24 hours notice

[londonstars]

Hi all, just looking for information with regards to an issue I'm having at my office. I'm a full time reserve. Today I came back after my lunch break, tied & bagged up my walk. Was ready too load up the van & head out. When suddenly I was told by a manager to change onto a different walk at the last minute. I protested as I was under the impression that I was required to receive at least 24 hours notice in advance of a walk change. The reply from the manager was that no such rule existed. I took the issue up with my office union rep, who also did not know. We couldn't contact the area union rep also, as he is away.

Does anyone know if I'm right or wrong? I've had this problem before, being kicked off a walk at the last minute can be a massive inconvenience. Especially in regards to starting and finishing times.

[korky]

Especially in regards to starting and finishing times.

why? the shift times stay the same regardless if the tried sending you to the Outer Hebrides

[chrisj]

That is just poor management - (man-management). The manager should have some idea what might happen in the office and should have given people like you a 'heads up' well before you get to the stage of bagging up...

Can they move you to another walk without 24-hour notice? I presume they could. They do that to Reserves in my office. Some walkholders do get moved also but usually with the consent and perhaps begging; and often the move favours the walkholder... like a nice cushy driving jobbie that most people do not know

Reserves are continually being treated very badly these days - with resource to workload, office with lots of part-timers, non-drivers and under-staffing (and ad-hoc absence being covered without OT and no spares).

You will not find a rulebook for such situations but managers should not treat people like that...

[chrisj]

Officially the starting and finishing time might stay the same*...

But what if you had something planned; you have come in early (agreed with partner if you have one), so that you can go and do something else. What if they lumber you with a someone from another office or newbie thereby having to go over because you have to do some mini-training or work at a slower pace?

Start or finish time might not even be the same - it depends on the duty!

[korky]

i'm sorry, but they cannot force you to work past you scheduled finish time,
they can ask, but after pulling a stunt like that, who'd say yes?

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Officially the starting and finishing time might stay the same*...

But what if you had something planned; you have come in early (agreed with partner if you have one), so that you can go and do something else. What if they lumber you with a someone from another office or newbie thereby having to go over because you have to do some mini-training or work at a slower pace?

Start or finish time might not even be the same - it depends on the duty!

If you had planned to do something before the end of your official finish time then it would be tough luck, you shouldn't come in early to get finished earlier without prior agreement from the dom and if you did without agreement you wouldn't have a leg to stand on

[wannabeek]

I've been pulled off a duty and put onto another even after I'm out on delivery! Like the guys said, you don't have to work a minute over your time, but they can put anybody on any duty (so long as they are capable of doing it) whenever they like, no matter how far you are into it. It is a favourite trick to get a round almost completely prepped, then decide to put it out on OT at the end of the day. It's just the games they play.

By the way, makes no difference what the finish time of the 'new' duty is, my finish time is 7hrs 48 mins after I sign in (or whatever your local structure is)