager said "you can't do that!" but l did. And that soon stopped the calls.
Your manager has more neck than a giraffe. lf you're working from home, you should get paid for it. Otherwise, don't lift a finger unless it's something dramatically urgent and you can either recoup the time or payment in lieu.

Ellie56 · 18/12/2018 21:12

Your boss sounds like a clueless twat. And you definitely shouldn't be answering emails when not at work.

KTheGrey · 18/12/2018 21:17

After two years continual employment you are entitled to full benefits including notice, holiday pay, sick pay and pension. Contact ACAS and start looking for another job; small businesses have a justified reputation for taking the piss out of their employees. Onward and upward and nothing to lose but an only just better than minimum wage job?

GinisLife · 18/12/2018 21:17

What @Blueroses99 said. There's employment laws in place and a contract or lack of can't override these. If there's no signed contract then standard employment law supersedes it - and the law says your entitled to pro-rated holiday pay, and SsP if you earn above the threshold, and pension contributions if you're above that threshold. Your employer can't refuse. I'd speak to ACAS and take their advice.

GabsAlot · 18/12/2018 21:20

he thinks because its his busiess his rules but hes still got to abide by government law

just say ujnaievly thought u werent entitled to any holiday pay but someone has pointed out that actually you are and see what he says-dorect him to the government website

BackforGood · 18/12/2018 21:25

I agree with changing the language.
I don't have a 'day off' I have a 'non working day' for the day I'm not paid for.
You shouldn't be checking your e-mails.
You should be getting holiday.

The trouble is with a boss like that - the more you give, the more they will expect, and the 'extra' becomes 'the norm'.

I'd answer every mention of working above your 20 hours with a question about if that will be paid at usual hourly rate or time and a half for working on a non working day?

Oh, and keep looking for another job where they treat employees better.

Heatherjayne1972 · 18/12/2018 21:27

I don’t even think about work on
My days off
We work p/t for a reason and take the financial hit.
I’d be telling your boss no no and no again
But good idea to call acas