Forced to do weekend work (Bank Holiday)

S

Solid 5

Guest
Hi - My firm are moving offices and are assuming that we are all going to be working that weekend to assist with the move. It has been brought up in many meetings and informal discussions where it is just assumed (by management) that people will work the bank holiday weekend in full to assist with the move. People have been told they cannot take plan / take holidays that would fall on that weekend.

Nobody from HR / any part of the business has approached us to discuss a package for working this bank holiday weekend.

Any guidance / advice on this situation? If you have been in a similar situation it'd be interesting to hear how it was dealt with by you / your employers?

Our normal hours are Mon - Fri, 9-5. We occasionally do some weekend work, it is rare and agreed in advance. We get time in lieu for it (hour for hour - which is not great really when an entire weekend is worked)

Much appreciated.
 
I've been in the same situation (moving offices) twice. Unless there is some provision in your contract, I'm not sure they can force you to work the weekend. In my experience, if management are fair and upfront about what level of support they need from staff for such a move, and make a reasonable gesture (eg. 3 days in lieu of working the weekend etc etc), then you can usually get enough "volunteers" to help out.
 
What does your contract of employment say about normal hours and the possibility of being called upon to work outside of these?

What are they offering in lieu of working the weekend - e.g. the equivalent number of days off in lieu at the very least one would assume?

When they raised the issue of people "having to" work did anybody voice any objections?
 
Thanks for the feedback - no contractual references for me at least. I cant comment about anyone else. No approach from management and nobody voiced a concern / raised any issues. Guess were a pretty meek bunch.

Quite rumblings at the moment though.................
 
I work in an office, the usual 9 - 5 and if my employers tried to assume that we would all work a weekend there would be a riot. If they need to do the move at the weekend they should approach all staff and state how they intend to compensate you for this ( I would get it in writing). People power works if you all stick together, they don't own you at the weekend as most people are working so hard during the week, the weekend is the only time you get a change to do anything else especially if you have family.

From an employers point of view the weekend is the best solution because it cause the least amount of disruption but they have to be fair to their employees too, and if they don't come up with a good plan they cant make you work because it is outside your normal working week.

Don't woss out and all stick together.
 
I can't understand why everyone would have to work the weekend, unless they are skimping on the professional movers & expecting the employees to do the grunt work. In this case there could be health & safety issues, e.g. to do with lifting or using certain types of equipment, unless people already have this training. Have a look here
 
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