Issues with new job

[TheHyacinthGirl]

I have been in my current job for 4 months. I work for my local council and it is a lot different to anything I've done before. I am really enjoying the actual job, except for the fact I am expected to work overtime/stay late/go in on days off as they are chronically understaffed and the work load is rather heavy. I don't mind this except my line manager gets funny when I ask about overtime pay.
There's also an issue with annual leave - I'm being made to feel like I'm causing a problem when putting annual leave requests in.
Is this just the culture in some workplaces?

Whst exactly do you mean your line manager goes funny when you ask about overtime pay?

Just brushes off with a 'well that should be ok but we can speak about it later, we'd prefer to give you it as time off in lieu though'
But I never get the TOIL either.

Unfortunately that is the culture in some places but it doesn't make it right. In places like this I've always played oblivious and just took my hold when I wanted them. Same with days in lieu just tell them I'm owed 5 days in lieu so going to take the week of etc if there's no objections.

Next. Time she says we will talk about it later can't you just say "this IS later / I've raised thus subject before and am starting to feel as though my concerns are being dismissed"

That's what I'd say I do have a reputation for being blunt and direct but I'd rather just say stuff and know where I stand. Or you could email her then you'd have s proper record if your concerns

This doesn't sound fair to me OP. It's hardly your fault if the department is under staffed. If this continues you'll be off yourself with stress. Take action now.

How frequent is the overtime/going in on days off etc? Some jobs/companies just have an expectation that (particularly at a more senior level) people will spend whatever time is necessary - within reason - to get their work done. If this is an infrequent occurrence and everyone is doing it then it may be a case of having to accept it. If it is more frequent, is there actually a policy on overtime - is it paid or TOIL?

With regard to holidays, you have only been in the job 4 months and you mention leave requests in the plural - how often have you asked for holiday and for how long? It may just be how things have worked out for your needs this year but I would be a bit surprised to get several leave requests from a new employee.

My contract says that I am entitled to x amount of annual leave and my holiday year runs from the day I started to the same day the following year. I have asked for a week off at the end of summer to go on a holiday that was booked months before I even applied for the new job and I asked for DS's birthday off in December. I don't feel these are unfair requests, I am entitled to annual leave like any other employee.

The overtime policy is a flat cash sum on top of your normal salaried rate. TOIL is to be taken within x amount of time of earning it, but it looks like everyone does extra for TOIL and only those who have been there a long time and thus are more 'established' actually take it.
I am happy to do any amount of overtime, I enjoy my job. I don't enjoy working for free when I could be earning the money/getting TOIL. It is not a particularly senior job.

The overtime, going in on days off is every week. I am contracted to 3.5 days a week. I am currently doing 5 or 6 days a week, and staying longer on my days that I'm meant to be there.

If holiday was already booked before you applied for this job, you should have given them the dates when you accepted the role, as they would be much more likely to honour preexisting dates than ones booked when you are in role. I think you ought to have highlighted this when you put in your request.

Have you kept a record of the actual dates you've worked beyond your contracted days? I would have a meeting with your manager to talk about your concerns re the extra working days rather than doing it on the fly when they can fob you off. You need to be a bit careful as you are not currently past your 2 year statutory employment window so they could find a way to let you go if you make what they consider to be a fuss about the hours. Not nice, but it's the reality of long hours culture in some organisations. Have you asked any colleague what they do?

What Daisychain01 said about the holiday. Did you not bring this up when offered the job?

On the issue of extra hours, if you are being paid for 3.5 days and doing 5 or 6 days work, that is not overtime that's a whole other job! Is everyone in the department doing those kind of extra hours? If you don't already have an accurate record of extra hours worked, start to keep one now, then request a meeting with your boss and ask how they propose to manage this? I would present him with two "solutions" - either the amount which you calculate you are owed in overtime or a list of specific days when you plan TOIL. It will be difficult for him to fob you off in a sit-down meeting. While I'm all for people doing what needs to be done to meet the requirements of the business, this goes beyond that. Your boss presumably has no idea what you do on your days not in the office - you might have another job, caring responsibilities, no childcare etc. The expectation that you are semi-permanently available to do several extra days each week is not reasonable.

There is, of course, the danger that rather than deal with the issue they don't keep you on. Only you can really decide how much of an issue this is? You are also best placed to know how easily they could recruit again, what current staff turnover is like, how much they want to hold on to you?

What's the point of going onto PT hours due to family commitments but working more than a full time week. They are taking the rise!