My Employer wants my wife to quit her job.

[Bhollis]

My employer has asked me to start working weekends and to be on call all the time. I am not able to do this as on the weekends I look after my children while my wife works.

My employer has said that she "may have to think about giving it up" so I can work my new hours.

Am I right in thinking that is a unreasonable change to ask for? Can he also said he needs an answer within 24 hours.

I'm assuming that's a change to your contracted hours? In which case, no he can't insist. Speak to ACAS for advice.

I do not have a contract but it indeed is a change in hours and added responsibility.

You don't have a contract?
What do you do? Are you paid cash in hand?

If you don't have a contract , then you might find that your employer will think about getting someone else to do this job. Speak to ACAS about this , I don't think anyone on here can advise you.

I work in a office for a removal firm. I only have a verbal contract. As my employer is also my cousin.

Are they going to increase your pay to cover what her salary was?
Seriously though, I don’t think they can do this. I’m in a kind of similar position, my part-time employer is trying to make me work weekends but I have a long-standing self-employed role too which is busiest on weekends. I don’t see how they can make me do it as it would have such a big impact on my overall earning potential.

The pay rise does not cover the earnings she makes per year.

If it’s a family thing, s/he probably thinks they can get away with breaking employment rules with what they ask. You know it’s not fair to ask your wife to do this of course.

Indeed I know its unfair as he is not her employer. I also know the new role will come with alot of stress and headache. My wife earns more a year then this new role offers.

Just say no

If its office work can it be done from home?

You need a contract are you paye or cash in hand self employed?

Sounds like you’re the one that needs to find a new job, not your wife.

Completely unreasonable.

I have nothing useful to add but, if he's a cousin, can you tell him you'll be dropping the kids off at his at 7.30am on Saturday and Sunday morning before you head off to work?

It's Paye it could not be done from home as there is special software that can only be accessed from the office IP address

Also it sounds like you don't want the new role (weekends, 24/7 on call). So say no, that doesn't work for me.

Time to look for a new job. Why is your cousin trying to ruin your family time?!

Also, your poor wife. I’d be furious if my husband’s employer said anything like this.

Might be worth getting this moved to Employment Matters, there’s a lot of people on there who know employment law well.

What's the back story here, Op?

What does your statement of employment particulars state about your hours of work?

Tell him to pull his finger out his arse and find someone to cover weekends. Bully boy.

He's almost certainly breaking the law already, are you being paid via payroll, with NI etc? Even without a written contract, there is still an employment contract between you and he has responsibilities as an employer.

I agree you need to speak to ACAS, urgently.

You need to find a new job, fast. They are not a good employer.

You need a proper job with a contract.

I think given it is a family member for whom you have been working without a contract they are very much taking you for a ride and lying to you

There are many software that can only be accessed like that (my company uses many) but they are also many ways you can access office networks remotely

Get a new job with a proper contract

It states Monday to Friday 9 - 5.30 with a 1 hour unpaid lunch that I'm lucky if I see 10 mins off.