Working and Child Tax Credits

[bdsummer]

Hi Ladies,

Need some help. I've just gone back to work and I am contracted to 16 hours per week. Thing is, its late hours so nursery's aren't open, so I am having to rely on my parents to take LO. This is fine, but it means I can't work set shifts. They said they would be flexible and work round it (I'm giving them my availability of about 25-30hours to choose from) and I just noticed for the next two weeks I am only working 12 hours, then 16 then back to twelve. So I asked the new manager what was going on and he said at the end of the day its a business and my hours don't always suit there needs so they wont schedule me to work. Thing is im contracted to 16 hours and a single parent, surely he cant expect me to work 4 nights a week until 9-9.30 at night with a LO that goes to bed at half 7, should I not be entitled to some kind of flexibility like they promised? Now my problem is, do I phone and cancel my working tax credits if they arent always letting me work 16 hours.. majorly annoyed and confused!! Help much appreciated!!

 

[sugar_puff]

Surely if you are contracted for 16 hours they have to pay you for 16 hours?? And if you've given them 25-30 hours to choose from its not like you aren't trying to be flexible with them, would be a different story if you'd only given them 17 hours to choose from!!
Is there an HR person/department you can speak to? or another manager?
I'd try sorting it out with work first before you phone the tax credits people otherwise you could end up having to phone them back to sort it out again (and in my experience they don't like answering the phone, when you do finally get through they aren't very helpful, then you get a nice big phone bill at the end of the month!!)

 

[Kimboowee]

Take a 6 week average and give tax credits those hours. If they do start giving you the full 16 hours then obv change it.

I would speak to HR sounds like you've been more than flexible with it being evening and you being a single parent

 

[Dinah93]

Employers are legally obliged to consider any request for flexible working, but they are not obliged to grant this if they do not believe it can be accommodated within the business requirements. They do not have to pay you for hours you don't work. Unless your contract specifies the hours you work (such as 16 hours over 5 days spread between the hours of 9am and 3pm subject to business requirements) then they could ask you do do any hours they choose.

Can you find a second job for maybe one morning a week (our job centre website always seems to have jobs for a handful of hours as cashiers and cleaners etc) to guarantee always being over the 16 hours?