iVillage logo
Search iVillage
Home & Garden
Food & Drink
Work & Money
Travel
Beauty & Fashion
Diet & Fitness
Health
Entertainment
Relationships
Pregnancy
Parenting
Horoscopes
Prepare for party season
30 top frocks
Police racism allegations
Do we need an inquiry?
Perfect sex positions
Be adventurous in bed
Work & Money 
  |  Experts  |  Work- Life Balance - (Guest Expert)  |  Do I have to work on my day off?
Advertisement
Topics
Succeeding & Surviving
Finding a Job
Community
Computers and Internet
Money
Office Culture
Starting a business
Work-Life Balance
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
Is debt affecting you?
Avoid identity fraud
Top tips from Peter Jones
Are you an Xmas scrooge?
5 thrifty savings tips
Beat the credit crunch
Interview howlers
Celebrate Hallowe'en
How frugal are you?
Competitions
Special offers
Newsletters
Sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions

Do I have to work on my day off?

by Work Rights Expert, Rachel Lewis

question
I job share as a teacher for three days a week. My boss has told me he needs me to come in on one of my days off to attend staff meetings (about one-two hours long). This gives me a problem with childcare, as well as eating into my day off. What are my rights?
Kath

answer
Hi Kath
I can understand how going to work on your day off is getting you down. Legally, you are not obliged to work outside your contracted hours (as long as your contract does not contain a clause requiring flexibility). If you refuse to attend the staff meetings on this basis then you should not be penalised. However, this may not create the most harmonious working environment.

The best thing to do would be to explain your situation to your boss and see if a compromise can be reached. Is it possible for you to work different days so that you would be around for the meeting or can the staff meeting be moved to a different day?
Good luck.

Live Q&A on Ask The Expert
Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon