Unlawful Deduction of Wage

Question

I returned to work 4 weeks ago from maternity leave. Before I returned I had a meeting with my general manager about hours of work and told him i could no longer work full time and would like to work 20 hours per week. He wrote to me and offered me 20 hours per week. Since my return I have not been given the full 20 hours per week. Can anyone please help me as I want to write a letter of complaint & am unsure what to write to him. Is there any template letters out there?

Answer 1

This isn't 'unlawful deduction of wage'.  At most, it might involve an unlawful deduction of hours available, although I doubt even that.

Bu effectively turning down the original full time job, you have removed yourself from protection based on the maternity leave provisions of the law.  They do not have to keep you on at all.  The fact that they agreed to a part time position does not necessarily mean they have to agree to give you those hours every week, unless they have agreed specifically to do that.  

If labour relations says you have a case (having seen all the documentation, a phone call means very little), then continue to pursue it through them.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, since you are now not considered a full time worker, your employer can set the shifts and time of the shifts himself.  You can write a letter explaining that you had expected 20 hours/week and to date you have been receiving less.  Ask he politely why.  It may be that he is either not capable of find 20 hours extra each week.  Or finds that he really needs a full time worker.  

Lastly, do you have an employment contract which states that you will be given x hours per week ?

Answer 3

Go tell the union.

Answer 4

Your best 1st step would be to ask why you havent received the 20 hours work...do this face to face.  Otherwise You need to raise a grievence in writing. Just head it a Step One Grievience Letter and state that you wish to raise a grievence on the grounds that you have not been provided with 20 hours work per week. The employer will respond by arranging a meeting with you to discuss it further.  You may find some more info on the ACAS website