My rights??

[petethemanc]

Ok i work for BT openreach as a sub contractor for hays. I am sent my jobs via email and generally get between 18-21 jobs per day. However, BTs own engineers struggle with 10-15 jobs most days. I never send any jobs back and they are ALWAYS completed. But we have noticed that something isn't right lately with BT, they seem to be piling more work onto us for the same money, for instance, we often do LLU (ISP migration) which has to be done at night. So we work Monday (half day) and then midnight till 8am. BT have said they do not want to pay us for the half day Monday that we would have off to work the night shift. Surely this is not right, we are contracted for 37 hours per week, and if they want this work done then surely we have to be paid for it regardless of having half day monday off? And my second point is, i have had to ring in sick as i have this bug thats going round. I was told that it was not really acceptable, and that they can release staff. Im fuming!!!! i graft damned hard and get the jobs done that im sent when their own staff really do take the proverbial urine. What are my rights regarding sick and being a contractor??

[Ell-enn]

How long have you worked for them via Hays?

[Jaz1]

Hi petethemanc,

regardless of if you work thru an agency or directly for BT, you have rights covered by your contract of employment, so you need to refer to that firstly. Secondly, do you or have you ever had a job description given to you by Hayes or BT?

If my advice helps, pls tip my scales. Thanks

[petethemanc]

Hi all and thanks for the replies, well i have been working for them for nearly six months. As for the contract, i will have to have a read through it and check. They really are pushing it with the agency staff though. BT made mistakes years ago dishing out water tight contracts to their staff, and cant even sack staff done for drink driving, as they have never sacked anyone for it so can not start now as the flood gates would open. But they can give us an unbelievably hard time getting as much work out of us for as little money as possible because they know we are agency. Soooo not right.

[tasty_tang0]

Hey Pete,
When you first start employment for a new employer you automatically have 73 rights, when you say BT are piling more work on you, I agree with Jazz it is essential you check your contract of employment to identify exactly what you ave been contracted to do and query any additional duties you have been requested to do.

Do you have a staff handbook? These are your bible as far as I'm concerned as they highlight your responsibilities, your employer's responsibilities and should explain what should happen when your contract varies. I can say that any type of variation in your duties needs to be put in writing by varying your contract of employment, a failure to do so is a breech of contract.

Also, if your not happy your handbook should tell you how to raise a grievance/complaint.

If BT employee's are doing less work then yourself as you state, it may be useful to see what Hays and BT's equals ops policy states to see if these policies are being adhered to.

Hope this helps

tasty