Friend doesnt want to do paid overtime - does she have to

catzwizkas

I have this friend - no really - and her employer expects her to do overtime which she doesnt want to do.

It should be said he gives her 24 to 48 hours notice, pays her either time and a half or double time depending on the day and time, and makes sure she never works more than 48 hours a week. I think she has a good employer.

On the other hand, her job is not her life and she has a sports training regime that requires daily input for her hobby of competing in triathlons.

I should add this is a frequent request in summer months but there's nil overtime in the winter.

I dont know how to advise her because I think she's basically on a good wicket employment wise but she hasnt enough hours in the day to please everyone.

Can her employer force her to do overtime if he gives notice, pays her well and watches the number of hours she's working?

Thanks

Oranage2

catzwizkas wrote: »

I have this friend - no really - and her employer expects her to do overtime which she doesnt want to do.

It should be said he gives her 24 to 48 hours notice, pays her either time and a half or double time depending on the day and time, and makes sure she never works more than 48 hours a week. I think she has a good employer.

On the other hand, her job is not her life and she has a sports training regime that requires daily input for her hobby of competing in triathlons.

I should add this is a frequent request in summer months but there's nil overtime in the winter.

I dont know how to advise her because I think she's basically on a good wicket employment wise but she hasnt enough hours in the day to please everyone.

Can her employer force her to do overtime if he gives notice, pays her well and watches the number of hours she's working?

Thanks

Really depends on her contract -

doolox

I was in the exact same situation and refused to do overtime as I found the job stressful enough as it was and the supervisor on the other shift was an asshole. I had to do it in the end when threatened with disciplinary action for not doing it.
The employer can hold you for a verbal warning if you refuse reasonable requests to "support the business" and "be flexible".

In reality they should be made to hire extra people from the dole queues and share the work out and maybe give jobless people some experience and exposure to the workplace. Our employment and social welfare system are too rigid for this to happen.

Several sectors have this problem of rush periods and quiet periods, often conflicting with other demands of family life. There are huge conflicts in marriages where one partner has a steady 9-5 short hour job and the other works odd hours and long hours.

Eoin

As Oranage2 says, depends on the contract. My last one said that I had to be available for after hours and weekend work when required, or something like that. Wasn't paid either.

doolox wrote: »

In reality they should be made to hire extra people from the dole queues and share the work out and maybe give jobless people some experience and exposure to the workplace. Our employment and social welfare system are too rigid for this to happen.

I don't think you can really apply that as a rule though, there are a few reasons why this might not be practical for many companies.

babsybaby01

Wish I was in a position to turn down overtime...Be happy to have a job I say

newballsplease

are these jobs Factory positions by any chance?

doolox

Overtime is fine if the work is relatively routine and undemanding. Trouble is when you are faced with working under an over-zealous and demanding supervisor who wants nothing better than to have a "sacrificial lamb" to blame for any excursions for the norms or mistakes which might occur when under pressure. It is very likely that , when working for a different shift that any mistakes will be blamed on the fellow from a rival shift, the guy doing overtime. The risk increases because one is tired or working longer hours than normal.

Having said that I knew of people who worked double shifts with never a mention of the "48 hour" rule, as far as I know this rule was never policed or enforced while I was at work. Also I knew of other people who for health and personal reasons were allowed to work short weeks with a doctors cert, the one case I know was fought all the way by the company and eventually left it, her health amd spirit broken by the constant harrasment to return to full time working. Flexibility is a dirty word in some companies and styles of management while other sectors thrive on flexible work patterns and variable working hours.

Oranage2

babsybaby01 wrote: »

Wish I was in a position to turn down overtime...Be happy to have a job I say

Lol - i have to do over time as part of my contract - had to do 20 hours over time one week and after the tax man had his way with me it worked out my ot was paid at 6e an hour. Pure hell so you'll see if your happy to have to do over time.