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AIBU?

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Original poster

To withdraw from this job offer……

85 replies

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:30

Gutted to have to do this but think I may have to walk away from a job before I’ve even started !

I’m self employed but due to the pandemic business has been badly affected so I’ve applied for a part time job and been offered it .

The job is within a large company and I’ve been given no details for HR but rather an app from an outsourced company where things like holiday requests etc are made .

My agreed hours are 24 a week and it’s on a shift basis. I was told it was however a zero hours contract although at the same time made clear to me I am expected to work 24 hours a week and three weekends in four . At the time of interview I wasn’t asked about booked holidays but did mention I was getting married in April .

At the time of acceptance I told my line manager that I was getting married and asked if they’d honour that . She replied
that she would “accept that absolutely “ in an email but said I had to request this leave via the HR app.

I start straight after Christmas and after submitting the leave request on the app it’s come back as denied and my line manager is now on annual leave for three weeks so I feel that I’ve no choice but to withdraw from the job or … worse …cancel my long awaited and all paid for wedding .

My other option I wondered .. is if it’s zero hours contract , then I believe I’m not obliged to accept work ? So legally could I actually say that sorry I’m not available to work the days that fall when I’m getting married ?

OP posts:
Poshjock · 21/12/2022 18:02

Honestly I would start looking for another job now, the red flags for this one are fluttering very strongly. Whether you ditch it before you start or take the money and the experience whilst you look is down to you and your current circumstances - but I would not under any circumstances allow it to interfere with my wedding (or any other pre booked event for that matter). If it's 0 hours then you owe them nothing and no notice.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:04

LolaSmiles · 21/12/2022 17:55

It sounds like they want someone doing 24 hours a week with them dictating the shifts/days, but none of the responsibility, which is why they've offered a zero hours contract. Companies do this as zero hours workers have fewer employment rights I believe.

On a zero hours contract you can decide if you want to take work or not, so you can choose not to take work when you don't want to, such as your wedding.

If the company want a 24 hour a week employee with the ability to dictate when the employee can have leave, they should have recruited a part time member of staff with a 24 hour a week contract.

This is what I was thinking
The Rotas are prepared two weeks in advance and I’ve already had the first two weeks rota where I’ve been out down to work on a day I expressly said I wasn’t available due to having a hospital appointment and she responded with “it can’t be changed now you’ll have rearrange “

OP posts:
strawberry2017 · 21/12/2022 18:07

Email HR copy the manager in and explain.

Womencanlift · 21/12/2022 18:08

If it’s over Easter then I guess other colleagues will have asked for the time off so they are at their limit and so it’s a case of “computer says no” in the app

Your manager will likely be able to over rule it which is why they said it would be fine but the app response was no

Hold off until they come back and sort it out then. No need to have an extreme reaction now like not taking up the job or cancelling your wedding until you speak to your manager

gettingolderandgrumpier · 21/12/2022 18:10

id take the job but email manager in new year and explain if they still refuse say sadly you will have to hand your notice in . Don’t you dare cancel your wedding you’ve already told them about your leave so if they don’t honour it fuck em. I wouldn’t cancel a holiday for a job certainly not a wedding.

felulageller · 21/12/2022 18:11

Start but also keep looking for another job.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:15

gettingolderandgrumpier · 21/12/2022 18:10

id take the job but email manager in new year and explain if they still refuse say sadly you will have to hand your notice in . Don’t you dare cancel your wedding you’ve already told them about your leave so if they don’t honour it fuck em. I wouldn’t cancel a holiday for a job certainly not a wedding.

Yes obviously I’m not going to dash off and cancel my wedding but having checked that there’s no legal entitlement for booked holidays to be honoured it’s slightly worrying .The expectation versus the zero hours contract feels rather contradictory as I’ve been told my shift pattern will include three weekends and I’ve already been denied a shift change for a hospital appointment .
unfortunately my line manager who actually works at a different location , is on annual leave until 10 th January now so I will have to start the job and wait for her to return

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:16

Womencanlift · 21/12/2022 18:08

If it’s over Easter then I guess other colleagues will have asked for the time off so they are at their limit and so it’s a case of “computer says no” in the app

Your manager will likely be able to over rule it which is why they said it would be fine but the app response was no

Hold off until they come back and sort it out then. No need to have an extreme reaction now like not taking up the job or cancelling your wedding until you speak to your manager

Oh don’t worry I’m not about to dash off and cancel !

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:16

felulageller · 21/12/2022 18:11

Start but also keep looking for another job.

I must admit , I’ve already started looking just in case

OP posts:
aintnothinbutagstring · 21/12/2022 18:17

It doesn't sound very good OP, unless you just treat it as a casual dig and do it while looking for something else. If you have already agreed time off - just take it off, there's not much they can do.

