Hours

[tooj]

My Grandson worked on a farm for three years and a mate offered him another job but they didn't get enough work for both of them.
He's been desperate to work since and has now been offered a job at another farm wh ich
has a flat for living accommodation and he's started work there.
I worry for him because to get the accommodation the farmer expects him to work for a ' trial' month.Get this, for 14hours a day (five till seven) six days a week.
Being retired I might be out of touch with employment laws, but this seems to me quite over the top,and possibly illegal.
Comments and advce would be welcome.

[2sp_]

I've worked on farms before and the hours are notoriously long.

One place, I worked 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lived in with the boss' mother (a raging alcoholic) and was paid £60 a week...

I've never heard of anyone working for free (I'm assuming that's what you mean by a trial month?).

As far as I know Agricultural employment law is different than normal employment law. If your Grandson contacts DEFRA, they should be able to advise him of his legal rights.

[tooj]

Thanks for replying 2sp, I didn't realise that these conditions still applied. I think I'II have to keep out of it although I might contact DEFRA for him

[2sp_]

I know that there has been talk of scrapping the Agricultural Wages Board, but I'm not sure if that's gone ahead yet.

If he's getting accommodation thrown in that's also counted as pay.

[buildersmate]

Sounds like he's being exploited, particularly regarding number of hours worked.

Agricultural wages are low but the Minimum Wage still applies (you don't say how old he is).

Work your way through this little lot:
https://www.gov.uk/agricultural-workers-rights/overview

[tamborine]

Unfortunately, live-in jobs require 'on call'. Are there 'off season' times to compensate? ie after a harvest etc.

My nephew (live in venue) is on call 24/7 in entertainment/catering business that is just hotting up for spring/summer events. eg wedding begins at 8am (marquee, furniture, sound systems, food/premises/ground display safety etc etc.) Wedding over at 2-3am. Next day maybe school party visit - same preparation with festival finish.

If you want the job & agree contract, it soon becomes a way of life you can bend according to the employers dependancy.

[tooj]

Thanks people. Buildersmate I don't know how you do it but I've been reading the workers rights overview and I'm not so worried but it seems it depends on whether the farmer abides by these regs. I don't think his previous employer did (I'm told that he never had a contract over all that that time) He's 25 now and I find it difficult to help as it can be called interference when he and his mother are hardly on speaking terms

[tooj]

Re thecorrespondence last week about my Grandson.
He worked two days when he started, then the second week he did 80hours. He was told that was a week in hand . He,s had no pay to date and b een told that he will get his two days pay when he's done another week (Six am till 8pm). He's had no money since he started, he's not been eating, and he has no proper clothes for this weather. I,ve only just found out and I'll help out but surely this can't be right. What can I do?

[tamborine]

he could resign & take his employer to an Employment Tribunal if he feels exploited.