Help I've been sacked

terra_ferma

Retail is one of the worse sectors in terms of workers rights.
The way you have been treated is appalling (and obviously illegal!).

In my line of work it is unimaginable to treat people this way (and you would be surprised how many people still find reasons to complain even when they are treated fairly...).

I would speak to ACAS although I don't know if there is much you can do.
Maybe breach of contract because your were contracted to work from 9, and they dismissed you without giving the appropriate notice (through small claim court perhaps? You would probably be entitled to the notice period and nothing more anyway)?

Good luck with finding another job!

eyeinthesky

I would guess your employer wants to be sure that you are ready to start work on time, I know you said that you were ready to start on the bell, but it is they who need to be sure that your mind is clear of anything that may have happened on the way to work. Pre-positioning is also a chance to give you any last minute information about your work for the day. Perhaps they felt they were "nipping trouble in the bud", because you had managed to be "late", 3 times in just four weeks, and had been spoken to about this already.

terra_ferma

eyeinthesky wrote: »

I would guess your employer wants to be sure that you are ready to start work on time, I know you said that you were ready to start on the bell, but it is they who need to be sure that your mind is clear of anything that may have happened on the way to work. Pre-positioning is also a chance to give you any last minute information about your work for the day. Perhaps they felt they were "nipping trouble in the bud", because you had managed to be "late", 3 times in just four weeks, and had been spoken to about this already.

Clear your mind?
Pre-positioning?
Giving last minute information?

To me this sounds like working time that should be paid.
In other jobs you get to work on the dot, you go to the loo, then make yourself a cup of tea, say hello to colleagues and ask them how their weekend/evening etc was, THEN you start work...
(I don't, just to be clear, don't have time for all that)

A good balance would be somewhere in the middle, wouldn't be?

DVardysShadow

eyeinthesky wrote: »

I would guess your employer wants to be sure that you are ready to start work on time, I know you said that you were ready to start on the bell, but it is they who need to be sure that your mind is clear of anything that may have happened on the way to work. Pre-positioning is also a chance to give you any last minute information about your work for the day. Perhaps they felt they were "nipping trouble in the bud", because you had managed to be "late", 3 times in just four weeks, and had been spoken to about this already.

That may be their thinking, but this is totally unacceptable. If the requirement is to be ready for work at 0900, then it is only acceptable to dismiss for not being ready at 0900, not for turning up at 0855. If they want people to turn up at 0850, then they must make this explicit before sacking.

motorguy

terra_ferma wrote: »

Clear your mind?
Pre-positioning?
Giving last minute information?

To me this sounds like working time that should be paid.
In other jobs you get to work on the dot, you go to the loo, then make yourself a cup of tea, say hello to colleagues and ask them how their weekend/evening etc was, THEN you start work...
(I don't, just to be clear, don't have time for all that)

A good balance would be somewhere in the middle, wouldn't be?

Yup, totally agree, BUT the other side of that is that in retail if you're not at your position when doors open, then you could potentially be missing a customer OR setting a bad impression for customers and colleagues.

Office work does tend to be different - there is often a degree of flexibility, though in fairness i have pulled people who work for me who have come in sat down, then went for a coffee and a chat before starting work.

Also, i dont think being in 10 mins before you start is unreasonable - time to take your coat off etc before an 0900 kick off.

terra_ferma

pgilc1 wrote: »

Yup, totally agree, BUT the other side of that is that in retail if you're not at your position when doors open, then you could potentially be missing a customer OR setting a bad impression for customers and colleagues.

Office work does tend to be different - there is often a degree of flexibility, though in fairness i have pulled people who work for me who have come in sat down, then went for a coffee and a chat before starting work.

Also, i dont think being in 10 mins before you start is unreasonable - time to take your coat off etc before an 0900 kick off.

I think a strict policy about being at your position by 9am on the dot or face disciplinary would have the same effect and probably be clearer and legal.

andygb

When I was working, I always got into work around half an hour earlier, in order to get a cuppa and have a bite to eat. It also meant that I started work between 15 minutes and half an hour before everyone else. Unfortunately, one day my employer pulled me up for "being late" (snow, trains not running properly), despite other people coming in at the same time as me.
So, from that day on, I did the same as the rest, came in on time, had my cuppa and a bite to eat, and started work around 15 minutes late.
I agree with the OP, and think that they have been very unfortunate to be sacked, for coming in on time, particularly if you are being paid by the hour.
Unfortunately the current labour laws mean that there is unlikely to be a satisfactory outcome to this.

Oldernotwiser

terra_ferma wrote: »

In other jobs you get to work on the dot, you go to the loo, then make yourself a cup of tea, say hello to colleagues and ask them how their weekend/evening etc was, THEN you start work...


?

Many offices operate like this but it doesn't work like that in retail, call centres, manufacturing or most other employment areas.

juliescot

andygb wrote: »

When I was working, I always got into work around half an hour earlier, in order to get a cuppa and have a bite to eat. It also meant that I started work between 15 minutes and half an hour before everyone else. Unfortunately, one day my employer pulled me up for "being late" (snow, trains not running properly), despite other people coming in at the same time as me.
So, from that day on, I did the same as the rest, came in on time, had my cuppa and a bite to eat, and started work around 15 minutes late.
I agree with the OP, and think that they have been very unfortunate to be sacked, for coming in on time, particularly if you are being paid by the hour.
Unfortunately the current labour laws mean that there is unlikely to be a satisfactory outcome to this.

What an odd boss. Pulls you up for being late one day but turns a blind eye to starting work late ever other day since then?

hothothot_3

I felt sorry for people I used to work with in the summer holidays from uni. They gave this multi million pound retail company nearly 30minutes free labour of their lives every single day. Part of the tactics was to make them feel guilty by saying "other colleagues you work with will have to do your work" etc. I said, if they were smart they would leave too, not work unpaid. I started work on the second, and left on the second - i didnt care anymore if I was dealing with a customer I left the till - no cashing up or anything - they couldnt do anything about it - lots of threats, but ultimately nothing they could do to stop me. it shows that these retail environments exist only by total exploitation of people who are desperate for work - not only are they low paid, they are expected to work for nothing - slavery.