I have just started working for a tier one contractor on a major infrastructure project.

At the interview I asked what the working hours were. I was told the "working" hours of the project ie the hours machines could be operated in, NOT what I would be working.

I figured the usual 30 min each side of the working hours would suffice, but have ended up doing 1 - 1.5 hrs work prior to start up and another 0.5 - 1 hr after shutdown.

I made several phone calls to HR prior to accepting to clarify working hours and flexibility arrangements, but was given flimsy answers that were broken as soon as I started.

On average I have I worked just over 66 hrs per week (and this includes taking out all meal breaks).

I am angry at my own naivety, but also disappointed in the misrepresentation by HR and since I accepted a salary the extra hrs come at no benefit.

Suggestions people?

I accepted a job and similiar thing happened. People were driving to the jobs in their time when the job has stated hours. I also started to noticed that I wasn't being given all the information I needed to do my job correctly.

Had an interview last week and was given an offer and have another interview on Tuesday bring it on.

Smart people always move on from bad workplaces pretty quickly in my experience.

Ben 555 said...

Civil and earthworks - foreman level

And I have already done WA - love to come back but the family is very east centred and getting on

Guess I just got sucked in - now to get out

There are 100s (if not 1000s) of people doing FIFO out of the east into WA.

My last employer had his staff bluffed into thinking that time in lieu wasn't an option and overtime wouldn't be paid, and that they were required to work 40hrs (billable) per week (on min. award wage). When I started with him, I was told this is the way it works - even when, in the first week, there was a power outage so he sent everyone home & deducted a day's annual leave from everyone for it...or at least tried to! Being previously self-employed with staff for 14 years, I knew employee rights, so I got the wheels in motion, basically having a few quiet words with him using facts backed up by legislation & also letting him know that he would benefit from it.

I worked there for 2.5 years, and when I left (which was only last Friday), all staff were on a 38hr contract with overtime taken in lieu (which was negotiated between the boss & staff), salaries vary, but are between 25-40% above award, and profit-sharing has been introduced. All-up, a 'better' result, and the company (boss's wallet) is doing better than ever. We all got taken out for a 'corporate' lunch & the send-off was very humbling.

As of today, I'm now self (un) employed with little work ahead of me, back to where I was a few years ago, but with the experience I gained in the past few years I think I'll be ok.

Know the feeling.... Where abouts are you? (PM if you like) Im in the same boat, just as an engineer. If its a road job on the mid north coast of NSW then I dont see things getting any better, its been like this since day 1. If your out west working on "another" big road job from what Ive heard its just as bad out there.
Im currently working 630 through to 630-700 every weekday, then working either a full 12hr sat of a half day Sat. So yep 66hrs per week average.
Time in lieu??? hahaha Yeah apparenty we can get time in lieu if we work more than 12 Saturdays in a year, or over 55hrs per week. Submit a TIL form and you wont see a pay rise or promotion anytime soon, if you do actually put one in its looked down upon as "you need to harden up, this is contracting"...

My brother is on Barrow Island, 24 and owns (not mortgaged) 2 houses!

He was saying that hours and rosters in the mines are the new thing, that because their will be added pressure from QLD mines opening for staff and the majority of the population living in East that people will prefer to work in QLD due to less travel.

He told me that in North WA will probably have the best rosters soon as they will need to lure people across. The mines with bad rosters will have crap staff or the dregs the others didnt want. He reckons money is no longer a real tool to get staff as their is just not that much difference between $2500 to $2800 per week, it's already probably too much money.

Rosters.... They sound like they are going to get much better and make the FIFO option better for those with families pretty soon.