Can they do this (Job related)

[M0T]

My girlfriend works doing data entry for a commodity trading firm. When she started she was supposed to be working a 9-5, but after 2 weeks they decided to introduce a shift system. The shifts are 8:30-4:30, 9:30-6, 3:30-11pm (they do 1 week of each), which she accepted (along with her colleagues) without complaint.

Now some new guy has come in and decided that people need to 'cross train' in case of another snow day like we had this year (despite the fact that my girlfriend was one of the few who couldn't get to work).

They are saying she has to work in another department for 2 months on shifts of 11am-7pm, but the systems dont shut in that department until 7:30, so they are expected to stay until then. She had already purchased a load of evening classes which she now cannot go to because of this, and the hours are not particularly sociable - which is why the people working in this department get paid significantly more than she does.

Obviously its a bit of a sticky situation as she doesn't want to lose her job, but is there anything she can do about this?

 

[Morba]

of course they can, but your gf has the choice to leave.

 

[Xappy]

Usually; it depends on what her contract says.
Most companies now don't contract people to work their job as such, they just say 'this is your current role', and put in a clause in their contracts that says something like 'as condition of employment the employee agrees to adjust to alterations in role'.. depending on the industry there might be concessions in that section of the contract, like giving people set notice periods before changes and so on but not always.

 

[Rroff]

Unfortunatly not much she can do about it - aslong as correct notice/consulation is given if appropriate...

We are going through similiar at work as they want to change our jobs from mon-fri to tues-sat - which has upset a lot of people due to commitments, etc. and in one case a colleague has 100s spent on season tickets, etc. which would conflict with working saturdays.

 

[=VTA=MANFACE]

I'm afraid you cannot do much about it.

 

[matt_fsr]

Over the past 5 years, she'd have had good grounds to put up a bit of an argument about this.

However, this is a recession. Plenty of other people around who'd do that job without arguing, so annoying as it is, best just to accept it and for her to do the 2 months training.

Can always stick it down on CV later.

 

[Mr-White]

check the contract and speak with the boss surely there's room for negotiation

MW

 

[[TW]Fox]

11-7 sounds awesome, I'd love to do that instead of 9-5.

 

[neil3k]

think of the extra monies and she gets a lie in

bah

 

[Tefal]

I know this suggestion may be way out there, but could she not just talk to her boss about the problems with evening classes?

 

[M0T]

She did and the attitude was 'tough'.

I do have a further question, she has a day off booked for next friday and we are supposed to be going away for the weekend (hotel booked etc). Apparently one of the guys she works with was arrested last night for attacking someone at their works summer party so they 'asked' her to come in next friday.

Can they cancel her holiday because of this?

 

[MowyTone]

It could be counted as a secondment, which requires no pay change

 

[Rroff]

She did and the attitude was 'tough'.

I do have a further question, she has a day off booked for next friday and we are supposed to be going away for the weekend (hotel booked etc). Apparently one of the guys she works with was arrested last night for attacking someone at their works summer party so 'asked' her to come in next friday.

Can they cancel her holiday because of this?

I don't think so... but they might be in a position to ask her to take it unpaid if she wants to have it off depending on the circumstances... but generally pre-booked paid holiday they can't just take away.

 

[geekyEd]

if they do then she needs to look for a new job with a better employer.

 

[MowyTone]

Can they cancel her holiday because of this?

Best people to ask about that would be citizens advise really. I dont know about the rules once a holiday has been authorised. Places I have worked where this has happened they have just got someone from another dept to cover for the required period and said person still gets the holiday

 

[apatia77]

OMG she really needs to look around for a better place to work in, so many changes for her in such a short time. Id go mental.

Hope she will get everything sorted soon.

 

[Stretch]

OMG she really needs to look around for a better place to work in, so many changes for her in such a short time. Id go mental.

Hope she will get everything sorted soon.

Agreed, they sound like the worst employer imaginable. The recession is no excuse to **** on your staff. It's a tough time for everyone, a little compromise is needed for both sides.

 

[alastair]

As most have said, the contract probobaly allows for it.

Just get as much out of it as you can; they are providing extra training, you are in contact with a load new people (who may have an opening in their departments if better, or know of something else), and variety of work (which is always a bonus). If it dosen't revert to what was original sought.... leave with the extra training you have just got.

The couse is a pain though, frustrating. Could this be delayed as oposed to cancelled.