minimum wage

[debbiej154]

Hi all,i currently work as a carer in a private nursing home.I am on minimum wage.we have been told we have a meeting at work to discuss ways that our company will be able to afford the new minimum wage.

They are talking of cutting our working hours from 7 hours to 6 hours daily.This will then stop us from having a break.Our holiday entiltement will be less.We will lose an hours pay each day.

Can they do this ?

Can it be fair that we are being made to pay for the rise in minimum pay rising to £7.20 by our hours being changed.

I have worked there for 4.5 years and work 28 hours a week and have a contract.

Thankyou

Debbie

[citizenB]

I think this is going to be an issue with many of the low paid workers.

 

I am sure others who know more about this issue will have some answers for you, but I personally don't think it is fair

 

It would be interesting to know if they are going to put up their fees to the residents ?

[fletch70]

Off course they will CB

Any old excuse to ncrease profits.

 

What worries me will be the quality of care if hours are being reduced so drastically

[Sparks_]

If they cut your hours would there be enough staff available to meet the minimum staffing levels?

[debbiej154]

Hi,we are supposed to have seven carers on a shift but some times have four or five on a shift.There are bank staff as well who only work when they want to.Thanks Debbie

[citizenB]

Please let us know what is said at the meeting.

[mikeymack2002]

The post two above is one reason I am fighting hard not to move to accommodation that has carers and or similar. It's a disgrace that homes operating manner get away with it. They need reporting...

[debbiej154]

Thanks everyone.will let you know what is said at the meeting.

[ericsbrother]

In doing waht they are suggesting they are altering a couple of the core conditions of your contract. Effectively they are saying that your old position is now redundant so one plan would to be to tell them that if you dont stay on your 28 hour week then you will take the redundancy packageas you cannot stay on your existing contract due to statutory changes. If everyone was to do the same they would be absolutely stuffed as the cost of paying off one person may be bearable the hassle of replacing everyone will be unbearable.

Thuis is where unions membership is a good thing

[debbiej154]

Thanks i will bare this in mind.

[fletch70]

In doing waht they are suggesting they are altering a couple of the core conditions of your contract. Effectively they are saying that your old position is now redundant so one plan would to be to tell them that if you dont stay on your 28 hour week then you will take the redundancy packageas you cannot stay on your existing contract due to statutory changes. If everyone was to do the same they would be absolutely stuffed as the cost of paying off one person may be bearable the hassle of replacing everyone will be unbearable.

Thuis is where unions membership is a good thing

 

While I agree in principle and like the idea , I have seen on too many occasions people going against what they agreed and leaving people hanging. Another thing to bear in mind, it is all well and good saying that if you are say, near retirement or are wanting to leave/don't 'need' the money that you will stand your ground but sometimes you have to be pragmatic

 

I do not like saying it as personally I want to lead the revolution but....

[ericsbrother]

aye, we all have self preservation in mind but sometimes letting people know you have a big stick even if you havent or dont intend to use it can be an advantage. The hardest thing is getting everyone to agree to a principle. The usual management tactic is to ask each person individually and then they get waht they want agreed, even if that agreement is initially only with one person.

[debbiej154]

Thanks.meeting next week so will see what they say and take it from there.