Are employers allowed to do this?

[Iguessthatswhytheycallittheblues]

It's a job where work must be covered at all times at as it's a 24-hour service, but it's not always easy as staff can be off sick, emergencies etc. Plus it's a 0 hours contract so staff can technically refuse.

The office staff were told just before the end of the day 'nobody can leave tonight until all work is covered'. They'll be paid for the overtime, but still.
I know staff aren't physically barricaded into the building, but would likely face disciplinary if they refused, the contract is deliberately vaguely-worded as 'flexible'.

A lot of the staff are very young, early 20s and I'm worried they'll just put up with this, I didn't see the manager sticking around past her finish time.

Has anyone else had this?

What about if people have to get back for young children?
they’ve come to work on public transport which stops operating at a certain time.

If it’s a 24 hrs service it needs to be staffed properly and not reliant on people staying on…. Zero hours contracts are a nightmare all round - I thought there was moves to abolish these?

Are employees getting the breaks that they are entitled to, including 11 hours between shifts? HSE would have something to say if not!
The problem is that on 0 hours contract, the employer can just not ask the employees to do any more shifts, so if they are getting their breaks they can be asked to stay.

Yes exactly. It's a supported living service and the ones who are being made to stay are basically the rota coordinators, i don't even know if they're still there now.

If it’s supported living I’d absolutely report this to the CQC as they have to have adequate provision by law to safeguard vulnerable people and should have a better system in place for their service users!

This is awful for the staff and the service users and if a relative or friend of mine was an employer or a service user and I was aware of this I’d absolutely report it!

They need to ensure they've enough people on the books to cover the hours they need. If they don't then they need to get agency staff or the managers must cover.

They must also not expect people to stay late with only an hours notice. If they give little notice they should offer double pay. Band it shouldn't be mandatory that people stay. They shouldn't be reliant on it.

No enhanced overtime rate sadly, normal rate

It will depend on what their contracts say.

write everything down and call ACAS tomorrow