Is This Acceptable?

Yanto · Post by **Yanto** » 03 Dec 2016, 08:54

In my old D.O. the leave reserves knew what duties they were on for usually at least the following 2 weeks in advance, hence they knew what days off they had.

In my new D.O. the duty rota for the following week doesn't usually go up on the board until Friday afternoon at the earliest, sometimes not until Saturday.

This situation even effects duty holders in my new office, as they seem to get treated little better than leave reserves and frequently find themselves moved off their own duties to cover others.

Is this lack of notice for rotas normal and acceptable? I didn't consider my old office to be particularly militant but they certainly wouldn't have stood for this level of getting messed about!

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 03 Dec 2016, 09:46

Not sure if it's normal but you have explained what my office is like spot on.

Zicomurphy · Post by **Zicomurphy** » 03 Dec 2016, 14:37

Duties go up on the board on Thursday for the following week. Duty holders sometimes get asked to cover other duties but don't think they are ever forced to if they don't want to.

ScousePostie · Post by **ScousePostie** » 03 Dec 2016, 17:07

In our office the duty arrangements go up on a board five weeks in advance. However, we usually take them with a pinch of salt as by the time that week comes you're usually guaranteed it'll be changed.

Post by **wacko74** » 03 Dec 2016, 17:20

It's just so ridiculously one sided... we're expected to book all our annual leave over a YEAR in advance, yet we don't get to know what days off we have for the following week until near the end of the current week!

How the hell are we supposed to book medical appointments etc or make any arrangements at all with such short notice of when our days off will be?

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 03 Dec 2016, 17:25

Complain to Union Area Rep to see if he/she can get it sorted.

telithowitis · Post by **telithowitis** » 03 Dec 2016, 17:59

I've been told there is a national agreement that a minimum of 3 weeks duties in advance should be posted for reserves.
Having said that it doesn't happen at our DO where Friday the week before is the norm.
Same with Saturday rest days for reserves which don't happen either.
Frankly the Union don't seem bothered as it doesn't effect the permenant duty holders and who can blame the duty holders as they are not effected.
In my opinion RM management doesn't treat new staff very well! (Putting it mildly) Any wonder so many leave?
The only way forward would be for all reserves to put in formal grievances about Rotas and Saturdays and bring it to the attention of Moyà and consider using the press in a similar way to Dave Whelan and DW sports to shame RM at the very top as they wouldn't like the bad image publicity/public enquiry
I can't see reserves working to contract hours because most need the money, so this would seem the only possible way forward. Not sure how it would be coordinated without Union assistance though, as my experience is most reserves won't say a word about anything?

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 03 Dec 2016, 19:35

3 weeks? 72 hrs is unusual, finding out on sat is the norm.

As said, it isn't an issue that affects the invulnerable old timers who actually rule the office so nothing can be done about it. Should you stay long enough to become one of those miserable old selfish gits, would you make a fuss to support the reserves? Sadly unlikely, in my experience.

Chewster · Post by **Chewster** » 03 Dec 2016, 22:50

Lol our sheet for the next week never goes up until Saturday afternoon, and 9 times out of 10 it ends up being changed on Monday morning. Few duty holders actually do the duty they're signed to, in fact quite a lot of the duty holders have NEVER done the duties they're signed to! The weekly rota is not much more than a formality in our office. Most of the duty holders do, however, get "their" duty day off whether they're on it or not, so nobody is really too fussed. Personally I like the variety of being on different duties fairly regularly, but it would be nice to know at least a day in advance more often..

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 04 Dec 2016, 08:07

The duties are supposed to be done six weeks in advance,in conjunction with the MANDATORY,weekly resource meetings, between the manager and the union rep. I wonder how many of those happen each week

Creditshampoo · Post by **Creditshampoo** » 04 Dec 2016, 09:16

Isn't there a law against this?
And if I never get Saturdays off over 6 weeks I'm working for free right as it's a shorter day?

telithowitis · Post by **telithowitis** » 04 Dec 2016, 11:05

Last week a senior duty holder kicked off as the DOM wanted him to work his own duty as its one of the hardest in the office, his arguement being "I haven't done it for 6 months it should be done by a reserve as you go over every day"!!!
Result.. yes you've got it a reserve got told to do it.

Post by **Theghost** » 04 Dec 2016, 20:25

I find it wrong a duty holder should be moved,Unless it is for legitimate operational needs.

As for reserves duties being posted,I think 72 hours is reasonable.

What i think is wrong the way reserves are shafted in regard to saturdays off and also being given bank holidays as their day off,Only to fight a losing battle trying to book their holidays never mids days in leui.

Post by **wacko74** » 05 Dec 2016, 17:40

Theghost wrote:I find it wrong a duty holder should be moved,Unless it is for legitimate operational needs.

As for reserves duties being posted,I think 72 hours is reasonable.

What i think is wrong the way reserves are shafted in regard to saturdays off and also being given bank holidays as their day off,Only to fight a losing battle trying to book their holidays never mids days in leui.

Are you for real?

You really think 72 hours (ie Friday) is adequate notice for knowing what day off you've got the following week? I'll say again, how on earth are you ever supposed to book medical appointments, arrange for repair men to visit, order big deliveries? All these things generally require at least a full weeks notice to get an appointment,

Mobey · Post by **Mobey** » 05 Dec 2016, 19:02

Is it worth being an annual leave reserve? Considering the severe lack of management and notification of the duties? Is it more stressful?

Don't want to add fuel to the fire in this thread but I've heard this might be happening to some part timers.