Holiday restriction / forced overtime / AIBU that I tried in Employment thread first {smile}

[Pinkginxx]

This hasn't happened as yet but have a feeling it's coming so want to be armed for it...
We've just signed a new contract, massive deal and it's going to take a lot of work. We're already struggling under our current work and there's been mutterings and hints that we're going to have a talk about holiday restrictions in the near future (company has got form for this). The unofficial heads up is we're going to be told no holidays starting June until at least September. I take the majority of my leave in summer months, have taken/booked a grand total of 2 days so far. Have checked my employment manual and it says nothing either way - just tells me my annual holiday entitlement. Do I have any argument here?

I've also been given the heads up that we're going to be told to do evening / weekend overtime. Not confirmed if we'll be paid for it (employment manual says overtime may be required as per business need). For a couple of reasons this is going to be quite difficult for me, especially if unpaid as it changes my travel requirements and will add a minimum of £20 commuting costs. Again, do I have any argument?

I'm all for supporting the company, and it's fantastic that we've got a great opportunity, but this is just tipping the work / life balance too much.

Any advise greatly appreciated. Forewarned if forearmed and all that!

You can be told when to use annual leave, sorry.

Overtime : what does your contract say?

If I were you I’d start looking for a new job now because I wouldn’t want to work for a company that did these things regardless of whether they’re legal or not. I work to live, I don’t live to work.

Employment manual is unclear. It says overtime (unpaid) as per business needs, then in a different section says that if agreed by management it will be 1+1/2. But it would take my commuting cost from £3 per day to around £25 (or £13 but add an hour to the commute). So realistically I'd have to stay well over an hour just to break even.

If I were you I’d start looking for a new job now because I wouldn’t want to work for a company that did these things regardless of whether they’re legal or not. I work to live, I don’t live to work.

This. My contract says I can be asked to work additional hours when required - they mean a few extra hours a week (and it's generally at a time of your choosing) and the occasional bit of travelling. Any more than that and I'd be looking for a new job unless a) it's optional and I choose to do it and b) they're paying good overtime rates.