new contract pressured to sign,rebranded zero hours ,other strange clauses

[arlow11]

i have worked for this company for 16 years,this is the 1st written contract ive had,i do want to leave,i am pressured to sign a contract with these following clauses :

 

Hours of work

 

you normally work 40 hours each week.The company reserves the right to alter working hours as necessary.as at date of issue the company is operating on a "short time" basis.you have been made aware of this and acknowledge notification and agreement.

 

sickness Absence

 

the company may require you to undergo a medical examination by a medical practitioner nominated by us at any stage of your employment,and to authorise such a medical practitioner to prepare a medical report detailing the results of the examination,which you agree may be disclosed to the company.the company will bear the cost of such a medical examination.such and examination will only be requested by the company where it is reasonable to do so.

 

changes to terms and conditions of employment

 

 

the company may amend,vary or terminate the terms and conditions in this document and such change will be notified to you personally in writing or ,when generally applied ,by notice.

 

severability

 

The various provisions of this agreement are severable,and if any provision or identifiable part thereof is held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction then such a invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions or identifiable parts. governing law and jurisdiction.

 

 

in my eyes this is a zero hours contract which i have never agreed to,the medical clause seems draconian ,the changes to terms and conditions is this a unfair term ? and the severability clause is there because they know the contract is poor, thanks for you replies

[Rexroth]

One good reason to belong to a Trade's Union. Try ACAS or CAB for detailed advice.

[Sidewinder]

Hours of work

 

you normally work 40 hours each week.The company reserves the right to alter working hours as necessary.as at date of issue the company is operating on a "short time" basis.you have been made aware of this and acknowledge notification and agreement.[/Quote]

 

Have you been made aware of this as stated? What is the nature of the short time working and what is it's impact? This clause says nothing!

[fkofilee]

For me this looks pretty normal... But im quite loose when it comes to contracts etc

 

Its normal for a company to put in there that they may send you to a Doctor / Medical Specialist if you are failing your duties or they are concerned about your health.

I think they are obliged to for the welfare of their stafF?

[king12345]

Even if you never signed a contract, is there a standard job description and terms of employment where you work?

This is the case in large organisations and public offices where the jobs are all lined up in grades and each grade has set salary and t&c.

A good union rep will know if this new contract can be enforced or you can simply refuse to sign it and remain on the old t&c.

It happened at my wife's work; she got legal advice at the time and she refused to sign new contract.

5 years on she's still on the old contract while all her former colleagues had to leave due to hours and wage cut.

[ericsbrother]

what brought this about may we ask? You already have a contract but just not a written one.

You say you want to leave, it that a typo?

[arlow11]

what brought this about may we ask? You already have a contract but just not a written one.

You say you want to leave, it that a typo?

 

 

good question.....theres a new md who has bought half of the company,he obviously wants to shake things up,and yes i do want to leave,its a bad job with poor pay and conditions,thanks for the replies so far

[arlow11]

Even if you never signed a contract, is there a standard job description and terms of employment where you work?

This is the case in large organisations and public offices where the jobs are all lined up in grades and each grade has set salary and t&c.

A good union rep will know if this new contract can be enforced or you can simply refuse to sign it and remain on the old t&c.

It happened at my wife's work; she got legal advice at the time and she refused to sign new contract.

5 years on she's still on the old contract while all her former colleagues had to leave due to hours and wage cut.

 

no never had a written job description or basic contract, i have a verbal one, thanks:smile:

Edited June 20, 2016 by arlow11
poor grammar

[ericsbrother]

then you can refuse to sign the new contract, they will dismiss you and you can claim against them for unfair dismissal. They may offer you a serverance payment to go away if you make the right noises.