Bring your working hours up to date

The collective agreement concerning hotel, restaurant and leisure services was amended last year. According to the amendment, the average minimum working hours of a part-time employee must be adjusted on the basis of the actual hours worked during the previous year. If the hours worked exceed the amount specified in the employment contract, the contract must be updated to match the hours worked. The purpose is to ensure that the employment contract corresponds to the actual hours worked. The adjustment follow-up takes place from January to January, unless otherwise agreed at a workplace level. The follow-up must be performed within 2 months from the end of the follow-up period. In other words, a follow-up is due for most employees during this March at the latest.

Were you aware of this clause, restaurant worker Katja Huttunen?

Yes, I was. I signed an updated employment contract last week. As a result, my average minimum working hours increased from 80 hours to 100 hours over a three-week period.

How did the contract update process go?

It went well. First, I had a chat with my shop steward, who encouraged me to contact the restaurant group manager. At my request, the manager started to review my hours.

In what way has this clause influenced your life?

At present, it does not have any effect in terms of money, because I was already putting in fairly full days anyway. Still, it’s good that the contract reflects the number of hours that you have actually worked. It ensures that your hours won’t be reduced all of a sudden.

Collective Agreement for the Hotel, Restaurant and Leisure Industry, Clause 7.2.B: ‘If the factual average working hours are, without justified reason, permanently longer than those agreed in the employment contract, an agreement must be made to match the working hours with the factual hours.’