To think they shouldn't be doing this? (work and coronavirus related)

[WanderingMilly]

I have recently started working in a very small boarding school (not teaching). I work part-time hours, small amount of money. The school is closing today but we may have key workers' children in next week, but no-one will be staying overnight any more; however, they have asked us to come in to work next week as we would have been working anyway.

However, they have now told us we may need to come in during the Easter holidays. Can they do this? My annual pay is "annualised" which I think means it is averaged out over the year to take into account of the holiday time off....it's such a small amount I shouldn't be paying tax. If they want us in the holidays this is extra to my contracted hours, and therefore (a) do I have a choice to say no? and (b) shouldn't they be paying us overtime as this is extra?

I have looked on the ACAS site but there is no help and only a telephone line contact, not an e-mail answer service. Anyone have any knowledge or advice?

I also work in a private a private school, not boarding, and I am a teacher. My contract says we are entitled to 4 weeks holiday a year, but will usually get all school holidays off. Head emailed today to say all staff will be expected to be in over the holidays on a rota. I know my contract allows this, I possibly would have volunteered anyway. The email went to all staff, not just teachers.

I won’t be asking for extra pay...normally I’m quite militant about this, but a) I’ve been self isolating for a week and receiving full pay, they could have put me on sick pay, and I believe in give and take, b) I want to do my bit for the community and c) I worry about the future for my school if closures are long term. If everyone insists on being paid extra, the school could go bust. And no, that’s not my problem, but it will be when I have no job!

You need to check your contract.
Private schools have different arrangements to state, as do academies.