I accepted a role at the end of May and I still have no start date

rish
rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
in Work
I accepted a role at a private hospital near me around 24th May 2022. Almost every week I give them a call for the past month and I have not received a response to any messages left. I have signed a contract with them. It is a zero hour contract. Can they turn around and say I have no job anymore? I simply want a start date but no idea what is taking so long and no explanation. 

Comments

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,468 Championing
    I can imagine that'd feel really worrying @rish. I'm not 100% sure what the problem might be, or what your next steps should be. It seems really strange that they wouldn't have been in contact with you at all. I'm wondering whether ACAS might be able to help. Have you tried contacting them? 
    It is a zero hour contract. Can they turn around and say I have no job anymore?
    The ACAS website has some information about zero hour contracts that you might find helpful to read. 

    Do you have a copy of your contract?
  • rish
    rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
    Hi @Tori_Scope, thank you for the link to the info for the ACAS website. I will have a look. I do have a copy of the agreement, yes. I will contact them again by the end of this week otherwise I'm not sure what else to do other than look for other work.
  • JaneC_
    JaneC_ Online Community Member Posts: 21 Connected
    Hi @rish
    @woodbine might be right. It depends on the nature of work, it might be worth asking if to speak to someone about what you might expect in terms amount of work you may be offered. For example every week? How many hours a week/ month?

    I can go months without work, others have a steady trickle every week. 

    Hope you get some answers and better still some work
    kind wishes
    Jane
  • rish
    rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
    @woodbine and @JaneC_ Thanks for your replies. That thought did not occur to me.  I will ask them those questions. Better to know now that later I feel.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi there 

    I would suggest the delay could be down to pre employment checks like references and dbs checks will be required 

    Have you been asked to 0rmptovide any reference details or anything 

    The checks can take months to complete 

    Can you not speak to them for an update or why you are waiting 
  • rish
    rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
    Hi @janer1967
    Thanks for your response. 
    My references have come back and so has my DBS. I will chase it up soon. 

  • Karen7788
    Karen7788 Scope Member Posts: 596 Empowering
    Hi @rish
    I would send them a polite email and ask if you need to come in for an induction and also will they be setting up an account for you to start any eLearning, as you probably will need to do some training with it being a healthcare setting, i.e. data protection, infection control, safeguarding etc. 
  • rish
    rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
    Thank you @Karen7788. Yes I will ask about any induction or training that I can do from home. Or ask if there is any work I can do from home in the meantime to prepare myself.
  • Karen7788
    Karen7788 Scope Member Posts: 596 Empowering
    edited July 2022
    @rish
    I work in a healthcare setting myself and most have a platform that you can log into to complete any eLearning that you need to do with regard to your job role.
    I hope they get back to you soon with an update about your new job. Emailing them in a positive way by asking questions will highlight your ongoing interest in the job. 
  • rish
    rish Online Community Member Posts: 62 Contributor
    @Karen7788. I have 10 years admin experience in the NHS and also with Public Health. But this is very slightly different for me in that it is a private hospital. I assume the rules are mostly the same though. I will email them at the start of next week because I was told I would be likely starting early July. I am really keen on the role because it’s perfect for me, not just location wise but in terms of hours I can manage with my health condition.
  • Karen7788
    Karen7788 Scope Member Posts: 596 Empowering
    @rish
    I hope everything goes well for you and I’m sure that you’ll be hearing from them soon. Best wishes

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