My employer is taking advantage of me

Question

I work as a chef for a small hotel group. I am contracted to work 48 hours a week, but end up doing 58. I also get an hour's pay deducted for my lunch break, but I rarely have one. My contract says that any time I do in addition to my contracted hours will be paid as overtime, but this is a joke because it doesn't happen. My list of complaints with this company is endless. Where do I stand? How can I stop my employer taking advantage of me?

What the expert says

Ian Hall, director of human resources, Aramark

!	-

It would be most unusual if your company did not have a grievance procedure. Check whether there is one and if so, raise your grievance in line with the procedure. If there is no grievance procedure, then ask for a formal meeting with your line manager to discuss some issues which are causing you concern. If that meeting is non-productive, seek a meeting with your line manager's boss.