being on call over the festivities query

[elsparko]

am i right in thinking that being on call even with no callouts requires extra £?

and would this really count towards my holidays if im on call?

 

[telectrix]

agree. if you're on call, the you're not on holiday.a premium of at least double time should apply.

 

[snowhead]

It depends entirely what your employer set in your T's & C's when you started.

 

[elsparko]

agree. if you're on call, the you're not on holiday.a premium of at least double time should apply.

i will be getting double time on actual callouts, but what about the time/activities im giving up over the xmas/new year to be on call? my last boss used to give £250 a week to anyone willing to take the callouts over xmas, but there was 20 of us there and only 2 of us at the new place i work so not sure if its a legal obligation for employers to pay a "fee" for just being on call even if there are no actual callouts?

 

[snowhead]

The Emplyoer has no legal obligation to pay any extra.
It's up to you to negotiate if nothing is already set.

Do you cover standby the rest of the year?

 

[Pete999]

am i right in thinking that being on call even with no callouts requires extra £?

and would this really count towards my holidays if im on call?

Do you get an "on call allowance" whereby you are paid a retainer for the days you are on call, plus a min of 3 hours @ OT rates per call out?

 

[elsparko]

The Emplyoer has no legal obligation to pay any extra.
It's up to you to negotiate if nothing is already set.

Do you cover standby the rest of the year?

pretty much, my supervisor resigned (unqualified) and when i pass my FICA it is expected i take over as lead electrician, which suits me fine, im basically on call at the moment but rarely do we get them

 

[Pete999]

pretty much, my supervisor resigned (unqualified) and when i pass my FICA it is expected i take over as lead electrician, which suits me fine, im basically on call at the moment but rarely do we get them

Taking the wee wee aren't they, so does that men you get a phone allowance, or a phone provided? are you expected to be contactable at all times? if yes then you should be paid an on call allowance, if not then, Mr boss go sit on it, as the Fonz would say.

 

[Pete999]

Taking the wee wee aren't they, so does that men you get a phone allowance, or a phone provided? are you expected to be contactable at all times? if yes then you should be paid an on call allowance, if not then, Mr boss go sit on it, as the Fonz would say.

If you are expected to be on call 24/7 you must be tea total, how do you manage that one, if they aren't paying an allowance, no worries, go where you like have a drink, on the other hand if they are paying an allowance, you will need to be careful with your alcohol intake, zero tolerance.

 

[Octopus]

The Emplyoer has no legal obligation to pay any extra.
It's up to you to negotiate if nothing is already set.

Do you cover standby the rest of the year?

And if they expect you to be teetotal over the festive period for no money ................. then you know its time to find a new job..

 

[Pete999]

The Emplyoer has no legal obligation to pay any extra.
It's up to you to negotiate if nothing is already set.

Do you cover standby the rest of the year?

Agree SH but if part of your duties is to be on call, and you don't discuss this at the interview stage, then that will leave you with little option but to tow the line, if it was me, and there was nil allowance for on call, I would politely refuse, but if you are desperate for the job, then what do you do?

 

[7029 dave]

Do you get an "on call allowance" whereby you are paid a retainer for the days you are on call, plus a min of 3 hours @ OT rates per call out?

That's my procedure.

 

[Dozer 73]

A rough guide for you

 

[Pete999]

When I was working for the PSA they would send a driver to pick the on call guy up, trouble was you had to watch what you drank, especially if you were dealing with anything that required 100% concentration, like switching an HV ring circuit, so in my book an on call allowance would be expected. just saying.

 

[Dozer 73]

A rough guide for you

A rough guide for you

Strange I tried putting a picture on this thread and it’s disappeared

 

[Dozer 73]

A rough guide for you

 

[Dozer 73]

View attachment 39668

Just been asked today if I want to cover any shifts , good chance you would get called out because Christmas v busy on rail side , these sites could also be 30- 300 mile away

 

[elsparko]

Taking the wee wee aren't they, so does that men you get a phone allowance, or a phone provided? are you expected to be contactable at all times? if yes then you should be paid an on call allowance, if not then, Mr boss go sit on it, as the Fonz would say.

use my own phone, secretary takes the call then calls me on my own phone

 

[Pete999]

use my own phone, secretary takes the call then calls me on my own phone

What would be the consequences if you were drunk unable to drive, or in a different part of the country at your Parents house or something similar?

 

[elsparko]

View attachment 39668

is this legal requirements?

 

[Pete999]

Taking the wee wee aren't they, so does that men you get a phone allowance, or a phone provided? are you expected to be contactable at all times? if yes then you should be paid an on call allowance, if not then, Mr boss go sit on it, as the Fonz would say.

Why the dumb Al?

 

[Midwest]

You can discuss this all night, but it all depends on your contract when you entered into this employment, as snowhead said in #5. Same as your annual leave entitlement, hourly rate etc. Just because someone else in another company gets a more lucrative remuneration, doesn't mean your employer has to do the same.

 

[streamer]

I don't think a company with only two electricians should be trying to cover 24 hour on call over Christmas, or any other time of year.

 

[streamer]

pretty much, my supervisor resigned (unqualified) and when i pass my FICA it is expected i take over as lead electrician, which suits me fine, im basically on call at the moment but rarely do we get them

If you haven't passed your FICA you must still be an apprentice. I'm not sure you should be on call at all!

 

[Ian1981]

Companies will push the boundaries of the law when it comes to this kind of thing unless people stand up to them and fight their corner.
They will push to see what they can get but will back down when they are challenged.
That’s my experience anyway.

 

[elsparko]

If you haven't passed your FICA you must still be an apprentice. I'm not sure you should be on call at all!

ive been out in my own van since my 2nd year, i may only be an apprentice technically but more than able to do jobs on my own

out of 10ish 2nd years at my last place only me and another 2 2nd years got our own vans and a payrise above sjib guidelines

at my new place i suspect my supervisor didnt resign and was instead sacked as i will become lead electrician after my FICA in january

im by no means an expert at the different aspects of the trade but im pretty bloody good

it is embarrassing for the time served guys ive worked with to be put right by an "apprentice" though, or they continue to do things "their way" until the boss tells them to rip it out and start again

my workmanship speaks for itself.

 

[Midwest]

Companies will push the boundaries of the law when it comes to this kind of thing unless people stand up to them and fight their corner.
They will push to see what they can get but will back down when they are challenged.
That’s my experience anyway.

Push, law, fight & challenge. Sounds like the start of a trades union.