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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not work an extra 15 mins per day ?

81 replies

Kbear · 13/05/2019 17:39

Can my employer bring this in just like that? My contract states given hours for past ten years - now they want us all to work extra 15 mins for no extra pay,

HR people can you clarify? (NB we don't have an HR dept - small company),

Thank you

OP posts:
spugzbunny · 13/05/2019 20:00

Yes they definitely can. Happened in my industry a few years back. All companies one after another went to 40 hour weeks. You don't have to accept, you have the option to resign. People who can't do the longer hours but want to stay on should get a reduction in salary for part time hours.

YetAnotherThing · 13/05/2019 20:06

Ask them to be honest about it.... is it productivity, in which case can you all try and problem solve innovatively how they can get 15 minutes or more productivity from you without changing hours. What sort of industry is it where there’s a blanket rule imposed- am curious that in office environment they need to do this.

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/05/2019 20:19

That’s not ok if they allow some of you not to do the additional 15 mins. I’d get advice from acas.

Scorpvenus1 · 14/05/2019 11:37

Yea bet they are going under or something, but waste of time as most people will sit about on phones and net waiting to go home, plus wastes peoples life as we don't want to be living at work which is what most employers do.

Should be regulated tbh

PepsiLola · 14/05/2019 11:41

I would work out how many hours extra that would work out as in a year, and ultimately work out how much pay that would receive if paid hourly.

I would then negotiate a contract change with employer

DGRossetti · 14/05/2019 11:49

You don't have to accept, you have the option to resign.

I'd suggest (and this is why advice is essential) that if the OP can't/won't accept the changes then they have been constructively dismissed - with the settlement that would attract.

Presumably the company have discharged their obligations under the various employment statues and considered if this change will have a disproportionate impact on a protected group ? Otherwise they could also be in line for discrimination action too.

NannyRed · 14/05/2019 11:59

Could you just refuse to sign the new contract?

shitholiday2018 · 14/05/2019 12:04

OP I haven’t read everything so sorry if repeating.
They are asking you to agree to change your contract. Technically they can’t do it without your agreement. So if you don’t agree your contract remains the same. however, if you don’t agree, they might dismiss you and immediately reemploy you on the new terms. If you accepted this new employment and carried on working to th new contract, you would still have a dismissal (from the old contract) which yu could appeal and then litigate if yo wanted to. The employer would need a decent business reason to make the dismissal fair (it would possibly fall under the fair reason called ‘some other substantial reason’, but would still have to follow a fair procedure and be reasonable in all the circs. Depending on the reasons it could be fair, but not necessarily.

You need to raise a grievance now to express your unhappiness with the situation. You’ll then get more info about why the changes are being brought in which should help you decide whether it’s worth fighting it. Good luck.

shitholiday2018 · 14/05/2019 12:07

If is not a uniform rule applied to everyone, then it will be much more difficult to justify for business reasons. Though I suppose if someone can’t do it for caring reasons or because of a child pick up then that might be different (as to impose such new terms on certain people might be discriminatory on other grounds)

Brefugee · 14/05/2019 14:28

Are you in a union?
If yes, what do they say?
If no, why not? join one for the next time your employer pulls a stunt like this.

Manclife1 · 14/05/2019 14:37

You need to check your contract before you start kicking off. How many hours are you contracted to work? Is that different to the hours you actually work? How long are your breaks and are they paid?

Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 18:12

I'm not kicking off - I'm just trying to clarify what the rules are.

I'm contracted 7.45 hours a day and they are making it 8.00 including an hour for lunch break.

OP posts:
Nomorechickens · 14/05/2019 18:19

Can you use the same excuse that the people who have been let off the extra 15 mins used? Or ask for the 15 mins to be taken off your lunch break rather than added on to the end of the day then go slow for 15 mins while you eat lunch at your desk?

badlydrawnperson · 14/05/2019 18:19

What a good job we have the super EU safeguarding our workers rights so this sort of thing......oh wait.........

Manclife1 · 14/05/2019 18:38

I never said you were kicking off, just advising you not to after all the duff advice your being given on here.

I’m surprised you contract is as specific as 38.75 hours a week so I’d double check. Even if it is your only entitled to 25 mins break for the 7 hours a day you work so perhaps that’s where they’re clawing back the time from.

It’s impossible to say without the full details of your shift times, pay times and contracted hours.

ProfessorSlocombe · 14/05/2019 18:50

What a good job we have the super EU safeguarding our workers rights so this sort of thing......oh wait.........

You mean the ones the UK opted out of ? Or some other ones ?

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 14/05/2019 18:53

Tell them you’ll take 45mins for lunch and finish at your old time- simples! (An hour for lunch that’s good!- my lunch was 30mins at my desk if I was lucky lol)

surreygirl1987 · 14/05/2019 18:55

I think they can change your contract buy only if you agree. I'm not sure what happens if you don't but I'm guessing redundancy? You all need to band together on this if you're going to fight it. I totally see your annoyance. Yes it's only 15 mins but that all adds up. Besides it's the principle if it really. Have you phoned ACAS? I had to phone them recently and they're great.

Jackyjill6 · 14/05/2019 19:28

I agree with Snowy.

45 minutes is ample for lunch and you can keep start and finish times

Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:39

Manclife - "I’m surprised your contract is as specific as 38.75 hours a week so I’d double check." = I'm looking right at it - it is that specific. They want us to finish later in line with "other companies" so having a shorter lunch break won't solve it unfortunately.

My hours are 8.45 to 4.30 and my contract specifically says that "including an hour for lunch".

It's an office job - and they want cover from 8.30 to 5.30 so they need some of us to work 8.30 to 4.30 and some from 9.30-5.30.

Annoyingly because of my trains I currently get to work at 8.20 anyway so they pretty much get an extra 20 or so minutes out of me every day anyway.

Everyone seems resigned to just agreeing - only a few people have spoken up and queried it. I have just said it needs to be fair - ie all of us or none of us. Not tweaking it to suit a few who were quick to come up with a reason for not doing it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:40

thanks for your advice - my colleague rang ACAS - they said they can do it with our agreement

OP posts:
Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:41

Manclife - is that right - you're only entitled to a 25 minute break in a 7 hour working day? who knew? I've always worked in City jobs were an hour's lunch was the normal thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:42

where not were lol

OP posts:
LittleOwl153 · 14/05/2019 19:42

Can you opt for the early shift then OP? That way you are not actually doing any additional time?

Widowodiw · 14/05/2019 19:43

Can’t you also come up
With a lame reason so you don’t have to do it. I physically wouldn’t be able to do an extra 15mins as I work school
Hours for example? Do you have children and could you tell
Them after school
Club finishes at a certain time?