Sallaried Contracts, How Much Can They Expect?

[Thunderchild]

I am talking to a potential employer and they seem to want to put me on a salaried contract. Now I don't mind being flexible but are there any limits to what hours they can expect me to work?

[woofgang]

that depends on what the contract says

[Thunderchild]

Your hours are those required to carry out your duties to the satisfaction of the Company and as necessitated by the needs of the business. You will be expected to work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week, 9.00 am. to 5.30 pm. Monday to Friday, with a 60 minute unpaid break each day.

[woofgang]

from that quote no it looks like there are no limits.....it had better be a HECK of a salary

[TonyV]

Have they offered you a contract yet?

[Thunderchild]

No I am going for a final interview tomorrow. He has sent me a bundle of information. I don't know what form a salaried contract takes normally. Is it usual to have an upper limit?

[237SJ]

There must be an upper limit due to working time directive laws. Maybe by 'minimum' they are referring to the fact that overtime may be available

[woofgang]

it depends. My late DH didn't have an upper hours limit but there was a toil arrangement. He was a very senior manager with specialist skills and when he was needed out of hours it was because it was an emergency and only he could do what was needed....He was required to sign an agreement agreeing to not be bound by the working time directive, and his salary package was well good. My boss at work in the NHS had a similar contract although the remuneration wasn't as generous. I am not sure if you can dodge the working time directive now and of course some jobs have separate requirements around limiting working time for safety reasons.

[Hopkirk]

You could do with speaking to a current or former employee.
Some employers are reasonable, others take the mickey in a big way.

Perhaps Google the employers name and reviews.

[woofgang]

an adult can opt out of the working time directive https://www.hr-inform.co.uk/employment_law/working-time

[Thunderchild]

Well yes i also have a form about waiving that. Now those combined mean unlimited. But the other terms talk about times of no work and reduction of hours like a waged worker so i think it may just be a case of these are templates that have to be edited.

I can see the requirement for waiving the 48 hour a week limit if say i was to go on a business trip (the role is an R&D engineer), a couple of years ago i did just that with my current employer (got paid £50 to have a tow hour dinner with the customer while my collegue groaned about "only" being salaried

[Thunderchild]

@hopkirk
It's a tiny company, i would be working with 3 or 4 others so non of that is available. Directly above them is the MD/owner. He is a really nice chap but still I don't want this pulled out and used the wrong way some time down the line.

[woofgang]

I think the answer is to be honest at the interview and make sure you are totally happy with the WRITTEN t and c's before signing

[Thunderchild]

I think so.

[237SJ]

Employees can opt out of the working time directive (in certain industries) with their written consent. Have a look at the .Gov website (I can't do links at the moment due to being on the mobile) Otherwise, maybe contact ACAS for info

[Thunderchild]

https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours/weekly-maximum-working-hours-and-opting-out

[fiction-factory]

Every job I have had has required me to put in additional hours at some stage. Ask any teacher on here, for example. Many management jobs also require flexibility. You could explain to them your expectations- eg happy to do a maximum of 50 hours a week occasionally but not more than say 160 hours in any 4 week period, or something like that. They might say that is okay or may say forget it, but at least you'll know. You can always set out the salary you would need, and you can walk away if they won't give you enough.
If you want to give it a go though then try it for a couple of months.

[Thunderchild]

Well i am currently in work so a couple of months trial is going to be hard, as it is I have to do an 11 week notice period with my current employer. The best i can offer them is half days. As we are at the start of the year once i announce i am leaving I can't really go and take a years worth of holiday that has not yet been accrued.

[fiction-factory]

I'm confused now. Sorry if I have misunderstood. I thought you were considering whether to take a new job.

[Thunderchild]

Yes, I have a job and am looking to move. I can't really expect my current employer to have me off for 2 months and then find out what i am doing.

[fiction-factory]

I was not suggesting that. Either stay where you are or leave and take a gamble. People do it all the time with jobs- there are rarely any guarantees a new job will work out. Negotiate the best deal you can and then try it. The best that can happen is you do well, The worst is that you decide after a few months it's not for you, so you start looking again.