Help I hate my job, false promises galore!

Glamazon

I've worked in the NHS for 5 years and have worked my way up from being a receptionist to a manager and I'm only 25. I've always loved working in a GP practice but my most recent job is hell, when taken on I was promised the next promotion because of my potential and experience but on going for the job it was given to someone else! Really annoyed because I took a drop in salary hoping for a better return on getting the promotion - I expressed my unhappiness at this and was assured I would get a pay review with 'expect a couple of grand'. When my review came through it was an extra £1,400 which hey is better than nothing but still not what had been said.

I then took on some additional work, managing two sites - I was told it would just be until they got someone else but they didn't try very hard (why pay 2 when you can get away with paying 1 I guess). anyway, after 3 months I said that I wanted to go back to the one site as both sites needed a full time manager and I was struggling. They agreed and my manager said that I could expect a bonus - 'somewhere in the region of a couple of grand' (sound familiar).
Anyway, today I have been offered £500 to put towards something to buy for my new house or have it in my wages! What a joke.
I feel really let down and to top it all, a member of staff who walked out 2 months ago and spread vicious rumours about me and said that I pushed her out of a job (she was 16 and had applied for the managers job which I got!) was given a job at another site to keep her sweet because she was a witness at a tribunal and the doctors I work with have decided that today they will scream and shout at me for no reason!
I am looking for other jobs but wondered

1. Is there anything I can do based on the fact that my manager said I would get a bigger salary/bonus but didn't?
2. We get additional holiday leave based on targets met at 1st April - I would be entitled to 4 days, if I left can they take this off me or can I use it against my notice?

I have to give 3 months notice which doesn't look good to a potential employer - I'm really good at my job and have made such a difference here but I feel really let down.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

therealdessie

1. No, you can't, unless it's a contractual right and since you work in the NHS I doubt it is. Sad but true, you got more than many public sector staff can hope to receive

2. You can't use leave against notice. You can take leave during your notice period but you can't drop your notice down by four days and offset it against your leave - unless by prior agreement with your manager, and again it might come down to contractual terms.

As for the three month term, it won't look bad - in fact it's a good thing because it shows that you're so indisposable they would need three months to get someone to replace you. Of course that means for pretty much any job you need to serve notice before you start interviewing, since as you know most employers will tolerate a maximum of four weeks wait. For you those additional two months will be spent marketing yourself and hitting all the agencies - or lining up temp/bank/contract work.

Glamazon

Thanks
it was worth asking! I agree with what you said about the notice period as they've been trying to recruit two other managers for the last 3 months with no joy (would help if they paid the going rate instead of about 6K less than the national average!) :eek:

Can't afford to hand my notice in first as I have a mortgage to pay and will be screwed if I don't find anything else! Thanks though:D

pinkshoes

therealdessie wrote: »

As for the three month term, it won't look bad - in fact it's a good thing because it shows that you're so indisposable they would need three months to get someone to replace you. Of course that means for pretty much any job you need to serve notice before you start interviewing, since as you know most employers will tolerate a maximum of four weeks wait. For you those additional two months will be spent marketing yourself and hitting all the agencies - or lining up temp/bank/contract work.

I agree that the 3 month notice period makes you look indisposible, but it's utter rubbish that most employers will tolerate a maximum of 4 weeks wait. I changed job recently on 3 months notice, and obviously didn't want to hand my notice in until I'd got something else, but no employer had any problem waiting 3 months whatsoever! They all understood!

Glamazon

That's worth knowing - thanks pinkshoes :j

therealdessie

pinkshoes wrote: »

I agree that the 3 month notice period makes you look indisposible, but it's utter rubbish that most employers will tolerate a maximum of 4 weeks wait. I changed job recently on 3 months notice, and obviously didn't want to hand my notice in until I'd got something else, but no employer had any problem waiting 3 months whatsoever! They all understood!

With respect, that's utter rubbish! The majority of staff are on a month's notice, which means the employer has an equal time frame to recruit someone to replace them - your experience might disprove this instance, but it's by no means the rule!

pinkshoes

therealdessie wrote: »

With respect, that's utter rubbish! The majority of staff are on a month's notice, which means the employer has an equal time frame to recruit someone to replace them - your experience might disprove this instance, but it's by no means the rule!

It depends what industry, but in many professional industries, it's all 3 months nowadays. I don't know anyone who gets 1 months notice!!

If the OP has to give 3 months, then chances are her new job will also have 3 months notice in that line of work.

Glamazon

pinkshoes you are right but thanks for the input therrealdessie. :beer:

Most NHS organisations have gone through Agenda for Change which offers more benefits such as standardised pay across the UK, more holidays, Occupational health etc however, anyone on a Band 6 or higher - generally managers or nurses and doctors have to give 3 months notice other clerical staff have to give 1 month. It was the same in my last job but because they were reorganising and had too many people and not enough jobs they were happy for me to leave after a month.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see if I get anything else and see what I can negotitiate with my current employer - unfortunately, they take faaaaaaaaaaar more than they give!

Zazen999

pinkshoes wrote: »

It depends what industry, but in many professional industries, it's all 3 months nowadays. I don't know anyone who gets 1 months notice!!

If the OP has to give 3 months, then chances are her new job will also have 3 months notice in that line of work.

I have to say i agree with you here; I've been on 3 months notice for 8 years now and have moved jobs 3 times with no worries. You just have to start looking earlier, and word your letter of resignation such that you get gardening leave - or suggest an earlier leave date to enable them to free up your position earlier.