Resigning- a few questions.

Emily1990_2

Rockporkchop wrote: »

Unfortunately I couldn't agree more. The camaraderie in my place disappeared a long time ago, along with the luncheon vouchers and the Christmas party. I can't remember when I last had a proper lunch break. Working for a living really sucks nowadays, much more than it used to.

That is sad, do you love your job though? Or is it a case of needs must?

Emily1990_2

SandC wrote: »

Hi there, agree with the others. I've never heard of an employer going after an employee for agency fees. It's up the employer how they recruit and if they choose to use an agency they agree to their terms. However, there is often a clause that if the employee is not suitable either way and leaves within a certain time the fee is part or fully refunded. Don't worry about that aspect.

As for the job situation itself, well it does sound like a particularly horrid atmosphere and my opinion is actually get out sooner rather than later - you do take a risk in that the next place might be just the same, but I think you'd be unlucky. Do bear in mind the industry you are in - there are often ways of working and attitude that can spread across the whole industry and most companies within that can work in very similar ways. Something to think about for the future.

The last point about the agency - well, I got my last job through an agency and they couldn't be nicer to me. A couple of years later when I wanted to move on I contacted them to see if they had anything suitable or let me know if something came up and I never heard from them again. When you are in a position to make them money they will be lovely to you - if you go to them wanting their help at a later date they might not be so forthcoming. Essentially they will be on the side of the employer and not the worker as that's where the money comes from - unless like I said it's when you've been chosen for the position and they want you to give them a good impression.

Not all agencies are like that, but that has been my experience. However, there are plenty of them out there for temp work so I wouldn't let that put you off.

Hi SandC,

I wouldn't be staying in this industry; I didn't have ambitions to get into it in the first place, I just got put forward for it by the agency and got it. In retrospect I maybe should have taken a bit more time to look at different jobs before choosing, but I got offered it and it seemed dumb to turn it down given talk of the 'economic climate' (I hate that phrase).

It seems strange that the agency didn't get back to you when you were looking for another job as surely that would have made money for them? My agency are very good and I'm sure they wouldn't just not get back to me, but I'm worried they may just refuse to give me temping work on the basis that I left my employment which they got me. I am going to call them on Monday, I'm going to think about this more at the weekend before making a final decision (although I think my mind is made up tbh).

Thanks for the advice

DVardysShadow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

... To be honest, your complaints about this job seem pretty minimal and nothing more than a welcome to the real world; very few people have their lunch breaks free of interruption and staying after hours is also pretty normal, particularly for a young graduate hoping to build a career.

But to employ a young graduate for less than NMW as a start to a career? Nah! This lot are not putting in even a pretence of commitment to her.

DVardysShadow

Emily1990 wrote: »

I don't think my complaints are minimal at all, not when I was in tears last night speaking to my boyfriend about it, and when work colleagues not only say how crap they get treated but also how badly they've noticed me being treated. I should also add that I get the impression that staff turnover is high at the company, because it's so crap!

As far as I'm concerned, for the pittance they pay me, I should not be interrupted on my UNPAID lunch break for things which could have waited until I had returned not even 10 minutes later.

... I don't think being told off for not doing things nobody told me about (as they have not trained me adequately), being spoken to like I'm a piece of dirt on the ground, being told off for merely being polite and answering somebody's question while on the phone to them, being expected to know EVERYTHING without aforementioned training, etc are 'minimal' complaints. As I say, even colleagues have commented on how nasty my boss is being to me.

In any case, it's not just these issues above but there are a few other problems and I am feeling very unhappy and very stressed at the moment; not something I need when I am about to embark upon the law conversion. I don't see myself continuing in this industry or line of work and therefore to go to work is very demoralising!

You are right here. As you have decided to go, relax, don't respect their authority beyond the extent to which they do have authority, enjoy a day or 2 of going home on time and telling them not to bother you on your break and generally standing up for yourself, if they speak to you out of turn. Once you have decided to go, they have no more power. After that, just leave.

