Store Manager refusing sick pay 'at his discretion' Please help?

Kzlnd

jan59 wrote:

Stressedout - can you clarify what you have written above? Unless you are directly quoting this company's (did I see it mentioned as Currys?) Ts&Cs, then 'fraid this is not a correct statement. There is no statutory (i.e. legal) right to Company sick pay, only SSP. However, this is normally an 'express term' i.e. written into a contract or company handbook. This should say whether Company sick pay is discretionary or not. I don't have access to Curry's Ts and C's, so can't say for definite whether Company Sick Pay is discretionary or not. Best people to contact are HR/Personnel, who would be able to advise both manager and employee.

The company handbook does not state that company sick pay is at the discretion of the store manager, nor does it imply this.. unless I've missed it. (I have read it over three times though, glasses for me if it's there :rotfl: )
There are certain terms which need to be fulfilled in order to receive it, ie working so many days to receive such and such allowance etc - these are fulfilled.

Wirenth

When I worked at M&S, I was denied sick pay because I did not work enough hours. As others have stated, however, I was still entitled to SSP and the personnel department were kind enough to give me pre-filled out forms for it. :cool:

Good luck to you and your boyfriend.

stressedoutmum

Well in that case I would go above his head but I would tell him first to give him the opportunity to redeem himself. Stay absolutely calm because if he cheeses you off and you want to punch him DONT - you'll be sacked straight away and banned from any benefits money for 26 weeks! If you have a personnel manager in your store perhaps she could talk to him about how the staff feel - this is what I did but at the time to no avail. Too many managers think staff will be afraid to stand up to them. I went through the correct channels of reporting as our company procedures were breached right left and centre but was ignored so eventually went to the regional manager. The store manager was sent to another store within one week (miles away from his home so eventually he handed his notice in). Good luck and hope you feel better.

Life_On_Mars

DTI Employment Relations - unlawful deductions from wages
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/pay/contracts-pl810b.htm

Acas - Helpline numbers
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=454

I'd advise to stay calm, get a witness to what the manager says and talk to Acas first, if possible.

Kzlnd

stressedoutmum wrote:

Well in that case I would go above his head but I would tell him first to give him the opportunity to redeem himself. Stay absolutely calm because if he cheeses you off and you want to punch him DONT - you'll be sacked straight away and banned from any benefits money for 26 weeks! :eek: If you have a personnel manager in your store perhaps she could talk to him about how the staff feel - this is what I did but at the time to no avail. Too many managers think staff will be afraid to stand up to them. I went through the correct channels of reporting as our company procedures were breached right left and centre but was ignored so eventually went to the regional manager. The store manager was sent to another store within one week (miles away from his home so eventually he handed his notice in). Good luck and hope you feel better.

My boyf did say he would speak with personnel regarding the matter so the manager is aware, his reply was 'you do that'.
No personnel manager in the store, can't get contact numbers so suggested to him as someone did here to contact a main number and ask them.

I'll mention speaking to the regional manager? aswell as personnel, I think he decided he was again going to let the manager know this is his intention and see what his second response is to that.
(It wouldn't be the first time a manager there has been in a scuffle with an employee :eek: ) I told the boyf(!) :rotfl: he should not even think about doing such a thing as it's not in anyone's interest, certainly not his own to do that.

I do hope he keeps calm about things, I expect this will be hard though - there is only so much rubbish someone can take before they refuse to put up with it any longer
Daily/Hourly moaning for not plugging insurance enough.. and then not being acknowledged when the store has very good sales figures, isn't good.. Would have me thinking, what's the point?

There are so many procedures, policies, rules that are being broken and ignored there by managers, I think it would do the store good if these were highlighted. Would probably make the staff much happier.


Thanks LOM, I'm reading over the DTI and Acas websites now, will suggest he call Acas in the morning

Debt_Free_Chick

Kzlnd wrote:

No personnel manager in the store, can't get contact numbers so suggested to him as someone did here to contact a main number and ask them.

Have you looked on the right website for the HR phone numbers? You want the website for the Dixons Retail Group, not Curry's stores.

I would start with the phone number for Retail Resourcing here

HTH

p.s. many retailers work in this way. The Store Manager is, effectively, responsible for implementing the HR policies. But most managers don't know one end of the HR policy from the other - so they make it up as they go along and hope you won't check :eek:

Kzlnd

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Have you looked on the right website for the HR phone numbers? You want the website for the Dixons Retail Group, not Curry's stores.

I would start with the phone number for Retail Resourcing here

HTH

p.s. many retailers work in this way. The Store Manager is, effectively, responsible for implementing the HR policies. But most managers don't know one end of the HR policy from the other - so they make it up as they go along and hope you won't check :eek:

Thanks. Yeah I have, checked DSG website first and the only number I spied was this one..

Head office - 01727 202122 and ask for HR shared services

So that's the one he'll start with.

I think the manager is just trying it on! Bullying so that things go his way, someone else called in sick on the second day my boyf was off so I assume this didn't make him happy and so, venting his annoyances(Sp?) at my boyf.. Not acceptable!
If it is the case that store managers are allowed to set their own agendas then fine, however, I don't think he has reason not to allow sick pay.

zzzLazyDaisy

If you are quite sure that he is entitled to sick pay under the terms of his contract, then he has two avenues of redress.

The first is to invoke the grievance procedure. The procedure will be set out in the employee handbook (if it is not, this is because it is an old version, and he should ask for an up to date copy). The first stage of the grievance procedure will probably be to take the matter up with his immediate manager, but if the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, he should then have the right to have the grievance heard by the manager's superior. This should sort it out, as the manager is unlikely to want to have his boss involved.

The alternative is to make a claim to an employment tribunal. This can be done online and there is no fee. He has to put down an address for his employer, and he should put the head office address. This will ensure that the dispute comes to the attention of someone higher up the food chain, who hopefully will come down on the manager like a ton of bricks.

The problem is that going head to head with his manager in this way is not going to make him flavour of the month. The manager sounds like a bully, and is likely to find other ways of getting back at him.

Good luck to him though.

hjb123

Dont let them get away with it! Too many big retailers try and run their employees down and tell them they are not entitled to things when they are!

As for going to the hospital on the first day that is pretty daft! You are allowed to self certify for the first 5 days. This manager sounds a right pratt! Is your partner likely to be back at work soon or do you think he will be off for a while longer?

Keep us updated!

Kzlnd

Agreed hjb and yes, my thinking too - pratt indeed! :rolleyes:
Boyf will be going back to work today, do hope he keeps his cool!
Thanks all for your comments :T I guess I'll update later!