HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:31:27 GMT

Another cost you really need to discuss is the hours both yourself and your clinical coach will need to spend doing college work during work time. They are significant, compulsory and are likely to become a major issue if not sorted out pretty quickly.

Sounds like a horrible situation for you. I am afraid that unless you have the full support of your boss and colleagues then you are likely to find college very tough. It is hard enough with their support!

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:37:46 GMT

Also bear in mind that you will need revision days, and if you are working the full 39hrs in your contract over 4 days rather than 5 then this does also imply that then college is shut (ie holidays/half term) then you would NOT need to go into work those days as you are already working your alloted time.

You definitely need to address all of the concerns you have and I agree that maybe some more structured help would be beneficial for you and the practice, have you contacted BVNA to see if they have someone who can help you?

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

r.d. — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:03:42 GMT

It would be worth your while checking the legalities, as our practice found out the hard way from the national minimum wage officer.

If you have been employed by the company for more than one year then you are entitled to get paid for any CPD days, training or college courses. So this includes day release programs as well as block week courses. Some students in our practice had to get back pay to make up for lack of payment. However if less than one year then they do not have to pay you for this time.....

Not sure if this applies to all of UK but certainly is the case in NI, worth checking and good luck!

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Alison Clare Hickman — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:50:07 GMT

Just a thought...could you get in touch with your ex HN and see if she would be willing to help / give you some guidance, maybe? She would know how your boss ticks too...!

Ali h

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

louise1987 — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:47:03 GMT

yep i think he maybe taking the pi** as we have had issues like this b4.

my contract just says 39hrs per week... this was given 12months ago tho.. so i guess he will want to do a new one now im at college.

i have contacted RCVS who are getting back to me... as per.

also my college tutor and TP co-ordinator(or watever she is) are on the case.

unfortunatly my HN who delt with all this for the other students previous has left so i have no 'backup/support' as my boss has taken over the training side of things... which he has no understanding of after my HN dealing with EVERYTHING for 15yrs. lol

I think he is just as confussed as me.

i guess i just need to get as much info as possible b4 i have a meeting with him.

many thanks

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Alison Clare Hickman — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:35:57 GMT

Defo get some advice on this, sounds as if he is taking the p*ss...(wasn't meant to rhyme but it does!)

He cannot reduce your salary if your Contract of Employment hasn't changed... you should have one...

You should also have a Written Statement of employment particulars, normally given within two months of the start of your employment (if your employment contract lasts a month or more). This would detail your hours of work...

As I said, I really think you should get some proper advice. Is there anyone else in the practice who can help back you up?

regards and good luck.

Ali h

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

louise1987 — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:17:57 GMT

hi.

as my boss only gave me 1 weeks notice to start college (2weeks ago) we havent had chance to sit down yet and disscuss this.

however... in my 'plee letter' to him i agreed if he gave me permition to start i would pay for all fees/exam costs/fuel/rcvs ect

i can however only afford to pay this if my wage doesnt alter. which after 3 weeks he now informs me it will! so frustrating as he hired me as a 'student vn' so i was only asking for what was promissed to me at my inerview.

12mnts later i fianally got him to send me thro gritted teeth and as he was saying i needed to prove myself b4 he would let me go i offerd to pay!

now it looks like i am going to go bankrupt! lol x

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Alison Clare Hickman — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:16:02 GMT

Yup, your boss doesn't have to pay you for your college day, that's his decision. I studied with several fellow students whose practices operated in this way. Basically you are attending college on a 'day off' so you cannot count the time towards your contracted hours of work.

I would mention tho that he cannot change (increase nor decrease) your total number of hours of work from those expressed in your Contract of Employment without a mutually agreed contract change. If you are a member of BVNA contact Nicky Ackerley, HR Support, for advice. If not, refer to www.gov.uk/browse/working/contract-working-hours which will explain things better than I can!

Ali h

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Claire McGowan — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:06:55 GMT

I'm not sure on the legality of the situation, but it might be useful if you sit down with your boss and try to iron out all the difficulties now, as I suspect they will just keep cropping up with the nature of the course. For example, who will pay the exam fees (which can be substantial), what about re-sits? Will they be paid for by you or your boss? Do you have to pay for all course fees throughout? What about travelling costs to college, and other costs? Are you able to cover these, as it can get very expensive (I speak from experience!). Personally I would be looking for a written agreement signed by both of you so that your boss can't keep making up the rules as you go along!

I am paid for my college days as if they were a normal working day, but I'm not sure what the precedence is.

Re: HELP WITH TRAINING PAY/HOURS!!

Laura James — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:59:47 GMT

I believe it is up to the individual practice whether they pay you for your college day or not, my practice used to but have now stopped paying students days in college, although they do pay petrol to and from the college.