Argos Christmas Temp

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Original post

by pepsicherry

I current work at argos as a christmas temp, signing up to doing 6 hours a week, 3 hours on two different days, recently, my manager is increasing my hours gradually however I didnt consent to an hours increase, if i wanted more hours I wouldve applied somewhere guaranteeing those higher hour . The job itself aswell is causing me a significant amount of mental distress (I'm neurodivergent) and is affecting my in school performance due to stress and work commitments, The notice hand in is only a week notice and I would only have to do 2 more shifts If I handed it in, I'm honestly worried for the christmas season becauee im scheduled for 8 hour shifts back to back despite my contract being 6 hours!! please help!

Why don’t you get a doctors note or doctors letter explaining the mental distress it’s causing and that your neurodivergent. Whilst also explaining it’s best for you to work the 6 hours a week that your contract originally stated.

Reply 2

21

You just need to speak to you manager. If your contract says 6hrs/week or 2 x 3hrs then just say you can't commit to any more than that currently.

Reply 3

21

I work in retail too and yeah Christmas period is always super busy and it's pretty much guaranteed you'll be rota'd in for more than your basic hours 'as the business requires', it almost certainly says this in your contact in some form.

It's worth talking to them but I wouldn't be entirely surprised if there wasn't a lot they were willing or able to do. If doing this for just 6 hours a week is causing you significant mental distress and impact at school then I very much doubt this job will work out for you, again there is likely little they are able or willing to do in terms of making adjustments to the basic job or duties for you, esp at this time or year.

What is it about the job/place/people that's really getting to you?

Reply 4

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Why don’t you get a doctors note or doctors letter explaining the mental distress it’s causing and that your neurodivergent. Whilst also explaining it’s best for you to work the 6 hours a week that your contract originally stated.

Good chance they would let you go tbh. Even if the OP gets to stay on 6 hours it doesn't solve their problem. If you turn up with a doctors note saying that the tasks you've been hired to do are making you ill and there's no other roles for you to jump to then one way or another that contract isn't going to continue, is it?

Reply 5

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Original post

by StriderHort

Good chance they would let you go tbh. Even if the OP gets to stay on 6 hours it doesn't solve their problem. If you turn up with a doctors note saying that the tasks you've been hired to do are making you ill and there's no other roles for you to jump to then one way or another that contract isn't going to continue, is it?

This basically. Haven't worked at Argos but don't imagine there's much scope for reasonable adjustments. Surely you're either serving a customer or fetching from the back and that's about it?

Reply 6

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Original post

by Admit-One

This basically. Haven't worked at Argos but don't imagine there's much scope for reasonable adjustments. Surely you're either serving a customer or fetching from the back and that's about it?

I'd imagine so, they'll have back office home delivery prep and logistics roles which will still be much the same. They will also have datacentre/customer care roles but likely not ones you would slot a temp into and they're likely based out of one specific place.

Reply 7

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Original post

by StriderHort

Good chance they would let you go tbh. Even if the OP gets to stay on 6 hours it doesn't solve their problem. If you turn up with a doctors note saying that the tasks you've been hired to do are making you ill and there's no other roles for you to jump to then one way or another that contract isn't going to continue, is it?

Probably will continue. Employer would still have to abide and follow it. There’s always the union to represent the employee if at any point they got into difficulties.

Reply 8

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Probably will continue. Employer would still have to abide and follow it. There’s always the union to represent the employee if at any point they got into difficulties.

And what do you think the likelihood of a school age Xmas temp doing 6hrs a week being a union member is?

Reply 9

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Original post

by Admit-One

And what do you think the likelihood of a school age Xmas temp doing 6hrs a week being a union member is?

Where in the op post mentions anything about school age. And you can just go to your employer asking for the colleague within the company that works as a union rep for the store…

Reply 10

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Where in the op post mentions anything about school age. And you can just go to your employer asking for the colleague within the company that works as a union rep for the store…

The bit where they said "is affecting my in school performance".

You can ask anyone for advice, but they're not going to be an advocate for you unless you are a paid up union member.

Reply 11

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Probably will continue. Employer would still have to abide and follow it. There’s always the union to represent the employee if at any point they got into difficulties.

Christmas and other temp contracts can generally be ended at any time, they aren't sacking you or accusing you of anything, just saying they no longer need or want your services and there is generally nothing you can do about it.

Coming in with a note saying you can't do a core part of your job doesn't mean they need to find another job for you, they can abide by the GP letter etc by simply ending your contract.

Reply 12

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Why don’t you get a doctors note or doctors letter explaining the mental distress it’s causing and that your neurodivergent. Whilst also explaining it’s best for you to work the 6 hours a week that your contract originally stated.

Sorry you given out wrong I'm as that's the last thing you ever do when you are actually only a temporary staff member in any retail setting.

You should perhaps talk to the manager first and see what they say and if not successful with the outcome you want then you decide either to leave or try to account these hours you are given.
Temporary staff normally get messed around basically to work any hours that management give them.

If I correctly remember don't you work in retail - Sainsbury's ( which actually owns Argos).

Reply 13

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Original post

by StriderHort

Christmas and other temp contracts can generally be ended at any time, they aren't sacking you or accusing you of anything, just saying they no longer need or want your services and there is generally nothing you can do about it.
Coming in with a note saying you can't do a core part of your job doesn't mean they need to find another job for you, they can abide by the GP letter etc by simply ending your contract.

I actually at with what striderhort said to you.
Temporary contact means exactly that - it can be terminal at any time and there's basically nothing you can do. Obviously there's slight chance you might be kept on permanently but that's up-to the manger after your temporary contact is almost done.

I also work in retail part-time

Reply 14

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Original post

by Mohammed_2000

Where in the op post mentions anything about school age. And you can just go to your employer asking for the colleague within the company that works as a union rep for the store…

If you read the law on working it's state's if I remember correctly that anyone over the age of 16 can legally work up to full-time hours. So school age does not come into it there but usually you'll need approval from both your parents and school to be able to work in any employment under 16 , I needed exactly that permission when I started working in boots at just over 15 ( yes that actually employs young people a5 that age).

GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk
Child employment: Minimum ages children can work

Reply 15

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Original post

by Littleemma98

If you read the law on working it's state's if I remember correctly that anyone over the age of 16 can legally work up to full-time hours. So school age does not come into it there but usually you'll need approval from both your parents and school to be able to work in any employment under 16 , I needed exactly that permission when I started working in boots at just over 15 ( yes that actually employs young people a5 that age).
GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk
Child employment: Minimum ages children can work

What’s the youngest Argos starts recruiting from is it not 17/18

Reply 16