Southwig22 · 21/12/2022 18:20

This is a non-issue. Just sounds like the manager hadn't informed HR.

It'll be honoured, as is normal practice. If it isn't then consider quitting then, but it doesn't make sense to quit now when it's 99% likely to be resolved as soon as your manager is back.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:33

Southwig22 · 21/12/2022 18:20

This is a non-issue. Just sounds like the manager hadn't informed HR.

It'll be honoured, as is normal practice. If it isn't then consider quitting then, but it doesn't make sense to quit now when it's 99% likely to be resolved as soon as your manager is back.

Much to my surprise I discovered that there is no legal obligation for a workplace to honour pre arranged leave and they are quite within their rights to refuse if it’s not convenient for them .
I suspect I’ll have to start the job and hope to be able to contact the line manager at some point

OP posts:
Southwig22 · 21/12/2022 18:41

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:33

Much to my surprise I discovered that there is no legal obligation for a workplace to honour pre arranged leave and they are quite within their rights to refuse if it’s not convenient for them .
I suspect I’ll have to start the job and hope to be able to contact the line manager at some point

Show quote history

There may be no legal obligation but, as I said, it is normal practice.

Given that your manager has also confirmed they will honour it, you will be fine.

SilverGlassHare · 21/12/2022 18:43

I don’t understand, if your wedding is in April, why you’re thinking of quitting now? Quit in March if they won’t left you have time off, surely.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:47

SilverGlassHare · 21/12/2022 18:43

I don’t understand, if your wedding is in April, why you’re thinking of quitting now? Quit in March if they won’t left you have time off, surely.

Well not quitting but rather withdrawing from the job offer although quitting in March is an idea 😂
On a serious note , I need a regular guaranteed income so this is why I’m having to give a lot of thought as to what I do

OP posts:
edwinbear · 21/12/2022 18:47

If it’s anything like our system, you can’t physically book 2023 leave until 1st Jan. My manager has verbally approved my 2023 summer holiday though and it absolutely won’t be an issue getting it on the system when it opens. It’s probably an admin thing like that.

Hidingawaytoday · 21/12/2022 18:53

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 18:04

This is what I was thinking
The Rotas are prepared two weeks in advance and I’ve already had the first two weeks rota where I’ve been out down to work on a day I expressly said I wasn’t available due to having a hospital appointment and she responded with “it can’t be changed now you’ll have rearrange “

Show quote history

Well having seen this update I'm tempted to change my mind say withdraw your offer as they sound like a crap employer... but appreciate you need the income!

lieselotte · 21/12/2022 18:56

EATmum · 21/12/2022 17:39

It might be automated in the app if you've not started yet - speak to them in the new year before deciding to quit, surely. I can't think there are many workplaces that would suggest you cancel your wedding because of your job!

This was also my first thought that it might be an automated thing as the OP hasn't started yet.

But I started a new job just before my wedding and honeymoon and was told I could have the time off "if client demands allowed".

Yeah right, as if I would have cancelled my wedding (and mine was a full time, not zero hours job). I did get the time off but funnily enough I only lasted six months with that employer (law firm thankfully swallowed up into other ones now). Next employer were much nicer.

But it's far more likely to be the tech in this case OP.

lieselotte · 21/12/2022 18:58

I’ve already been denied a shift change for a hospital appointment

was that your line manager or the app again?

BringBackFoilWrappers · 21/12/2022 19:01

Hospital appointment is too important to rearrange, what if you had to rearrange again?
They sound like a crap employer.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 19:02

lieselotte · 21/12/2022 18:58

I’ve already been denied a shift change for a hospital appointment

was that your line manager or the app again?

This was my line manager when I pointed out she had me down to work on a day I’d said I wasn’t available.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 19:04

BringBackFoilWrappers · 21/12/2022 19:01

Hospital appointment is too important to rearrange, what if you had to rearrange again?
They sound like a crap employer.

I’m not getting great vibes from it but It could be because I’m anxious about entering an employed position after so many years plus worry over time off for the wedding

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 19:06

Thanks to everyone who said it could just be automated within the app - I appreciate that may be the issue, I just wish I could get hold of my line manager , how come she’s off at the busiest time of year ! 😂

OP posts:
OCDmama · 21/12/2022 19:09

They are really misusing a zero hour contract here. Zero hours means you are not required to undertake any shift you don't want to. You can't be expected to work a set number of hours per week or specific times. Your set up is much more that of a normal employee. I'd be cautious about why they're contracting you this way tbh.

We employ a mix of standard and zero hours at my work, we'd never specify like this.

stockpilingallthecheese · 21/12/2022 19:10

I agree with others that you are over reacting about a non situation, and it's nothing to worry about Smile just have a chat with your manager when she's back and go from there