Work Promised but Not Delivered

kingfisherblue

I'm not quite sure why the OP is getting emails - surely the 'employer' would correspond with the girlfriend, not the OP?

Morgan_Ree

fiisch wrote: »

.

My girlfriend has almost given up on gaining any meaningful employment, and feel her growing career (we're both early 20s) has been severely stunted.

Thanks for the help!

Are you having a laugh??

I agree with terra_ferma. Something doesn't seem right

She's in her early 20s and she's already given up hope of getting a job?
Do you know how many jobs there are out there in a caring profession?
HCA in a hospital, nursing homes, supported living, home care, community HCA. Seriously the list goes on

If shes after something working for a private comany (which obviously pays ok money) then the jobcentre and local newspapers are the best places.
Other than that get her to have a look on the NHS jobs website, or your local hospital website
If nothing permanent is showing up she could apply to do bank shifts

Emmzi

from all you have said - there is no case

things change in bussiness all the time. she is naive for hanging onto a promise for so long.

time to move on. you will lose time, money and energy trying to fight a hopeless case.

good luck to her finding a new role.

HO87

Emmzi wrote: »

from all you have said - there is no case
things change in bussiness all the time. she is naive for hanging onto a promise for so long. time to move on. you will lose time, money and energy trying to fight a hopeless case.
good luck to her finding a new role.

Whilst my gut is that you are probably right, there is certainly alot more to this story than has been set out in the OP's posts - indeed there has to be. On the basis that clearly neither the OP or his gf are au fait with their employment rights there is a reasonable chance that some crucial aspect of the situation has been omitted from the brief account proffered that may change the whole matter. That is why I believe that a litle time and expense (a few pence) would be well invested in speaking to ACAS. If there is no merit in pursuing any aspect of the situation then ACAS will tell her just that.

andygb

Without mentioning the names of any firms, I believe that I have come across this situation before. I know someone who set up a business (franchise) providing care for people in their own homes. There were numerous problems with local councils, because grants were not forthcoming, and often the clients (elderly, infirm people), were not able to fund in house care.
The individual franchises are being pressured to interview and take on new staff, with the promise that work will be plentiful. The main organisation is very ruthless, and the money it receives from the clients/local authorities is huge, in comparison to that earned by the franchise or indeed the carers.
Very often the carers were paid around £5 per hour (back in the early nineties), and the lack of work meant that staff turnover was extremely high.
I would say, that the OP has to find out more information on the company, and to read the exact terms of the contract (if indeed any contract exists).

fiisch

I'm posting on behalf of my girlfriend, so when I say he's emailed me, I mean that he has emailed my girlfriend. She has merely asked I handle this for her on here as I've had experience with MSE such as reclaiming bank charges.

When you bear in mind that in my opinion the brunt of the recession in terms of employment figures hit in the second half of 2009, there were not many suitable care jobs out there. Also, when she had invested £60 for a CRB check (Criminal Records) and we were extremely tight for cash, she was reluctant to look elsewhere. Also note that there's a 2 month wait for the CRB, so jumping ship meant waiting ANOTHER 2 months, when her current employer was continually promising work just 2 weeks away. With the CRB and continual promises of work just round the corner, it's been easy to get roped in. I wouldn't say there's a wealth of decent care jobs here even now, though my girlfriend is now looking into gaining other employment. Don't forget that she has not been sitting on her hands during this time, and has had some work in a local bar.

I will phone ACAS tomorrow and post their answer on here....

terra_ferma

fiisch wrote: »

I'm posting on behalf of my girlfriend, so when I say he's emailed me, I mean that he has emailed my girlfriend. She has merely asked I handle this for her on here as I've had experience with MSE such as reclaiming bank charges.

When you bear in mind that in my opinion the brunt of the recession in terms of employment figures hit in the second half of 2009, there were not many suitable care jobs out there. Also, when she had invested £60 for a CRB check (Criminal Records) and we were extremely tight for cash, she was reluctant to look elsewhere. Also note that there's a 2 month wait for the CRB, so jumping ship meant waiting ANOTHER 2 months, when her current employer was continually promising work just 2 weeks away. With the CRB and continual promises of work just round the corner, it's been easy to get roped in. I wouldn't say there's a wealth of decent care jobs here even now, though my girlfriend is now looking into gaining other employment. Don't forget that she has not been sitting on her hands during this time, and has had some work in a local bar.

I will phone ACAS tomorrow and post their answer on here....

She could work through employment agencies, they normally accept a CRB check from other companies. And it can often lead to permanent jobs.

As I'm a nice person.... :A I'm giving you some links:
http://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction.do?keywords=care+agencies&companyName=&location=Crawley&x=0&y=0&scrambleSeed=33099614&searchType=advance&M=&lastKeyword=care+agencies&lastClarifyIndex=&lastClarifyOptions=&lastSearchall=&lastSearchallTax=&lastbandedclarifyResults=&bandedclarifyResults=&ssm=0

http://www.jobisjob.co.uk/haywards-heath-west-sussex/care-uk-plc/part-time-health-care-assistant/job-offer-rlsrvq4fneeql7xdxgp6imo3le

http://www.ilawestsussex.org/pa%20vacancies%20by%20town.html

This is how it starts I'm afraid. Initially she may well have to accept a job that's not well paid and have to travel, but once she has the experience she can pick and choose and really start off her career.
Some areas are better paid than others, for example support worker as opposed to care assistants, but she needs to get some experience, even free if necessary.
There's plenty of work out there, but she needs experience to be able to pick and choose.

Apolonation

I think you/your gf just need to put this behind you and look for another job. I'm sure she'll be able to find one if she puts her energy into it. I really don't see the point of dragging this on and putting all your efforts into it. What will you get out of it? Surely not the 4k you have mentioned, perhaps a day or two I guess on the actual days your gf was due to start (if anything), but certainly not the interweaving periods of time? Sounds like the wannabe employer has been messing your gf about, with no intention of employing her (at least thats the impression I get from this thread).

There's a big world out there, embrace it! Find a decent employer and put this behind you both.

fiisch

Points taken, but I don't think some fully appreciate our situation. My girlfriend is a qualified carer, having worked for 3 years in the care industry in various care homes! She had similar job offers - I'm fairly confident this month she'll manage to get something similar. However, it is the principle of the situation, whereby her boss has duped her. A legal brick through his window, if you will!

Thanks for the links - she's been busy jobhunting all week so should get something. In the meantime, she is still working in the bar and I have a well paid job in insurance so our situation is not problematic, it is merely on principle that I feel we have a claim.

terra_ferma

fiisch wrote: »

Points taken, but I don't think some fully appreciate our situation. My girlfriend is a qualified carer, having worked for 3 years in the care industry in various care homes! She had similar job offers - I'm fairly confident this month she'll manage to get something similar. However, it is the principle of the situation, whereby her boss has duped her. A legal brick through his window, if you will!

Thanks for the links - she's been busy jobhunting all week so should get something. In the meantime, she is still working in the bar and I have a well paid job in insurance so our situation is not problematic, it is merely on principle that I feel we have a claim.

An experience/qualified carer unemployed in Sussex?
How odd.