Hi,
I have worked in a cafe for a year now on a zero hour contract. I previously worked there for over five years on a zero hour contract but left for another job and have come back.
My work colleague has worked there for over ten years continuously and is still on a zero hour contract.
We both work extremely hard and are good at our job. We often have a queue of customers running out the door from opening time to closing time none stop and every now and then I don't even get a single 15 minute unpaid break because there wasn't enough staff.
Recently thought a couple of new staff were hired. Myself and my work colleague are both glad to finally get some extra help and we got on very well with the two new young ladies.
The new girls have been told they only need to serve customers, which is a bit odd, as my job has always been to do everything, serve customers, take food out to them and collect plates etc, wash up, cleaning....everything.
I am not concerned about that though and overall we are relieved to finally get some extra staff.
However after just a couple of days working there, the two new girls have been given hours in their contract. One of them has a full time hours contract and the other part time hours.
This seems a bit strange to me and I am wondering if it's even legal?
The problems will be when the colder weather sets in and they don't need as many staff working, which is something that happens every winter.
This is what concerns me and my colleague. They have to give one of the new girls her full time hours and the other her part time hours, but they can just tell us we are not needed and we won't get paid.
every winter when it's really cold, at some point the water pipes freeze and we can't even serve drinks, or food. The new girls will have to be in because of their contracts, so we certainly won't be in work then.
Can anyone offer any advice please, or tell me if it is legal for an employer to do this?