I Think They Want Me to Quit

[Returntowork]

I am due to return from Mat leave in 3 weeks. I work part time and did so before mat leave. We all work shifts on a rota. It is a rolling rota that generally only changes if there are staff changes. I got a text from a friend saying this had happened.

I have been calling to try and get my rota and the kept saying x will all you by y (but they didn't) so I kept having to call back. They finally called yesterday and won't give me my rota. They said it didn't matter as long as they told me on the day I was working. They asked which days I wanted my shifts on, I said it didn't matter as long as I knew when they wanted me to work. Their reply was 'Now we do need some flexibility from you' (WTAF?). They've asked me to go and work at another site several hrs away. They won't tell me who my new line manager is, in fact they wouldn't confirm I no longer had my old one but I know she left months ago.

They accused me of being precious and unreasonable for wanting advance notice of my shifts. They said I was making things difficult for them by returning from mat leave and making so many demands.

All I have asked for is my shifts. How can they expect me turn up on the right day at the right time if they won't tell me. Surely I at least have the right to know that.

The first thing that comes to mind is how are you supposed to organise child care if you don't know what hours you are working. It does sound like they are being difficult, how long have you worked there

I've been there 3 and a half years.

The nursery is flexible and you can take different days each week, it's kind of PAYG. However if you book your slot less than 48hrs in advance its 50% more and double if you arrange it on the day so not knowing when I'm supposed to work until a couple of hour before hand will cost more than I earn but I can't afford to quit without another job to go to either.

Can you contact any more of your colleagues and ask how far in advance they have their shifts/had notice of the shift change? You shouldn't be treated differently do given that your employers know the shift pattern has changed at least once they should know where you fit it. If they plan to change it for you then as soon as they knew you didn't have a preference on days they should have reacted fairly quickly.

You should also put your requests in writing and state that you intend to work on x date so assume you have a shift that day but want to know the time.

You also have the right to return to the job under the same conditions do if your contract says you work at site A and not site B they can't change that willy nilly.

I put it in a recorded delivery letter as they had been ignoring all my letters, phone calls and e-mails. The others have their rotas 8-10 weeks in advance. My contract states place A.

Does your contract say what notice period for your rota is? If so then they can't really argue with that. Then again I don't suppose they can justify why all staff get their rota 8-10 weeks before and you're not allowed them at all!

I don't think there is any law about how much notice they HAVE to give you, so your best bet is your contract. If there is nothing in your contract then I believe they have to give you 'reasonable' notice, but it's up to you and them to decide what is reasonable. I think anyone would agree that not telling you your hours at all is unreasonable but what you do about it I don't know.

However as I said before they surely can't tell everyone but you. You're letter sounds like a good approach, I would call CAB and ask for their advice too. What did you put in your letter to them?

My contract just says rota changes will occur only with reasonable advance notice. It doesn't specify a time frame, however I don't see how they can argue that on the day of the shift (as they are suggesting) is advance. They have had an unofficial word with the person who told me there were changes as they are not happy she told me 'confidential information'. Her text just said Hi just to let you know the rota is changing you may need to check your shifts'.

My letter said:

Further to my telephone and e-mail correspondence I am officially informing you of my return to work at xxxx on week commencing xx/xx as confirmed in writing with HR previously.

I respectfully request a copy of my rota or a note of the shifts I will be required to work on my return. Also please may I have contact details for my new line manager/point of contact.

I have enclosed confirmation of my contact details and look forward to hearing from you.

Your sincerely Returntowork

I would say reasonable advanced notice isn't the morning of your shift(sorry I'm assuming morning) as most people wouldn't just be able to get child care for the day/session on that kind of notice. Also as other staff members have their rotas a minimum of 8 weeks in advance, so should you.

Unfortunately there's an ambiguity in your letter - you've asked for a note of your shifts on your return - you mean the shifts you'll be working but they could take it to mean you want the rota when you return.

I agree they are obviously being very difficult. I would put everything in writing from now on. Do you have a union rep?

Definitely put everything in writing. I would think they are trying to make things difficult for you, perhaps they don't have space for you/replaced you and that is why there are trying to get you to go to another office. Since you have declined then maybe they are trying to force you to. Given you are back in 3 weeks I would say that if you haven't heard anything by say 6th June then to send another letter asking them to confirm the hours you will be doing when you will return. At the end of the day if they don't and they are informing your colleages of their hours then it won't look very good on them will it?