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Can Tesco make you work outside of your availability window?

Started by snufflesthebear, 28-06-22, 05:28PM

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Bobmay

Quote from: universe on 20-09-22, 07:06PMSo am I to understand, does this new contract replace right hours right place ? if I say my availability is only my current contracted fixed hours they cannot force me to change any hours without my consent ?

They can't force you. However if there is a need for it they will remove you by giving you redundancy or another store.

RubyFox_xo

Hi I'm sorry to jump on this thread but I'm not able to start my own topic. I have an interview at Tesco on Tuesday and the job was advertised as 11 hpw with a set shift pattern. I only want to do these hours, is that possible? From what I've read I'm thinking no...

lucgeo

To be honest, in my experience...NO!

This is my bugbear with Tesco advertising vacancies, they state set hours and shift patterns, then waste peoples time ( not to mention costs attending) in interviews, only to then ask them to give extra availability windows!
I had a relative who applied for the stated advertised shifts, as they fitted in with family commitments! Spent money on childcare to attend the interview, only then to have their application tossed to one side, in front of all the other interviewees,  with the comment by the people partner ( HA) " that's not much good is it?!" When said those were the only hours they were available to do!

Things could have changed now, so no harm in ringing the store and asking for more info on availability required?


 
Live for today. Learn from yesterday.

oldfashionedplayer

Quote from: RubyFox_xo on 07-10-22, 08:12PMHi I'm sorry to jump on this thread but I'm not able to start my own topic. I have an interview at Tesco on Tuesday and the job was advertised as 11 hpw with a set shift pattern. I only want to do these hours, is that possible? From what I've read I'm thinking no...

Depends I think if you start on the new Contracts I think you do?

The new contracts mean you have to give 1.5x availability hours, so you'd be scheduled for an availability window of like 16 hours I guess? Your availability should be discussed and shifts should be assigned with a minimum of 3 weeks notice on the new system, so you can adjust your availability pattern with them by filling out availability forms..

Essentially though, if your doing the 11 hours you should be okay..


Think though that they change your shift of those 11 hours to into that window of your availability


So Monday and Wednesday of like 5.5 hours each. One week and you've put down that your also available on Thursday for 6 hours.

So they could say monday and Thursday for, 5 hours for 1, 6 hours for tbe other. Like that I believe. But HAVE TO GIVE PLENTY OF NOTICE.

madness

Quote from: lucgeo on 07-10-22, 09:07PMTo be honest, in my experience...NO!

This is my bugbear with Tesco advertising vacancies, they state set hours and shift patterns, then waste peoples time ( not to mention costs attending) in interviews, only to then ask them to give extra availability windows!
I had a relative who applied for the stated advertised shifts, as they fitted in with family commitments! Spent money on childcare to attend the interview, only then to have their application tossed to one side, in front of all the other interviewees,  with the comment by the people partner ( HA) " that's not much good is it?!" When said those were the only hours they were available to do!

Things could have changed now, so no harm in ringing the store and asking for more info on availability required?


 
In the interest of balance I have had too many people apply for know hours and at the interivew ask to do different hours...

Teddybonkers

Quote from: RubyFox_xo on 07-10-22, 08:12PMHi I'm sorry to jump on this thread but I'm not able to start my own topic. I have an interview at Tesco on Tuesday and the job was advertised as 11 hpw with a set shift pattern. I only want to do these hours, is that possible? From what I've read I'm thinking no...

No chance whatsoever. That "set shift pattern" is a work of fiction, as you'll be expected to work far in excess of those hours week in, week out. Tesco now expect people to work full time, on part time contracts to avoid paying the benefits of full time work - holiday entitlement, sick pay etc. You'll be expected to cover all sorts of random shifts across the entire week, depending on the "requirements of the business". If you can genuinely only work 11hrs p/w, you're wasting your time.

Totot

It will depend on you, you just need to insist that you can do in certain time and max how many hours in your interview. If they give it to you, just have it in written contract, you can always say no when it is not suitable for you in interview or later on when you already start working.

londoner83

Vacancies should now be for a minimum of 16hrs a week with a extra 50% availability on top.

So you would need to give 24hrs availability and once schedule to workload  rolls out you would be scheduled to work a minimum 16hrs a week at any point in your availability window. There will for new employees be no such thing as set shifts each week.

lucgeo

 8-) And yet, just doing a quick check on vacancies for my area, many are 15 hours or under with set shift patterns and no mention of additional availability required.
Tesco should practice what they preach...open and honest, but then would they get anyone apply  ???
Live for today. Learn from yesterday.

Cairney39

So much just plain wrong information. If you are applying for Tesco, the 16th Oct is a key date. If you are starting before that, your core hours are fixed and there is no obligation to say you are flexible around any others. If employed after 16th oct, you will be asked to have core hours that could be moved with 3 weeks notice within a +50% hour window that you decide. If at interview, your +50% availability isn't desirable, another candidate with better availability may be selected. Your +50% availability isn't to make you work extra hours, only that your "core" hours may be moved within your availability. For example. Core hours are 5-10pm 2 days a week. You say you can work between 230-10pm 2 days a week, with 3 weeks notice, your 5 hour shift can be moved, one week it might be 230-730, the next 4-9.

