Anyone an Employment Solicitor?

[ribrabs]

I desperately need the advice of an employment lawyer. My boss is trying to force me into working weekends (which I have never done) and has said that if I don't do it, he'll have to let me go! That of course was after telling me how good I am at my job!

I have worked for this company for just over 6 years. My working hours initially were Monday and Wednesday and then within 4 months of being there Tuesday was added into equation, although I never received a letter stating that I was to work this extra day. Like a lot of companies within the beauty industry the pay is rock bottom and I have struggled to get a wage increase out of him twice in the 6 years of being there and even then it is only just the minimum wage. We do have staff that work weekends but they are young girls (18 years old) and to be honest their knowledge is poor and so is their attitude to the job. I can understand the boss wanting seniors being there to cover, but then I disagreed with taking on younger staff in this position in the first place.

Historically this employer will dismiss staff without care or thought if he doesn't get his own way. The treatment of all staff (around 200) is poor and the turnover is around 60% p.a. In the last 6 months we have lost 25 of our 72 therapists and 12 more have handed in their notice due to poor work conditions in the last week. None of these girls are being replaced. The staff moral all round is poor and the underlaying feeling is that this business is likely to close it's doors very soon.

ACAS have said that he is within his rights to change the terms of my contract, however I have to agree to it, if not then he can dismiss me, but then equally I can then take him to court for unfair dismissal as I've done nothing wrong. To me the whole thing is a complete farce.

My contract states that my working hours are Monday and Wednesday 9am - 6pm.

[buster]

I can only suggest going to CAB they were great when I got made redundant, do you have a contract that states whether your hours are negotiable or not. Although I dont think contracts seem to mean much anymore.

[ribrabs]

My contract basically says 16 hours a week, but the covering letter with it states Monday and Wednesday 9am - 6pm. The conditions of employment schedule says "The hours you are required to work are either set out in your Contract of Employment or as directed by your supervisor".

I am going to speak to ACAS tomorrow and see exactly where I stand. My husband (typical man who sees everything in black and white!) says that I should put a counter offer back to the boss for consideration or just agree to it and in the meantime look for something else. The big problem is that my boss isn't a reasonable person and historically its either his way or the highway. I really need to speak to the 2 other girls that work in this department as the same fate is going to face them. Unfortunately one of them is in Australia for the next 2 weeks and I can't get hold of the other one just now. The one that is on holiday in Oz will definitely not go for working weekends at all and luckily for her she doesn't really need to work anyway! I just wondered if we all stuck together if he would be stupid enough to sack us all?!

I don't want to agree though as that will mean that the boss has won and will feel that he can just throw whatever he wants at me whenever he wants to! I am looking for something else, but this really isn't the time to be trying to find a new job of any description. I could really scream at the moment.

[mamadarcy]

I think there will be a clause somewhere that if that is your regular working hours, then thats wot you work; if he demands you work weekends and cant, then he is forcing you to leave - and you could clain unfair dismissal. sounds like a rotten guy to work for.

[buster]

Hope you get some good advice, best of luck.
You would think that he would try and keep good staff, if its the place Im thinking of(luxury pampering) then the amount they charge he should be paying a lot more than mininum wage.
Sorry not much help am I.

[3whitesox]

Shame you couldn't find a new job he sound like someone you would be better off not working for.

[vanbro]

Boss has to give you 90days warning of any changes he wishes to make in contracted hours...He can not be prevented from making changes but the time gives you the opportunity to come to an agreement with him or find another job. It is tough but if you are not in a union then it is hard to fight on your own.

Google employment law and also whatever union covers your line of work.

So sorry you are in this position.

[ribrabs]

There has been no 90 days warning, just a change to the Rota! This man just does as he pleases to the staff and tough if they don't like it. He has been getting away with this for years. Anyone that doesn't like it finds themself with a P45! Seems I'm going to end up with one too!