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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:
badlydrawnperson · 14/05/2019 19:44

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

We dropped our opt outs in the Blair era. I mean the ones that are so wonderful we still have stuff like this and zero hours contracts going on. They are so great, these EU "workers rights".

janetforpresident · 14/05/2019 19:49

Can’t you also come up
With a lame reason so you don’t have to do it.
This. Or at least come up with a reason why you must finish at 4.30 so you guarantee yourself the early shift which you are doing now anyway.

They've managed this badly, they should have offered the pay rise as part of this.

janetforpresident · 14/05/2019 19:51

badlydrawnperson are you suggesting that when we leave zero hours contracts will be abolished? That's good news, I didn't notice it in the Tory manifesto but very pleased to hear it...

Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:51

We have to do a rota of late starts and early starts so it's fair to everyone - er yeah, everyone that's taking part in this .... not the chosen ones! haha

I would rather work the usual hours and agree to stay late if required (which I do if necessary anyway) but have time off in lieu instead of pay if they don't want to pay overtime

Looks like we have to suck it up

OP posts:
Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 19:53

Yes - if they had said we're giving you this pay rise and now expect you to finish later we'd probably have agreed - but as we haven't had a pay rise for two years they said it was a cost of living rise but then tried to incorporate the extra 1.5 hours per week as well.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 14/05/2019 19:54

If they want to cover earlier starts and later finishes it makes sense to either split your team in two so one lot start earlier and one lot finish later, or only ask a set number of people if they want to change (some for early start some for later finish) and see if they get volunteers that way.

You need to band together but without an official organising body you're pretty stymied if one person doesn't play ball. The fact that your management are letting some people off it is bad management. It also suggests they don't need all of you in early/late. So they really should get volunteers first, and that's enough. That way you all get to work your contracted hours, the company get all their hours covered and nobody misses out.

But my previous point stands: join a union. Vote for governments that will introduce workers' councils (like they have in European countries).

raspberrycordial · 14/05/2019 19:55

From some small piece of knowledge I have from 2 years ago, even if you don't sign a new contract you are deemed to have accepted if it you are paid for the subsequent month (but someone may know better than me!)

Sparklybanana · 14/05/2019 20:22

Negotiate that those extra minutes you work ‘pay’ for extra holiday between Xmas and new year, in addition to what you already get. No pay rise but some incentive.

Afternoonteadelight · 14/05/2019 20:44

What reasons have the other people given? Presumably child care related ( not sure if that applies to you) but surely there must be something else

Original poster
Kbear · 14/05/2019 22:09

one is a health related reason (although no proof even given of said health problem ... very lax in the sick note department.... in fact very lax in all policies and procedures)..... and one is a child care issue.

My kids are grown up so I can't use that and honestly I don't want to be an exception to the rule - I just want the rule to apply to everyone.

Asking for volunteers would have been a better approach - agreed....

OP posts:
surreygirl1987 · 14/05/2019 22:24

Yes, it's more about the overall unfairness of it all rather than trying to come up with an excuse to 'get out of it' isn't it. I hate this sort of thing as it make a a mockery of actually having a contract at all! Is there a way of getting everyone together for a meeting in your lunch break and having a frank discussion? See if everyone will stand together on it and send a joint letter, signed by all of you, to your boss, explaining that none of you are agreeing to your contract being changed?

I wonder what would happen if you simply refused the change in contract. I know someone said dismissal but then couldn't you claim unfair dismissal due to the fact that not everyone has the same working arrangements and some have been let off for childcare etc? Probably not a route you want to go down But interesting to consider!

ssd · 14/05/2019 22:26

See to be honest kbear, it sounds like you've had a decent job all this time and your company is now starting to fall into line with the rest of the shit that employers can get away with these days.
It's awful.

adreamofspring · 14/05/2019 22:30

This seems to have been handled very badly. Do the managers understand that - if anything - the bad feeling generated by this will more likely impact productivity negatively and not positively. As other posters have said - I’d be worried the company is in trouble as I can’t see any good reason for a thriving company to make this decision.

ssd · 14/05/2019 22:30

And it sounds like it'll split your workplace if a few skip out the door 15 mins early, or arrive 15 mins late...

ssd · 14/05/2019 22:32

Have you had a new manager perchance?

VampireSlayer19 · 14/05/2019 22:41

The fact some are being allowed and some are not is what you need to raise as can be construed as discrimination- for instance I cannot have children, does that mean I won’t be given the same treatment as someone with children?

They could find themselves in hot water, so maybe raise more in a way as looking out for the company rather than your annoyance.

They can change contracts BUT the fact some are being allowed to opt out and others are having it forced upon them is the issue. Needs to be everyone or no one!

CloudyForest · 15/05/2019 02:10

I understand that having your contract changed can often be a frustrating and uncertain time. However, sometimes it is necessary as employers are ultimately businesses and need to respond to the needs of customers.

I'm a senior manager at a company and we've changed contracts significantly over the last few years. It's not about annoying staff- it's necessary to respond to business need. For example, we have significantly expanded our overseas client base so now require extended cover.

Staff who previously worked Monday- Friday 9-5 have now found themselves working say Monday - Wednesday, 7- 3, Thursday 4- midnight and Sunday 6pm-2am.

It's not ideal for the employees concerned but ultimately we could find 100 people to replace them and I'm sure they'd prefer to at least retain their job.

Complainingagain · 15/05/2019 02:41

I'd not be kicking off over 15 minutes, to be honest.

Alicewond · 15/05/2019 02:45

@Kbear you have a choice to stay or resign, but most employers will see 15 mins as necessary and normal and not overtime. So choose

PremierNaps · 15/05/2019 03:19

It's not working for free if your salary still comes to the minimum wage. I really wouldn't be complaining about an extra 15 minutes when you get an hour break. Either resign or suck it up.

Rock4please · 15/05/2019 05:53

I think you would be lucky to find another job with less than an 8 hour day including a full hour for lunch TBH.

Original poster
Kbear · 15/05/2019 06:38

Thanks all

Useful seeing different view points

I've only ever worked 8 hour days with one hour lunch - pretty standard in my line of work - office based, big city

I am going to accept the changes and work hard to help make the company thrive - it's a good place to work on the whole

Just hope they do things fairly

OP posts:
zsazsajuju · 15/05/2019 06:45

THey can change your contract. If you don’t agree you would have to leave.

Hopeygoflightly · 15/05/2019 07:16

it's 15 mins - I would do it. I'm sure you can claw back 15 mins somewhere chatting or making tea or whatever

Hopeygoflightly · 15/05/2019 07:21

i work 35 hours, 9 hour days unpaid breaks in theory - reality is I work 45+ hours in 4 days and travel too ... but I like my job and have tons of flexibility so... i can't imagine causing a fuss over something like that