Working Sundays in Retail

Kintarō Hattori · 30-12-2005 4:12pm #1

Folks just a quick one for you,

I work Monday to Friday in Retail. I'm employed mainly to do the purchasing and look after the website. I'm extremely lucky that saturday is my day off, I'm the only person in the store who has that privilage.
For the last 6-12 months they have opened the store on a Sunday, but I've been fortunate that I haven't had to work on a sunday. With the new floor manager I'm being pressured to work one sunday in three. I don't want to do this, as I like my saturday and sunday off together, and I usually go somewhere with the girlfriend on a sunday.

Do I have to work one sunday in three, if I work Monday to Friday, and especially seeing as I've never had to work them before?

Many thanks,
Liam

irishguy · 30-12-2005 4:26pm

Depends what it says in your contract, dig it out and take a look at it. I would guess if its a retail job you will have to work, going on past experiences.

Nuttzz · 30-12-2005 7:03pm

I'm employed mainly to do the purchasing and look after the website

cant see how doing that on sunday is necessary, sounds like they want to broaden your job description,

Look for some crazy over time amount to try and ward them off

Civilian_Target · 30-12-2005 9:50pm

Why not just ask if you can take friday if you have to work Sunday? That way you still get a weekend, just not always Sunday. Lets face it, most of us waste sunday away anyhow, you might actually get something useful done on a Friday!

Kintarō Hattori · 30-12-2005 10:10pm

I know I could take Friday, but Sunday is pretty important to me as it's the ONLY day myself and the girlfriend have off together.

TempestSabre · 31-12-2005 1:16am

Why do you need to work Sunday?

Kintarō Hattori · 31-12-2005 1:23am

Indeed I don't need to work Sunday, as I normally work Monday to Friday- same as the suppliers. The reason the want me to work Sundays I found out today is that they have 3 very experiance employees in the office (where I work), who collectively have 12 years experiance and knowledge. They want one of us out on the counter to back up the counter jockies, who quite frankly know very little and couldn't care less. They just want someone who know's thier stuff there on a sunday it seems.

daiixi · 31-12-2005 1:24am

one sunday out of a month isnt really *that* much to ask is it? I presume that you'll be getting paid double for it. buy the gf a nice present with the extra dosh.

Laguna · 31-12-2005 1:30am

You obviously never had a part time job in your teens/early twenties!; I never had a Sunday OFF.

TempestSabre · 31-12-2005 2:28am

Tell them your a religious freak and don't work sundays. If its a problem you'd have to take "advice" about it.

Its really down to whats in your contract. However if the 3 of you stick together and refuse it, they can't do much to you. Since its a significant change in your working conditions. Its not your fault the gimps don't know their job. The solution is to train them, not ruin your life. Obviously they've hiring cheap staff and want you guys to bridge the shortfall. Tell them to hire supervisor to work sundays if they need one. If they don't need one, then you don't need to come in.

A sunday of dealing with everyone else problems (because they don't care) ...ummm yes I think I'd avoid that like the plague.

Lifes about living, not working. Don't realise it in 30yrs time.

Kintarō Hattori · 31-12-2005 12:51pm

daiixi wrote:

one sunday out of a month isnt really *that* much to ask is it? I presume that you'll be getting paid double for it. buy the gf a nice present with the extra dosh.

Laguna wrote:

You obviously never had a part time job in your teens/early twenties!; I never had a Sunday OFF.

Time and a half for it, and I already buy her too much! I've had plenty of part time jobs Laguna, but I've been there nearly four years and NEVER had to work Sundays, and now I have too because they hire fools. I'm making up for their bad decisions. Sunday is very important to me. I'm a patient easy going guy, but I could tell you some stories about this place if you gave me time such as how we are ALL reguarly told that there is a big pile of CV's in the office, so if we're not happy we can f*ck off, or in our wednesday meetings if we don't like it "Then F*ck off to McDonalds".

I don't like suddenly having my sunday taken away from me after four years for a company who are sneaky as hell. In the past they have taken on noobs and paid them a hire hourly rate than those who had been there 4+ years.

daiixi · 31-12-2005 12:57pm

Check your contract and if that doesn't give you a clear answer, then say that you were hired to work Monday to Friday and that that's what you're going to work. I'd say your best option is to look for another job where you'll actually be happy.
It sounds like you're more unhappy with your job entirely than just having to work an occassional Sunday!

