as a lorry driver can my company force me to work Sundays?

Question

my rota has been changed to include sunday working, this i do not wanty to do as i have been working days and saturdays only

Answer 1

so long as your within your tacho rules, its perfectly legal...and as its approaching christmas, ill bet your boss wont have any problems finding a replacement driver..

Answer 2

Depends upon the terms and conditions of your contract.

If the Rest period over the weekend is legal and your employer is not forcing you to cut down your weekend break period, then it's a question of checking your employment contract.

No employer can force you to work extra hours other than your contracted weekly. If your fixed contract was for say, 60 hours Monday to Friday with optional Weekend Overtime, then they cannot change the conditions of your contract, unless they have written in a clause to it in which they can do so, in the event of this it is usually a minimum notice period, often 28 days, thus they can give you 28 days notice that they are changing your contractual agreements, but this has to be written in beforehand.

If you are a member of the Union, then I suggest you give them a call. TGWU has a very good advice resource within its ranks.

Otherwise they will just get a Pole to drive it.

Answer 3

Depends what it says in your contract.I was made to sign a new contract where I work and have to do Sundays on a rota which I hate doing but it was either that or no work they had me over a barrel.I am not far off retiring so will put up with it. If your unhappy it might be better to look for another job with a company who doesn't do weekends.

Answer 4

It all depends on how you feel. The law states that for reiligous purposes or BELIEFS no driver can be forced or 'Coherced or Intimidated'???? Join a church or religous group and protest at being forced to comply to sunday working. For example a Jewish religion cannot allow any working from 10pm Friday to Sunday 10am (Ithink its 10am?) so there is one instance of not being able to force some one to over ride their beliefs.
Another reason might be that working on a Sunday interferes with some sort of family get together, some dads have access to children from broken marriages and can only see them on a Sunday, this would be unreasonable intimidation. Some serious addiction to a sporting event or other outside activities might be jeopordised by working Sundays, for examle you might play football in a Sunday league, so there might be other reasons. Please contact me if you require further assistance.

Answer 5

You will have to check your contract of employment.
If it only mentions the limit of hours in any given week, then they may be forced to make you work Sundays.
However, if it says 'hours, monday to friday', tell 'em 'sod off!'
Furthermore, the way things are going at the moment..they could just tell YOU to sod off!..and get a Pole in!(agency workers, etc)
Try pleading with them, no boss wants an unhappy worker if they have proved themselves in the past.
Saying that, I used to have a job at a foundry. I was EXPECTED to work sunday mornings and it was mentioned that I wouldn't last long there if I didn't work the sunday morning.
Good luck!
I'm also a driver, I don't like working sundays unless it's at least double time.

Answer 6

While you're at it, why don't you get priest to sign it?! NO! The only people who should have to sign the sex offenders registry are sex offenders. You can't lump everyone who work in specific jobs into the same category. It's not because a few truck drivers are offenders that they will all be. Just like it's not because a few priest have been found to be child molesters that they all are. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and should be treated that way.

Answer 7

If you are contracted to work on Sunday then yes you have to work or quit. If your contract doesn't include Sundays then your boss cannot make you work it. If you are getting hassled about this, you can go to a union rep or solicitor.

Answer 8

As a cpc/o licence holder, the rough answer is, how much do you want/need the job,they (the firm ) are changing your terms of employment, take voluntary redundancy,cop your money look for a new job

Answer 9

Sorry mate they can, never mind Turn Muslim, they wil back down quick then, and you can gom to the match every Saturday, better than Sundays off eh what.

Answer 10

An employer can ask you do do anything that isn't illegal, immoral or dangerous. If you choose not to work Sundays you can always quit. If you refuse their request, they can always fire you.