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Original poster

Can someone help me write a letter as i am struggling and i dont want to get stiched up ?

12 replies

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 14:02

I am going back to work but have a new boss since being on maternity leave and new one itsnt that family friendly to say the least!

I work for the NHS and part of my role is traveling to clinics i used to look after a locality all within 15 mins walk from the office base since i have been on leave the three areas have been merged. Now all of us cover the area and have to go where the need is but now the area is 40 mins in the car and no more walking. My new manager says that i can have to do all the extra traveling in MY tinme but to do this and pick up my child on time i will have to reduce my hours - I dont think this is right - i questioned it on the phone but all she says is thats the job if i dont like it dont come back!

I thought i had to travel to my office base ( which is 15mins from home walk) then any other travel i do in work time but she is saying that my base is the area and ANY
clinic is my base so i have to travel in my time>
SHe has said she will try and give me work near my base/home but pigs will probably fly first!

I want to write to confirm i am going back and confirm travelling times etc but keep getting in a pickle as i am so emotional - can someone help me as i am not explaing myself very well, thanks if you managed this far.

OP posts:

Bellie · 02/07/2007 14:10

What does your contract state as your place of work?

If it states x as your base - any other travel should be done in work time, however if you are based at home, or just on x area it therefore implies that travel to your first call each day would be in your own time.

I hope someone with more recent experience comes along to help soon - I am getting rusty after 3 years out of HR!

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 15:01

bump any takers?

OP posts:

BetsyBoop · 02/07/2007 15:08

As Bellie said, it depends on the terms in your contract and/or terms & conditions, so you need to check it out.

I have a mobility clause in my contract, which means when I go back to work, I have to travel in my own time to my employers new offices which are 45mins by car, rather than 10 mins walk away.... I will however get a travel allowance for the first 3 years to help with the additional travel costs.

Are you in a union? They should be able to clarify this for you.

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 15:13

My contract states my base as the office we are in (have hd a frantic search for it) SO ANY travel i do should be in work time? so i dont have to reduce my hours?

OP posts:

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 15:14

no not in a union and dont seem to have a mobility clause in the contract.

OP posts:

myweegirl · 02/07/2007 15:17

i would contact your HR department and ask them to help out. if yourbase is any clinic in the are then how does it work with travel expenses? e.g. i work for nHS too but i have a desginated base so any travel i do is calculated from there (or from home if i leave from there and it's a shorter distance)

i also think your new 'manager' is out of order and should not be saying 'if you don't like it don't come back'.

you could check out the Agenda for Change maternity terms and conditions (nhs emplyers website should have something) or again your HR dept should be able to give youa copy.

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 15:19

travel expenses are workd out from the office base which is fine but its the time as i have to finish to pick up my dc, its such a hassle i think she wants me out to be eplaced with a man who wont have babies!

OP posts:

nh101 · 02/07/2007 15:23

If your base has always been your original office, they cannot now tell you it is the whole area. That would be a change to your terms and conditions. Get in touch with your HR department because they will know all the legalities involved, plus what you have to write in your letter.

nh101 · 02/07/2007 15:26

If expenses are worked out from your original office then that is your base. If your base was a clinic 40mins drive away (which is what your boss is telling you) then you wouldn't get expenses. Tell your HR department that your new boss told you "don't come back if you don't like it", I'd make a formal complaint to her line manager because that is totally out of order. Don't let her treat you like this, you have a lot of rights and the NHS should be good on stuff like this, not like a private company which thinks it can screw you over easily.

Join the union - it is worth it!

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 15:33

any takers to help me draft a letter?

OP posts:

Original poster

jasmineaha · 02/07/2007 16:17

how about this

Thank you for your letter dated the xx following my receipt of this letter and our conversation on Monday 2nd July I am writing to confirm my return to work.

I can confirm that I will be returning to work on a 22.5hrs. I would like to request that
? I undertake my duties over three days on Tuesdays, Wednesday , and Thursdays
? My working hours to be 815?4.15 40 with 30 mins break each day.

I understand that the localities have now been merged and whereas previously I would work a group of local I now will work with any practice in the PCT. I accept that I will have to travel to meet the needs of the Trust that but following our conversation earlier today I am confused as to the traveling arrangements, I was under the impression that as my base isxxxxx any traveling to undertake duties at another location would be within my hours of work. Please can you clarify this? I am anxious about this aspect of returning back to work as I have to be punctual in collecting my children and do not want to reduce my hours any further to accommodate a long commute.

I also need to inform you that one of my children had additional needs and occasionally has appointments I will try to schedule these to my non-working days as requested but sometimes due to the nature of clinics running on particular days I will need to ask for a degree of flexibility in order for me to take him to appointments, I suggest that when this has to happen I work at home to make up the time off.

OP posts:

Bellie · 02/07/2007 18:40

jasmineaha,

I am not great at this type of letter writing as I tend to become too officious! However, I would be a little more forceful around the fact that your contract states that you are based from x and understand that this means that any travel time will be included in your working hours.

From how you worded it, it appears that you are open to the change that your boss is suggesting - which I know is not the case. He cannot change your contract without lots of consultation and he will be on dodgy grounds!

HTH

Bellie

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