New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

RE: New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

Iain Richards — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 21:40:07 GMT

You need to use the BVA legal helpline - free to members.

RE: New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:43:15 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]If you are working Saturdays on top of your 4 days week then that should be included eg 1 Saturday in 4 is a 4.25day week. You are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday - so for 1 in 4 Saturdays that would be 23.8days[/quote]

Whoops yes, that is correct.

RE: New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

Utlendigur — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 10:13:59 GMT

As soon as you accept the job, a contract exists - doesn't need to be written down.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions

You have to be given a written statement of employment particulars within 2 months

https://www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/written-statement-of-employment-particulars

If you are working Saturdays on top of your 4 days week then that should be included eg 1 Saturday in 4 is a 4.25day week. You are entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday - so for 1 in 4 Saturdays that would be 23.8days

https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights

What discussion was there on the issue of CPD days and budget when you discussed the job? I wouldn't hold your breath hoping to get all (or any) CPD days on top of holiday though

RE: New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 00:30:16 GMT

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]am I correct in thinking that legally you have to have had a contract provided within 2-3 months of starting employment?[/quote]

No. There's no legal requirement to provide a contract at all. There's a legal requirement to give you a written statement of terms and conditions (which is effective whether you sign it or not) within some very short time (can't remember what time, but in effect it's as soon as you start).

On the other hand if you were told a contract would ensue, then that's a verbal contract to supply a contract....

Or rather, to propose a contract, because you don't have to agree a contract if you don't like it. Though employers do have several ways, some more subtle than others, of forcing you to sign a contract .

Why so anxious about a contract?

Michael's calculation of 22.5 days holiday is I think correct. There is a handy calculator provided by HMRC – just google statutory holiday calculator.

[quote user="An On MRCVS"]There is no true OOH but frequently you end up staying late in the evening/Saturday to do things rather than send them to the OOH provider. [/quote]

Well, that's life. I hope your salary reflects it.

The CPD days question is a knotty one. The question's come up on this forum more than once before. I'm not sure there's any legal rule at all. There certainly doesn't seem to be any generally accepted rule amongst the profession.

Personally, as an employer, if an employee had a CPD day I'd call that a day at work, as long as I was sure it was a hefty learning day and not just a jolly. But then if I had a agreement to allow an employee a certain amount of CPD time and a certain amount of CPD money, I'd expect also to direct that CPD.

RE: New job - teething problems, holidays/cpd days etc

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 23:11:13 GMT

The holiday issue is interesting and one I had often thought about with part time workers. If you only need to use 4 days worth of holiday to take a week off then I'd say it was fine. The requirement is 28 days so 4/5 should give you 22.5 days off. Otherwise you have an extra week and a half off!

We only give half days when a full week is worked by the person, so they lose that if they are off doing CPD or taking an odd days holiday. It's also lost if someone else is off. There needs to be bodies doing the work.

There is no requirement to give a contract but a written statement of employment is a requirement - sounds like that's what you had.