Work is something that everyone needs to do. For many, it’s a case of earning enough money to survive. For others, their work is a passion and the money is almost a bonus. It certainly helps to be doing something you love!
In most cases, the employer-employee relationship works well. However, when you are already busy at work and you get asked to do extra, it can be frustrating. This leads many people to look at their employment contracts and wonder if they should be doing the extra work or if they should be getting paid extra for it.
The first thing to note is that not all people have a contract, it’s not a legal requirement. If you don’t have a contract but feel your employer is asking you to do things that you shouldn’t be doing or it’s simply too much, you’ll want to speak to an unfair dismissal employment lawyer. They can help you take the right steps and follow up if your employer decides to terminate after you’ve approached them.
The Contract Detail
Assuming you have a contract you’ll want to read it carefully. Many contracts are fairly open. For example, they will say something like “your duties include but are not limited to…”
This is a catch-all that effectively allows the employer to ask you to do anything. However, that doesn’t mean you should simply accept the extra payload. It is possible to get separate pay for it:
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If it is very different to your job
If the extra work isn’t specifically listed in your contract and it is very different to your usual work you have the right to question your suitability to do the work. At the very least you should be given additional training.
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When you already have too much work
If you’re already struggling to complete your work and your employer wants to add more work to your daily schedule, it is reasonable to question the authenticity of the work and whether you should be getting extra funds for it.
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It includes additional responsibility
The same applies when the additional work clearly involves more responsibility. In this instance, it is reasonable to request additional funds.
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You’re not qualified
You shouldn’t even be asked to do extra work if you’re not suitably qualified. This isn’t grounds to ask for extra funds, it is grounds to refuse to do the work.
You’ll need to arrange a meeting with your employer to express your concerns about the additional work and how you can complete everything. It’s advisable to illustrate your typical day to illustrate that you don’t have time to do extra work.
However, unless your contract states the specific duties you are employed for, you are at the mercy of your boss and what they believe you should be doing.
That’s why it pays to talk to an unfair dismissal lawyer first and know where you stand. It’s not an easy decision but it could be the right one.
