Extra hours offered to colleague

[mumsie2007]

Wondered if someone could help me with this one please.

I work part-time as do a few others in the team. I've been told that company policy is that where there are extra hours available that they have to be offered to everyone who is part time (not overtime but a permanent increase in hours).

I found out recently that a colleague of mine was offered an extra day a week (which she accepted) but this wasn't offered to anyone else. Should I raise it and on what grounds?

Politely mention that if available you'd be interested and to please consider you.

That's the thing, I have raised the issue of more hours before so they know that I would have been interested.

I personally would outright ask in private why one colleague in particular was offered this and not the rest. Has this colleague worked there longer? That's usually how my business does it. Longer service equals first at options. Otherwise they would have done a professional names out a hat situation. If you dont get a decent straight answer I would raise it as a complaint tbh. However make it clear in the meeting that the answer provided isn't satisfactory and you'll want to take it further.

Thank you Whitnik. No, I've been there the longest. In fact the colleague who did get the extra hours left the company for a short period and then returned, initially on the same hours she did previously but was then given the extra day.

I'm wondering whether they didn't offer it to me as I'm on a higher salary than some of the others (I was more experienced when I came into the role and due to my longer service), and again whether I can do anything about that? Legally is that just a valid business decision? As that then means I will probably never get offered more hours.

If they haven't followed their own policy you could raise a grievance. Bur you need to consider what you want to achieve from it - presumably your colleague's contract now reflecta her new hours so changing that will not be easy.

The law doesn't get involved in whether a business's decisions about things are 'valid'. If there has been some sort of discrimination, then that would be unlawful, but other than that who a business offers extra hours to is basically up to them.

I would suggest raising it with your manager, asking if you can clarify what company policy is (have you actually seen the policy statement or have just 'been told' that's what it says?), and remind him/her that you would like to be considered.

Ultimately though, they obviously wanted your colleague to have this extra time rather than you. If the hours had been offered to everyone and more than one person wanted them, presumably they'd have to choose anyway?

If you want more hours (for example, you're currently working 3 days and you want to increase to 4 days), you need to put in a formal request to specify the increase to the new level. Even if there isn't the opportunity now, it's more likely to be given consideration rather than having to wait for some random future time that your manager may not even think about.

Putting it in writing shows you are serious about increasing your hours, rather than what may be perceived as a casual expression of interest. They might even be able to put it into action now if they have the budget.

Thanks flowery. I have an email in the past from the Head of department saying that 'To be fair I have to offer everyone on part-time hours the extra hours and see what response I get, if more than one person wants it they will have to compete with others for the additional time'. I've looked for an official policy document covering this but can't find one.

That's what I want to understand, if they wanted my colleague to have the extra hours, is it because she's 'cheaper' and if not then why wasn't I and others given the chance to 'compete' for it. I'll speak to my manager for confirmation on the policy.

Thank you daisychain, they are fully aware that I want more hours. I have raised it at every appraisal for the last 5 years and been told that due to budget and freezes there isn't anything available, unless someone leaves the team.

Sounds like it might well not be a formal company policy, and might have been the Head of Dept’s way of telling you he/she couldn’t just give you extra hours.

And as you say, if you and your colleague both wanted the hours they’d have to choose between you, and it seems likely they would have chosen your colleague as that is exactly what they’ve done.

If budgets are very limited and you earn more, that makes sense.

I have raised it at every appraisal for the last 5 years

If you are serious about taking on extra hours, I suggest you remind them more often than once a year (I assume your appraisal is once a year). Your colleague may be asking your manager every week!

I'd absolutely mention it and let them know your disappointed that they didn't consider you. I don't believe they have done anything illegal though so am not sure if you have recourse.. I'd say it will be impossible to change at this stage so not sure it's it's worth going to war on.. what's your feedback being like at your appraisals? Would your colleague be viewed as a high performer ?