Must I do weekend cover?

B

busysaver

Guest
Weekends had previously been covered by a driver if the boss contacted him with a call out from important customer until he was dismissed for gross misconduct. Our CEO then rang one of 3 technicians to ask if he would do cover for a fee knowing he would agree once cash was mentioned. Then it was assumed all 3 technicians would continue on a one weekend in 3 basis. No formal meeting has been held to discuss same and this has never been part of our work ( each has 6 years service )
I have had 2 separate weeks holidays early this year and there was a lot of moaning from other 2 about having extra cover in my absense. Service manager asked me this week if I would be doing cover as its my weekend on but I reminded her I was going on holiday, she then said that I was only booked for holidays from the Monday but I refused to even consider cover on this occasion - comments please.
 
Its an ad hoc agreement, and as cash in hand, your employer would not be taking official warning procedures .. would co workers not cover holidays for you, and you for them?

Can you say how long it has been in operation ?, as it maybe covered under "custom and practice" agreements ....

Your manager is being pedantic expecting you to work on weekend you started holiday, but ...

Did you inform company when seeking holiday, you would not be providing cover ?
 
Thanks for replies, this has only started this year, nothing about it in our contracts or terms etc. Nothing has been discussed, no meetings held, just one technician agreed over the phone to do cover and it was assumed all 3 would follow suit.( small Company ) This holiday thing has only just come up as I was first to take a weeks holiday and did not expect to be asked to cover weekends during holiday period which usually extends from the Friday night until the monday morning when you return to work. ( 2 weekends within this time )
 
one weekend in three

As far as I can see, in a rota with one weekend in three if someone wants two weekends free for a week's holiday, the other two colleagues will end up working every second weekend. And if one person takes two weeks holiday in summer the others get to work every second weekend for five weeks (their two weekends before and the three weekends during the holidays). Now if everyone wants two weeks holiday in summer, this would be pretty horrendous.
A three-week weekend rota with three people is pretty unsustainable. Needs discussion/planning now before things get really difficult - can manager not be included in weekend roster for example ?
 
Have you spoken to other employees involved?

If they agree, contact boss and get more flexible working arrangements, and ask when will system go back to normal

As Grenz says, 3 people working a 52 week rota is unfeasible, if someone is sick, holidays, bank holidays etc ...
 
Thank you all for your replies - unfortunately I work for a small company that is not very well run - might I come back to tmy main question .....
Must I do weekend cover ? Can I opt out before it becomes the norm ???
 
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