Concerned that spread of hours working may be changed.

[crimsonlake]

I currently work 28 hrs a week worked over four days. My contract states I need to be flexible to suit the demands of the resident's which I am regarding any functions etc that may go ahead at weekends.
In a recent conversation with my new line manager she said she thought my hours were actually spread over 7 days. This was never mentioned at interview.
I replied four longer days work better as I deliver activities so get more done during longer days which include numerous unseen admin tasks, planning, preparation etc,etc.
We are meeting again in a few weeks and I am concerned that she may ask me to spread my hours over 7 days. Apart from never having an actual proper day off it would dramantically increase my petrol costs as I live some 40 minutes from work.
I have worked here two years now and if this change is actually proposed can I refuse?
TIA

Sorry hopefully someone knowledgeable will be along shortly, but no one can be made to work 7 days as that’s against the working time directive surely.

Are your 4 days fixed days, e.g. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday? Maybe she just means working over 7 days? Which it sounds like you are anyway as you are covering functions at the weekend.

And yes pretty sure you can refuse as you have been in your current shift pattern for 2 years now.

In our workplace years ago we couldn’t get one of the staff to work on weekends as she had only done Monday to Friday for years. HR said it couldn’t be challenged.

Thanks for responding :)
I thought that myself, surely no one can be expected to work seven days?
I currently work Mon - Thurs 7 hrs a day. What concerned me is that I do not think she actually knows the days I work, just stated that she thought I worked them over 7 days.
Whether they are longer or shorter days I can only provide the same number of activities. I am also the only person providing activities and work between four services so there are always services with nothing going on most of the time.

As an aside the job has turned out to be quite different from the job description. I was to 'deliver some of the activities' and coordinate volunteers. Turns out I do all the activities as we have virtually no volunteers and those we have are unable to work independently and take groups so have to accompany me. The result is it frees me up to do nothing else.
I have gone along with it as I felt lucky to have a job. Turns out it is a full time job workwise with part time pay.

I think we should give this a bump on Monday. I think this board is quiet at the weekend

Workers are entitled to a weekly rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours in a seven day reference period. For adult workers, the 24-hour weekly rest entitlement can, at the employer’s option, be averaged over a 14-day period by giving two rest periods of at least 24 consecutive hours or one rest period of at least 48 consecutive hours in each 14-day period.

This weekly rest period should commence immediately after a daily rest period of 11 hours unless there good business reasons for it not to.

This is excerpt from guidance to do with the working time directive.

businessadvice.co.uk/hr/employment-law/what-is-the-minimum-time-between-shifts-i-have-to-give-staff/

So no you can't be made to work 7 days a week every week.

Thanks all for your responses it is appreciated.

I would imagine they meant that rather than having set days a week your hours would be over 7 days, 5 days working and two off. The days wouldn't be the same each week though, so you might do mon, tues,weds, sat, sun and have thurs and fri off. That's how I'd interpret ate it anyway and each week would be a different combination of days worked/ off.

HermioneGrunger, thank you and I am beginning to think you are right.
I work across different services in care so in fact residents prefer routine. Me being on site for the same number of hours spread over five days wont increase activities or increase my visibility.
The extra costs associated with travel if I am forced to spread my hours over additional days concerns me as a single person. Additionally I do not want part time hours to be spread over a full working week. I might as well be working full time over five days and getting a full time wage.