Oldernotwiser

Emily1990 wrote: »

I won't be seeking JSA as I have some money in the bank, and I wouldn't be seeking another permanent job but would temp if I left and do voluntary work, which is more flexible for my course

It's always a shame to see your life savings disappear for no good reason, but that's your choice.

Thank you for explaining how the workplace operates; if I hadn't been working for more than 30 years, I might not have known that.:rolleyes:

Emily1990_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It's always a shame to see your life savings disappear for no good reason, but that's your choice.

Thank you for explaining how the workplace operates; if I hadn't been working for more than 30 years, I might not have known that.:rolleyes:

I didn't mean to be patronising, sorry if that's how it came across, I was merely explaining what I would do otherwise.

They aren't life savings, it's inheritance and there's plenty of it, and I've been told it's there should I ever want/need it.

andygb

Emily, you probably will not like this, but here goes. I took my first job, not because it was something I had always wanted to do, but because it was going to enable me to be more independent, to experience life, to learn about work, and most importantly to get paid - MONEY.
I was there for ten years, and learnt a lot about people, and ultimately had good times and bad times.
This is your first job, and you have only been there for eight weeks, and nothing which you have described makes it sound much different to any other job nowadays. You do of course have your "inheritance" to fall back on, but if you start digging into it now, then it will not be there when you really need it.
I would suggest staying in this job, get your head down and remain calm. What is any other potential employer going to think, particularly in this economic climate, if you cannot stay in your first job for more than a couple of months?

Emily1990_2

andygb wrote: »

Emily, you probably will not like this, but here goes. I took my first job, not because it was something I had always wanted to do, but because it was going to enable me to be more independent, to experience life, to learn about work, and most importantly to get paid - MONEY.
I was there for ten years, and learnt a lot about people, and ultimately had good times and bad times.
This is your first job, and you have only been there for eight weeks, and nothing which you have described makes it sound much different to any other job nowadays. You do of course have your "inheritance" to fall back on, but if you start digging into it now, then it will not be there when you really need it.
I would suggest staying in this job, get your head down and remain calm. What is any other potential employer going to think, particularly in this economic climate, if you cannot stay in your first job for more than a couple of months?

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your viewpoint and I certainly see where you are coming from. I got this job as I was looking for a career and training, which I was promised, and neither of which now seem to be happening/likely to happen. I feel I was misled a lot. I would certainly hope to continue working after I quit in temporary part time roles, so all the things like money etc would still be coming my way, it would just be a hell of a lot less stressful and thus make my life easier (and increases my chances of success on my course). (I do feel immensely stressed at the moment, to the extent that I think it's having an impact on my health, I'm so unhappy).

I must say I have only had an experience like this once before in an employment situation and that was in a summer camp in the United States. No other job I have had has been this awful! And, as I've said before, when I've mentioned the problems I've had to my friends and boyfriend in employment they have all been shocked. There's more to it than what's written on here but I certainly don't wish to divulge in case I reveal my identity somehow!

Considering I'm back in education and have only been employed 8 weeks it would be reasonable for me not to even mention it on my CV, or to turn it into a positive experience which led me to seriously rethink my career aspirations and taught me the importance of making the correct decisions.

Thanks for your advice, but I feel for me leaving is going to be the best option both for me (I don't want to be stuck in this job I hate, hating every second of my life!) and my employer (better to leave now than in 6 months when they can't get any refund on my agency fees and they have invested more in me).

andygb

If you have made your mind up, then I wish you the very best of luck for the future.

Andy

alunharford

It's rather machiavellian but personally I'd consider reporting them for not paying national minimum wage before I resigned.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/complaint.htm

That way, if anybody asks why you left you can simply say "I wanted to be paid more than the minimum wage". If anybody gets a bad reference from him you can say "he was happy to employ me until I asked to be paid the minimum wage".

As a small business owner (who admittedly doesn't employ anybody else) competitors who don't pay the minimum wage would really get on my nerves - it's not a fair way of competing in the marketplace.