Courses on days off - Part time vet

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Malcolm Ness — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:34:26 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Sorry, wrong metaphor. Substitute "Splitting hairs".[/quote][quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Nitpicking[/quote]

Either way, it's dermatology and therefore almost certainly worthy of a day off.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Tracey Kernaghan — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:27:15 GMT

Sarah, I am in a similar situation to you . Before I had my hours cut I was working part-time, 35-40 hours per week. (Monday, Wed morning, Thurs, Fri, every 2nd Sat morning and on call for in-patients one weekend in 4). I was paid a salary but was not given any time off in-lieu if I went on a course on a Tuesday or a weekend. Since the hours cut, I get paid on a daily basis so I now count a whole day course as a day worked on my time sheet but don't count evening courses. I think if I was still on a salary and my practice had kept insisting on courses on a Tuesday though, I would have probably asked for a day off in lieu. Hope this helps.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:43:12 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Nitpicking[/quote]

Sorry, wrong metaphor. Substitute "Splitting hairs".

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:42:02 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Wheeler"]The latest two, I've more or less been required to go. They've been training days for work the practice wants me to do. [/quote]

Then you should be compensated. Nitpicking about the definitions of full and part time is irrelevant.

But, as I say, amicable negotiation is what is needed.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:40:21 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Wheeler"]The latest two, I've more or less been required to go. They've been training days for work the practice wants me to do. [/quote]

Then you should be compensated. Nitpicking about the definitions of full and part time is irrelevant.

But, as I say, amicable negotiation is what is needed.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:04:13 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Wheeler"]I work four days, 8.30 till 6 plus one night on call. And I am part time. [/quote]

you work 36 hours (or 48 if you include on call hours.) You are full time.

I really hope you have the same employment conditons (CPD allowance etc) as the full time vets, and your employer isn't using this as a way of reducing their responsibilities......

What on earth do the full time vets work at your practice?

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Sarah Wheeler — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:58:39 GMT

I work four days, 8.30 till 6 plus one night on call, and yes, this is definitely considered part time. Is there any real difference in part time vs full time working though?

Thanks Gillian, I think I will ask for a day off in lieu for the training I did today. I'd settle for a half day though ;)

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:24:58 GMT

Just wondering - you aren't working 4 full days are you? Because that would be full time......

About your question - my assistants work 4 days a week and if I required them to attend a full day of training on their day off, I would give them an alternate day off that week. If it was a very rare occurrence and only for a couple of hours, I wouldn't.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Sarah Wheeler — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:35:31 GMT

The latest two, I've more or less been required to go. They've been training days for work the practice wants me to do. I have no problem with CPD days and the odd meeting on Wednesday, don't get me wrong, because I am choosing to go to those courses and meetings. The required days, though, I am just seeing what the general feeling is. I don't want to make a big deal of it, I'm just fishing!

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:29:42 GMT

I feel this sort of thing should be settled by amicable negotiation.

If you were choosing to do Wednesday courses, or just occasionally being sent on one as part of a paid CPD allowance, or choosing to do so at your own expense, I'd say you have to stand the inconvenience yourself; but if you are being required to do Wednesday courses, I think you should be given some compensation. I think any reasonable employer would see that and negotiate something: I know I would if I were your employer.

Have you spoken to your employer about it? Maybe they just haven't given it any thought.

Re: Courses on days off - Part time vet

Nixthevet — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:16:20 GMT

it all depends what is says in your contract.

They could argue that attending these meetings is all part of meeting the general requirements of your position- and a lot of veterinary contracts will state the hours of work as x,y and z...and 'other times as required to carry out your role'.

Have you spoken to your employer about it? If your days off are always Wednesdays then , if this is a problem they should at least consider having some of these meetings on other days of the week.