Is there anything I can do to avoid working both Saturday and Sunday?

Posted by Admirable-Essay-6694@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 56 comments

Started a new job in furniture retail 6 weeks ago, in the interview the manager said I will be expected to work one day on a weekend each week which I see as fair and have no problems with, I’ve just been sent my rotas for the next 2 months and I’m doing every single Saturday and Sunday, I spoke to my manager about it and they’ve said the higher ups have informed them that no one can have a weekend day off anymore unless it’s taken as annual leave because it’s the busiest days for the business and staff are expected to work them. I quite like the job and have had no issues with it until now, this is a pretty big hurdle for me to overcome though, what steps can I actually take? Both of my colleagues have said they don’t care and they’re happy to always work Saturdays and Sundays but that supposedly is going to be a requirement for me now despite obviously not being happy doing both days.

[-]

EuphoricCover8449@reddit

Do you get time and a half for Saturdays?

ServerLost@reddit

Nobody who works retail or hospitality does. Otherwise your pint would cost £15.

Back in the day...

We all got time and a half and double time on Sundays.

VerbingNoun413@reddit

And the pints cots £15, right?

https://www.gov.uk/sunday-working

You can opt out of working Sundays.

Behold_SV@reddit

See what contract says. Manager might’ve tricked you to get someone covering weekends.

AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

The contract doesn't really matter in this instance. They can fire op for any reason aside from protected characteristics, and not working weekends isn't a protected characteristic.

External-Piccolo-626@reddit

And they can change the contract anyways.

RevellRider@reddit

If they're religious, and request Sunday off for religious reasons, that is protected

Infernode5@reddit

Sure, but since they've not worked there for more than 2 years they could be sacked with no stated reason, even it was for a protected reason, they could just state they don't like the colour socks they wear and be done with it.

quellflynn@reddit

no reason is no reason

wrong sock colour would land them in issue.

they would just terminate, pay the outstanding holiday accrued and their notice period and done.

Wrong colour wouldn't get them in trouble, if you've worked somewhere less than 2 years they can give ANY reason that isn't protected, or no reason at all (which is likely).

i.e. You were shit at your job, late too many times, support the wrong football team etc. etc.

Either look for a new job, or wait it out and see if everyone else is actually working all weekends. My gut says they’re laying them all on you because you’re new.

Zealousideal-Habit82@reddit

Welcome to retail sadly. If you think it's tough now wait till Christmas rolls around.

AttunedtoSymmetry@reddit

Haha I worked Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Admin blocked out all annual leave requests for July, August, November and December. All staff required to work bank holidays. No staff were allowed to have 2 scheduled off days in a row. More than 2 periods of absence/sickness in 6 months and you get a disciplinary.

Unless you are best friends with the store manager, then all of the above is disregarded!

JukeGen@reddit

Tesco?

WhiteDiamondK@reddit

Luckily, furniture retailer is notoriously quiet in December.

Anti-social hours goes with the gig when you work retail.

BUT… 8 years into working 9-5 and I do miss my random days off in the week.

whoops53@reddit

Yep, ex-retail here....emphasis on the "ex"

Consistent-Pirate-23@reddit

Same and same

hunsnet457@reddit

You were never going to ‘only work one day on a week’, this is retail.

Everyone works weekends unless you’re in management or you’re that one employee who’s worked there longer than some staff have been alive.

OneSufficientFace@reddit

Thats retail for you unfortunately.

Your options are :-

Find a job with the terms you want around weekends

Take anual leave

bishpenguin@reddit

You can legally opt out of the Sunday, though they don't have to nessiserily give you hours on other days

I did not know this, or about the employer's requirement to tell you, nobody ever told me! Weirdly only applies to retail workers and only after 3 months notice.

LA_72@reddit

Do the job until you find another. I’m unaware of any actual laws being broken unless it is written in your contract to do one weekend day per week. It’s worth a challenge if you intend to leave anyway so won’t be awkward.

_Cridders_@reddit

Tell them you don't roll on Shabbos

Nitrogenflux@reddit

Exact reason why I left retail, got so tired of working everyday and late night shopping evening apart from christmas day and easter

Time to start looking for another job. Assuming the one weekend day thing isn't in your contract (100% won't be) there's nothing else you can do.

AYK2026@reddit

Well they already started off with a lie. You might want to look elsewhere for a job.

Asher-D@reddit

I'd get a new job, to tell you it's 1 weekend day every week and accept and them it turns out of to be every single weekend day, that's not acceptable.

Embarrassed_Park2212@reddit

When I worked my days were Wednesday to Sunday and the other two days were my weekend. I actually preferred that. So you can either suck it up or find another job or use the other days you get off as your weekend.

Krags@reddit

I'd consider just no-call no-show quitting tbh.

Sir_Greggles@reddit

One of the biggest reasons I hated working retail. Even in non-traditional retail the expectation of working weekends is there.

In one of my previous jobs, I managed to negotiate having 1 in 3 weekends off, and even that was a challenge to get

Lazy-Objective-1630@reddit

Your manager is taking the piss. However in the UK you can be let go for any reason at all or no reason within the first 2 years of employment.

Your choice is to either accept you work weekends now, or be ready to look for other work. If you're not committed to staying you can speak to your manager and tell them outright that this wasn't what was agreed and that you're prepared to jump ship if the agreement isn't honoured. They will likely just call your bluff though.

You could also try contacting ACAS and see what they have to say.

Sea-Still5427@reddit

The manager's probably exaggerating to make the objections go away - senior management usually don't get involved in managing rota coverage - or trying to prioritise weekends for people with school age kids. The bottom line is, unless one day a weekend is stipulated in your contract, they can let you go if you refuse, so decide how much you need the job before you refuse.

jamdex07@reddit

Get another job is the only answer - they've done you up like a kipper.

hotchy1@reddit

Retail. Im replying while "working" 😆 I however get the early opening shift. 7am, home by 1. Enjoy the weekend. I get up early anyway. Bonus is when your days off in the week start, everywhere is nice and quiet, its ace.

Give it a few months, if it’s not for you then you have 2 weekdays with availability for interviews.

Done jobs with full weekends, Saturday only, 1 Saturday a month and no weekends so I have been there and done that

OnPointTip1@reddit

Not a prayer. That's unacceptable unless it states it in your contract.

Silver_Adagio138@reddit

Unless it’s becomes about prayer.

rezonansmagnetyczny@reddit

Before you kick up a fuss, think to yourself if it's an actual issue. Do you do things most weekends you can only do on a weekend?

Or is it just an ego bruise because you've been deceived?

Honestly the monday to friday 9-5- is a bit over rated anyway.

jamnut@reddit

As someone who worked retail for 12 years: is it fuck!

Serious_Escape_5438@reddit

Depends on your lifestyle, I used to think that when I was young and my friends were doing similar jobs. As you get older and your friends work in offices and you have kids of your own working weekends is shit. It means getting your days off to do errands alone instead of fun things.

nosajn@reddit

I prefer to have weekdays off tbh, means getting stuff done is so much easier as everywhere is much busier on the weekends. No kids though, and I'm sure if I did have them then my priorities would be different. Also helps that I get paid more on weekends!

When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!

Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.