Rest days with bank holiday and annual leave

[Cstans]

Hi,

I am on one of the new 30 hour contracts with 2 rest days per week. Postman with driving working DPR.

So last week for christmas my rest days were not put onto the rota, as manager said everyone was working monday/teusday and those are the days I would normally have off. Tried to get in touch with my manager about when my rest days would be due to the bank holidays and I had the friday 27th booked off with annual leave, so the only other days were saturday and sunday, which I had made plans for. Could not get in touch with the manager the whole week so eventually had to message and tell him the situation and that I would not be attending, he still hasn't replied, but he has posted the new rota for the coming week.

In this new rota I am working monday, teusday, off for new years day, and then off for my annual leave which runs from the 2nd to the 10th. Am I right in thinking that I should have 2 rest days that week even though I have annual leave and new years day covering the rest? Just phoned my manager to have it go to voicemail, don't want a repeat of last week where I cannot get in touch until it's too late.

(edit: as I'm new, started in november, I have no experience with this happening before, would like to think it's just a coincidence or misunderstanding but can't shake the feeling that my manager is ducking my calls and messages on purpose to have me working rest days)

[richardkhill]

I can't help with your annual leave query, but if it had been booked & approved in advance, then there shouldn't be any problems.

Did you end up working the 23rd & 24th?

I'm also on the 30hr per week contract. For xmas week, everyone in our DO worked Mon, Tues, Fri & Sat. My rostered days off were Sun & Weds (25th). As weds was officially a BH, I was offered either 6hrs payment or time off in Leu.

Next week, I'm rostered off on Sun & Weds again. As Weds is a BH, I'll get the same options.

It sounds like your manager has also rostered your days off as Sun & Weds for new year week. You just need to confirm with your manager whether you want payment or time off for Jan 1st.

The screenshot below is taken from the 'Taking Time Off' procedure.

Screenshot_20241216-152338.png

[Cstans]

I can't help with your annual leave query, but if it had been booked & approved in advance, then there shouldn't be any problems.

Did you end up working the 23rd & 24th?

I'm also on the 30hr per week contract. For xmas week, everyone in our DO worked Mon, Tues, Fri & Sat. My rostered days off were Sun & Weds (25th). As weds was officially a BH, I was offered either 6hrs payment or time off in Leu.

Next week, I'm rostered off on Sun & Weds again. As Weds is a BH, I'll get the same options.

It sounds like your manager has also rostered your days off as Sun & Weds for new year week. You just need to confirm with your manager whether you want payment or time off for Jan 1st.

The screenshot below is taken from the 'Taking Time Off' procedure.
Screenshot_20241216-152338.png

I did work the 23rd and 24th, and notified my manager I would not be attending the 28th (today) and 29th as I had made plans around having my 2 rest days and it was too late to cancel plans as he had not contacted me or replied to messages/calls. I initially asked another manager about days in lieu or having the 6hrs payment, telling him I would prefer the 28th and 29th off if possible as I had plans, but wasn't confirmed anything and was just told that he would mention it to my line manager.

Yes it looks like he might've put my days off as new years day and the sunday, the problem is the rota just gets posted in our work whatsapp chat with no explanation or comfirmation and we have to chase the managers up about it, shouldn't I be told when my usual days off can't be given?

[heraldmoth]

Operational needs, you do not pick and choose your work days I’m afraid, and the contract is 5 days out of 7 you will given the bank holidays back as toil……

[Cstans]

Operational needs, you do not pick and choose your work days I’m afraid, and the contract is 5 days out of 7 you will given the bank holidays back as toil……

Yes I have no problem having my rest days moved around due to operational needs, however the only available days are monday and tuesday, so if I am unable to have those off shouldn't I be contacted and explained I will get them back or be payed the overtime? I was under the impression that they should try to fill my rest days seperate to my leave and bank holidays, and if it's not possible, contact me about it. They just post the rota in the group chat and I have to now chase them up about what's happening with only 2 days notice before the next week starts.

[tramssirhc]

You need to look at your contract of employment. It states the hours you are required to work over week but does it specify a day off or any days off? Many of the new contracts were advertised as Wednesday to Sunday without any mention of 'rest days'.

