Question about being a reserve.

[Linny03]

If I was a reserve would it say so in my contract? My job title in my contract says OPG ********* DO. There is no mention of the word reserve there. If I am not a reserve what am I? According to my manager everyone without their own round is a reserve and basically doesnt have any rights to what duty they do, what day off they have etc. When I started I got long weekends for awhile until I started getting moved around. I was assured I would get long weekends when I applied for the job.

If I am a reserve how do I know this for sure? What are my rights? If indeed I do have to work Saturdays and get moved about why dont other reserves? If I dont get saturdays off why should they? It is unfair people who havent signed for rounds being left on them for months sometimes years and getting their long weekends while I dont get mine. It should be stated clearly in the original job advertisement that people are going to become reserves after awhile. Why are they advertising new roles as having a rotational day off when after a few months this is not going to be the case? Is this not illegal.

My problem has been partially sorted now but I am still angry that it is going to happen to other people. Also if they do it to me again how do I get a clear copy of my job description, rights and responsibilities etc.

Thank you

[Stormproof]

When you start you are NOT given a duty. Being a new starter they leave you on a duty for a while so you get use to the job. You were very lucky when you started to get a long weekend.........most of us reserves have'nt had a long weekend for years. Hope you like Tuesdays because you will be having a lot of them off

[Linny03]

I know you dont get a duty when you start. You should be given rotating days off though especially if they were advertised in the job advertisement when you applied. My point is how do they get away with changing this. Why do they not make this clear to new starters. If reserves have to work every Saturday then ALL reserves should do so and not be left on rounds for months. This constitutes favouritism and I for one am not having it. It should also be clearly stated in your contract that you are in fact a reserve.

I appreciate new starters need time to get used to a round. I am not talking about new starters my issue is with other reserves who have been here considerably less time than myself and been better treated and have had their weekends etc. All employees on the same grade/job title etc should be treated equally. Whether that means no Saturdays, 1 in 6 Saturdays or whatever.

[Stormproof]

I know exactly what you mean. I've been trying to change it in my office, going to be have meetings with my DOM concerning this. Luckily since our recent re-sign a lot of us 'reserves' have taken the 5-1 rotation so at least we get a Saturday off occassionally. At Easter all the reserves in my office were given Good Friday off followed by the BH on the Monday....... I agree reserves should be given a rotating day off.

[Linny03]

They tried doing that to me on bank holidays. Until I pointed out the names of other so called reserves who they hadnt done it to. They stopped doing it after that.

[fishtank]

Yes you should get a rotational day off or at least 1 in 4 Saturdays,yes it's a failing in your management/office/rep/colleagues.
No it isn't discrimination or unfair treatment,it's just people being lazy...if other reserves are and you aren't it may be different but extremely difficult to prove either way.
It isn't stated in your contract that you're a reserve because it isn't an official job title...it just describes your position in the resourcing plan.
What does your contract say about days off?

[pokos27]

you get chucked all over the place and there is nothing you can do about it, its very annoying you can still be a reserve after 10 years, you will do holiday cover.

[spoodoo]

youre not called a reserve ,youre official title is,,,, a piece of crap , you get treated like rubbish, moved about for years on end ,kicked off a duty so greedy back stabber colleagues can come in on overtime n do it, no long weekends in years, enjoy a lovely tuesday off a lot,, see guys just in the door beeing left on there own duty for a year or more, oh and youlle be expected to be the guys who help people out with jobs that are struggling ,as you know all the jobs,,,while the runners and boss lovers are running out the door early,,,,,,, dignity and respect ,yeah right !