Kintarō Hattori · 31-12-2005 1:08pm

daiixi wrote:

I'd say your best option is to look for another job where you'll actually be happy.
It sounds like you're more unhappy with your job entirely than just having to work an occassional Sunday!

I'm way ahead of you! I already am, had one or two interviews before Christmas and more to come!

wheres me jumpa · 31-12-2005 1:13pm

Laguna wrote:

You obviously never had a part time job in your teens/early twenties!; I never had a Sunday OFF.

i second that big guy. i just left my part time job. i have had two/three sundays off since may 17th of this year!

first look at your contract. if it is not stated there then they are "broadening your job description" as stated above. this leaves you in a position to re-negotiate your contract.

however im willing to put some money on this, if you agree to do one sunday, you'll find and see another one will thrown in here and there.

John R · 01-01-2006 4:10am

wheres me jumpa wrote:

however im willing to put some money on this, if you agree to do one sunday, you'll find and see another one will thrown in here and there.

I agree with that. The more you give, the more they take. Even if you just do one Sunday to "help them out in a crisis" they will use it to push you into doing it regularly.

This sounds like a common scenario in retail. A good froend of mine has been in a similar position. He has worked in the stock department of a store for several years, always mon-fri. Some months back the managers changed and the new ones didn't want to work weekends. Suddenly my friend and a few of his colleagues were being pressed into working weekends basically to cover for the lack of a manager, without the small inconvenience of actually paying them managers wages.

As a group they refused and went to the head of the company requesting promotions before they would do managment work. Suddenly the store managers working weekends wasn't a problem any longer.

onedmc · 03-01-2006 11:38am

eo980 wrote:

Folks just a quick one for you,

Do I have to work one sunday in three, if I work Monday to Friday, and especially seeing as I've never had to work them before?

No you dont have to work on Sunday. If your normal working week is monday to friday then your employer has no right to make you work outside your contract.

Dosnt matter what it says in your written contract an unwritten contract is in place since you have never ever EVER worked on sunday (True, I presume).

But be careful, do they need someone to do the website, or could they say that your current job is unnecessary or substantially unnecessary. If so be careful and record ever contact, discussion and even jokes by your employer.

mountainyman · 09-01-2006 4:14am

You should refuse explicitly to work the sunday. If they give you any hassle record the incidents, quit and claim constructive dismissal.

Is there anyone you can talk to about this (like HR) ; when you say your boss is hassling you is this _bullying_ because that could equal serious cash.

Just think about it OK?

MM

Saffer · 15-01-2006 9:24am

A Question along the same lines.

If you have to work Saturday and Sunday, but get 2 days off during the week say a Wednesday and Thursday.

Does the pay stay the same or should you get time and a half for Sunday?

The reason I ask, my employer does not pay extra, and working a Sunday, counts as a normal week day.

Is this Correct?

Thanks
Saffer

TempestSabre · 15-01-2006 12:24pm

In my opinion I'd say working a weekend day should give you a day and half back. Or you should get paid time and a half. Getting it though is another story.

Crumble · 15-01-2006 11:23pm

Saffer,

No in general this is not the case, see the link below and the extract taken from the site.

In my experience time and a half is normal. Though in the UK it is very different and in UK retail an any five of seven contract is often the norm.

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/employment/employment_rights/hours_breaks_sundays.html?search=sunday+working

Unless your contract provides otherwise your 24 hour rest period referred to above should include a Sunday.

In addition, with regard to pay, unless already included in the determination of an your pay, your employer must give you one or more of the following for Sunday working, etc:

A reasonable allowance
A reasonable pay increase
Reasonable paid time off work

Saffer wrote:

A Question along the same lines.

If you have to work Saturday and Sunday, but get 2 days off during the week say a Wednesday and Thursday.

Does the pay stay the same or should you get time and a half for Sunday?

The reason I ask, my employer does not pay extra, and working a Sunday, counts as a normal week day.

Is this Correct?

Thanks
Saffer

Working Sundays in Retail

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