For existing colleagues, this is all on colleague help. The article is very Long. There is a lot of routine that managers need to adhere to and there is lots of information to digest but it's worth a read

londoner83

The problem is many students don't want 16hr a week contracts and definitely don't have 24hrs of availability with their school/college timetables.

So in typical Tesco fashion management will bend the policy to suit them.......

RubyFox_xo

Thanks for all the replies. I am disabled so the amount of hours I can work per week is limited. I've been looking for a 12 hours per week or less contract for months. Some places will advertise hours and shift pattern that feels doable for me but all the interviews I've been to I've been told they need someone to be more flexible, so I wondered if Tesco was the same. I don't know whether it's worth going to the interview and being laughed at.

Cinderella

Quote from: Redshoes on 18-09-22, 07:02PM
Quote from: Cinderella on 16-09-22, 10:27PMThis is still happening in my store. Almost a year of arguing with them about scheduling me outside of my availability, without even asking if I am willing to do it. I actually changed my availability, adding in the day they kept scheduling me for, but limiting the times I could do - giving nine hours of availability on the day that was previously not available at all. But that's not good enough, apparently. They keep scheduling me outside of this, and telling me I'm not fit for the role if I can't do any shifts they want. They also keep saying that Part Time colleagues aren't required to be flexible, although employment law states that FT and PT employees should be subject to the same conditions and treatment. My availability is limited that particular day that I've added (just for them!) due to medical reasons, but even that isn't good enough. I'm seriously regretting increasing my availability at all, as it's just created even more drama!

I found on ourtesco a paragraph about being scheduled within the agreed availability window, but nothing about accepting the availability, following it for two months and then suddenly scheduling you wherever they want and saying you're not suitable when you object!

Is this as a colleague or as a shift leader.

If by colleague you mean a Customer Assistant, then it's neither of these as we don't have Shift Leaders in our store. My health condition has been known since the start of my employment almost a decade ago, and it was known when I was given the role I'm now in as of four years ago. I'm the only one holding this position expected to be flexible, the rest have fixed shifts

FuriousAnger

This is the great thing about Tesco now. So say you have applied for a job its like 16hours a week just on Friday and Saturday.
The job is advertised as so but they are now requesting you give 56 hours of availability over the entire week.
So we have drivers that its a second job only work couple of evenings but they then have to give that ridiculous amount of availability which would be outside of the hours they would do anyway lol
This company fully stopped being focused on people rather than money at least 10 to 15 years ago now.
Best thing any of us can do is go in do our shift and do as little as possible for your money. Just stick to rule and do your job no one else's.
All these stores will be there long after we go as we are now just numbers

oldfashionedplayer

you only have to give 1.5x your availability for new starters now, so if you join on a 16 hour, you'd only be expected to add another 8 hours somewhere else... and the minimum you'd join on now is 12 that can be offered... they are more focused on money true, but yeah don't throw your availability down as forever lol.


markwinters

New process , "moving availability windows" on the Tesco website- they can move you it takes time and effort which is why most store managers don't bother following it through, won't have a choice the way wage budgets are goin to be in new year

londoner83

They can attempt to move your hours but legally could become unstuck if you have a sound reason why they can't be moved.

Those people who won't work Friday nights as they like to go out could come unstuck but anyone with caring responsibilities/second jobs would have legitimate reasons why they wouldn't be able to change their hours.

With a business the size of Tesco, Tesco would be expected to accommodate reasonable requests for set shifts.

Truthtalker

No, you cannot be forced to work outside of your availability.
It's never as bad as you think

Bobmay

Quote from: londoner83 on 04-01-23, 02:38PMThey can attempt to move your hours but legally could become unstuck if you have a sound reason why they can't be moved.

Those people who won't work Friday nights as they like to go out could come unstuck but anyone with caring responsibilities/second jobs would have legitimate reasons why they wouldn't be able to change their hours.

With a business the size of Tesco, Tesco would be expected to accommodate reasonable requests for set shifts.

Tesco can't move your hour unless with your permission. K

Redshoes

Now is the time to decide if the hours you work are more important to you than the dept you work in. If you are unable to adjust hours as routines change in the dept you work in you will be put to work in another area that is under hours.
For example, I had to change things as I had main bank checkouts removed both end of the day. Therefore I did not need people on both checkouts and self service. In the morning it was only a mater of one colleague moving hours one hour later but the evening brought some forward by two hours. I worked with colleagues to resolve this.
The pfs and CSD also went single manned but I had people retiring so this process was made easier by that. It was still difficult. Some were offered hours in other areas but all chose to adapt to new way of working and stay in dept.
Cash office colleagues chose to take on other roles rather than have hours cut. They have interesting and varied jobs because of this and have kept the time of day that suits them.

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