[Cstans]

You need to look at your contract of employment. It states the hours you are required to work over week but does it specify a day off or any days off? Many of the new contracts were advertised as Wednesday to Sunday without any mention of 'rest days'.

My contract specifically says I will be working 5 days in every 7.

[heraldmoth]

Operational needs, you do not pick and choose your work days I’m afraid, and the contract is 5 days out of 7 you will given the bank holidays back as toil……

Yes I have no problem having my rest days moved around due to operational needs, however the only available days are monday and tuesday, so if I am unable to have those off shouldn't I be contacted and explained I will get them back or be payed the overtime? I was under the impression that they should try to fill my rest days seperate to my leave and bank holidays, and if it's not possible, contact me about it. They just post the rota in the group chat and I have to now chase them up about what's happening with only 2 days notice before the next week starts.

As a rule of thumb they will usually manipulate bank holidays to “fall” on rest days therefore this creates the illusion of extra bodies in the short term….i would be troubled by a rota just being posted in a group chat tho and consider cancelling the annual leave day and say you will take it as a rest day

[tramssirhc]

You need to look at your contract of employment. It states the hours you are required to work over week but does it specify a day off or any days off? Many of the new contracts were advertised as Wednesday to Sunday without any mention of 'rest days'.

My contract specifically says I will be working 5 days in every 7.

Does it say something like 'you will work x hours over 5 days in every 7'?

[Cstans]

You need to look at your contract of employment. It states the hours you are required to work over week but does it specify a day off or any days off? Many of the new contracts were advertised as Wednesday to Sunday without any mention of 'rest days'.

My contract specifically says I will be working 5 days in every 7.

Does it say something like 'you will work x hours over 5 days in every 7'?

Aye

" your weekly hours of attendance will be 30.00 hours per week (excluding meal breaks). working 5 days out of 7 "

It's too short notice for them to change it now anyway, as the contract states "hours will be confirmed up to 24 hours before shift". So I'm going to work the two days and will have to chase them up about being payed the 2 days overtime.

[world class male]

1st of all, there should be no "social media" platform to confirm anything work related, it should be displayed in your office well in advance,
basically, the coms are useless and can't do their job, it's a black and white the process but they are totally inept at doing their job of processing a rota weeks in advance, even with "predicted" sickness
i've no idea on the newer contracts on monthly pay/terms so cannot say, but on weekly you MUST be given 2 off in 7, credited for any bank holidays if falling on day off, also check hours taken for your booked leave in the new year

[tramssirhc]

You need to look at your contract of employment. It states the hours you are required to work over week but does it specify a day off or any days off? Many of the new contracts were advertised as Wednesday to Sunday without any mention of 'rest days'.

My contract specifically says I will be working 5 days in every 7.

Does it say something like 'you will work x hours over 5 days in every 7'?

Aye

" your weekly hours of attendance will be 30.00 hours per week (excluding meal breaks). working 5 days out of 7 "

It's too short notice for them to change it now anyway, as the contract states "hours will be confirmed up to 24 hours before shift". So I'm going to work the two days and will have to chase them up about being payed the 2 days overtime.

And there's the crux of the issue. It's all so vague. Unless it actually states that you are entitled to day X as a rest day or that you have a rotating day off it's nigh on impossible to determine exactly what you are entitled to. The CWU should be agreeing the rotas two weeks in advance and they should be published in a location for all to view. However with a clause such as confirming hours up to 24 hours before the shift it's going to be difficult to claim anything. Is there anyone on the old contract in the dpr rota?

[Newandscared]

It's actually a ridiculaous state of affairs. 2 days off together is much more beneficial and the rotating day off can get confusing if you put leave or sick days in especially if managers are not keeping up. I'm also a new joiner, 2 days off a week was mentioned in induction but I didn't find out I had a rotating day off until into my first week as it's not something I've ever experienced before.

The main problem with the rotating day off is not being able to get home to see family until I can put leave in as RM doesn't allow us to take single days. Inability to use single days as leave is also a problem when I need medical stuff as I have to switch my day off and essentially it's a wasted day off at hospitals etc.