Started my work this week ........?

Question

and already had to take over two peoples shift (my hours of work are: Monday - 12 45 - 6 Tues & Thurs 11 30 - 6), I worked Tuesday 9 -6 to cover someones morning and then 9-3 on Wednesday (my day off) to cover someone elses, non of the new starters worked extra shifts apart from me as I worked in the same industry before but am a little rusty... but cutting to the chase the manager of the store who is also looking after me for my first few weeks said to me 'you havnt got work from Thursday so I'll see you Monday' and it wasnt on my rota when I left yesterday but I got a call today saying I should be doing 10-4 but I said I couldnt as I had an appointment (which I hadnt really) but what shall I do what if they ask about my appointment and will they go mad as I have worked my butt off this week and am doing Friday- 4.30 -9 pm and Sat and Sunday next week to help out also???

Monday - 12 45 - 6 and Tues & Thurs - 11 30 - 6 are my contract hours but I was told I may have to some extra hours but dont have to agree with them , I remeber my manager telling me about Friday but it wasnt on my rota and from what she said it was as though I was doing it

Answer 1

Sit down with you Boss (or if that's too intimadating, some-one from HR) to discuss & clarify the situation of your working hours and overtime payments.

Ideally if they want you to 'swap' shifts with some-one else, that's fine (so long as they ask you and give you the opportunity to say 'no').. but if they ask you to work an EXTRA shift, then you should be paid at overtime rates.

Overtime is usually paid at 'time and a half' for weekdays (inc. Saturday) and double time for Sundays ..

So when they ask you to do an extra shift, you need to get an answer to the Question "Are you offering me Overtime or do you want me to 'swap' with (i.e. instead of) my (next) normal shift ?" before you agree or refuse.

If they say 'swap' and then later ask you to do your normal shift as well, then the normal shift becomes the 'Overtime offer' (which you can refuse). NB. this is significant if you work Sundays ...

If you can't get straight answers, go find the local Union Rep., join up and ask him to help.

Answer 2

Well, I hope they are paying you for all this extra work you do. I'd ask your personnel department what the situation is regarding shifts. You presumably started the job with what you thought were fixed hours and this doesn't seem to be the case. Why has it all suddenly changed now you have started work? Personnel should give you a straight answer. You need to find out exactly what you are expected to do, what your rota is, and what happens when odd things crop up like stepping in to cover someone elses work in an emergency. How does this affect your pay? Do you get overtime for this sort of thing? You are new so can't be expected to 'know the ropes' yet. However, don't be taken for granted just because you are new and a 'bit rusty'. That's neither here nor there. You are an employee and should be treated the same as all the others.

Answer 3

You just need to be assertive, i don`t do any overtime that i don`t want to, even if they offer double time.
Try saying to your manager `Could you show me the extra hours for next week that are available and i will tell you which ones i can do`
Then you are stating that you have a choice in this without being rude.

Answer 4

If you haven't already, get a contract that stipulates your hours.
If you do have one already, then as long as you work the days/hours you are contracted for, they can't make you do any more. If you are asked to do overtime and you agree, make sure you do it as it's often looked on as written in stone. But do get your contract sorted out.