Is this unfair or illegal?

[Adultdcs]

Hi, I’m looking for clarification.

I work for a group & we have 3 sites. It’s a bit complicated as I work at the original site that bought/tuped the other employees. The 2nd company was tuped but under a different company registration (company 2) the third under the second registration so went onto their payroll. Effectively 2 companies.

Recently there has been an inter-company take over. My company is owned by company 2. Now 1 company.

Following a reconstruction, we have been doing a 4 day week instead of 5. None of this is in our contract but all 3 companies had a 30min unpaid break.

Since the takeover/new hours company 2 & 3 work 6-15:45 with paid breaks. Our company is expected to to work 6-16:15, unpaid break.

I’ll 3 companies have an unpaid break just companies 2 & 3 have a strong union representation ours doesn’t.

Even though the new hours are not in my contract & I am finding them difficult I just want to establish whether it’s unfair or illegal.

thank you!

Are you in UK?

https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

@TyneTeas yes in the uk thank you

It looks quite complicated so maybe contact ACAS for some advice. You might also have a legal advice helpline through your home insurance you could use. It may all depend on exactly what’s in contracts, what company bought which (I got a little confused tbh) and then there is the change of hours and working days since which seems weird for it to be different between the companies/sites.

What does 6-16:15 mean? I've never seen hours written by that and I'm lost. 6am to 4:15pm?

What could it mean other than 6am to 16:15?

I don't know, hence asking the OP for clarification.

Are you all legally one company and are you doing the same role? There is no issue with a company having different areas on different pay and shifts. A customer service role might involve evenings and weekends, when an accountancy role in the same company is more likely to be 9-5 and higher paid. The issue would be if the roles are directly comparable and paying different amounts, but you would have to prove it. You could apply for a job in the other companies to get their conditions.

You’ve never seen time on a 24 hour clock?!?!

You can't read what I wrote?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!

6-16.15 isn't 24 hour clock, though.
06:00 - 16:15 would be 24 hour clock. One is considerably clearer to read than the other. You're being a pedant but you're not even correct.

What hours are in your contract? Is the 4 day week longer hours (compressed) than your previous 5 day contract.

Is it that they are getting paid breaks and you are getting unpaid breaks?

It’s just weird to ask for clarification when you have interpreted something and only come up with one interpretation, and can’t even think of any other interpretation.

It’s the equivalent of me saying “what do you mean by “you’re lost”” … it’s pretty clear what you meant.

You're being weird. Stop derailing the thread.

Doesn't matter what everybody else is doing. Its whatever is in your contract/or other communication advising what your hours are and what it says about paid/unpaid breaks.

What is it you are unhappy about? How long have you been working this revised pattern? Did you agree to it?

I would advise that you join the same TU the other employees are in.

@ArtTheClownIsNotAMime sorry if this wasn’t clear. 6am in the morning to 4:15pm (in the evening)

Thank you for your reply.
Yes we are all one company but in 3 separate locations.
My role isn’t comparable but all other positions/companies do have comparable roles.
I wasn’t sure if location would be factored in via comparison.
i just feel it a little unfair that 2/3 companies be given paid breaks hence work less hours.
There is a difference in pay rates/ overtime even but hadn’t even thought about this due to different locations.

@ByQuaintAzureWasp
All contracts are the same in terms of unpaid breaks. I’m upset that the other sites have the same contracts but now have shorter hours/paid breaks.

I forcibly agreed in August this year when my DC started uni, after being told it would hold me/ back pay rises etc if not in line with other workers/.

I’m not even objecting to the new hours. Its how our company can be treated so poorly.

@Comefromaway 39hrs per week after unpaid break. Total hours 42.5 at site.

We use a time & attendance system across the board.

Their hours are 0:6:00 - 15:45. Ours are 06:00-16:15.

Join the union the others are in.

I think you need to seek advice. It is perfectly possible for people to have different employment hours, terms and conditions as a result of a takeover and TUPE obligations. Where I work there are pension early retirement options only available to people who joined before a certain date, for example.