Accidentally hired

[lyssie29]

I'm a single mum and don't have much childcare. I went for a job interview and explained to them I can only work certain hours and they said yeah its fine etc and I got the job. I've done 2 shifts and I've found out that the manager was new and apparently they only hire staff who are fully flexible to cover all hours. This manager has now gone AWOL and possibly not going back to the company. I have signed a contract and it says there's a probationary period of 6 months. Can I lose my job because of it? I'm afraid they'll just say I'm not suitable as I can't work all hours. They told me I shouldn't have been hired.

What hours are in your contract?

Have you received a contract?

@saltedcaramelanything

What hours are in your contract?

It's only a 4 hour contract but they said most of the time it'll be 12 or 16 hrs a week to cover holidays etc but the contract is only for the 4 hours.

@Hellocatshome

Have you received a contract?

Yeah I've signed a contract

Does it say what hours you told the manager you could do? Or anything about hours needing to be flexible?

Tell whoever is your present line manager that you agreed to the job on the conditions set out by the manager who is no longer around, and that due to child care, you can't be more flexible at present than first agreed but if that changes you will let them know.

Is it for next or other retail by any chance? They do this and recruit short contracts and then treat you like shit!

@gingerhills

Tell whoever is your present line manager that you agreed to the job on the conditions set out by the manager who is no longer around, and that due to child care, you can't be more flexible at present than first agreed but if that changes you will let them know.

This. However unfortunately with less than 2 years service you can be let go for any reason (as long as it is not discriminatory) so yes you could lose your job if you can’t work the hours they want (as unfair as that is).

I looked at my contract and it says:

"HOURS OF WORK Your normal contractual hours of work are 4 hours a week. These hours will be organised according to a rota system covering eg. Monday to Sunday which will be published one week in advance. Due to the nature of your duties unsociable hours, weekends and statutory holidays are considered to be normal The Company has the right to require you hours of work and you will be required to work at these times. to work such further hours, as it considers necessary to perform your duties."

So does this mean if I can't do it they can let me go?

@Perpop

Is it for next or other retail by any chance? They do this and recruit short contracts and then treat you like shit!

It's for the works

Did you leave another job for this one? Do you have any proof of what was agreed at interview?

Well they can let you go for whatever reason

But it's an employees market at the moment so they're going to be less likely to get rid of you

@custardbear

Did you leave another job for this one? Do you have any proof of what was agreed at interview?

No I haven't worked since December and the assistant manager said the manager said nothing to him and they don't know what was said in the interview. They only found out when they gave me a shift that I said I couldn't do.

I'd try and negotiate - are they a big company with flex working policies?

Tesco did this to my mum gave her the job on 16 hours on the 1st day gave her 40 hours she queried it and apparently they do that to everybody. She did one shift and left but a lot of other people wouldn't be able to. It's really wrong they are allowed to advertise for hours that don't exist just to get people to work for them.