Employment law advice needed

bonsibabe

Hi there

I've got a bit of a problem and I wonder if any of you wonderful folk out there would have a bit of advice for me.

I work in an office where there are only 3 of us. When I first started in November 09 there were 2 of us in one office and a third person in another office (all of us working for the same employer).

I was taken on at the lowest end of the pay scale (obviously) but when April 10 arrived, was put up to the next level as the boss was very happy with my work. I was also given the responsibility of co-ordinating the office. Again was very happy with this.

In June 10, the boss employed his friend as our colleague in the other office handed in her notice. He was contracted for less hours but was immediately placed on the highest level of the pay scale. I was promised a "substantial" end of year bonus. In december I was informed that my pay would then go up to the highest level, but never got my bonus.

After almost 18 months of doing the managers job, I was called in while on holiday and we were informed that the boss's mate was being promoted to office manager with a £5K pay rise. I have been doing the job continuously for 18 months without so much as a thank you.

I find it very difficult to work with this man as he is confrontational and verges on bullying behaviour at work. On the first day of my last holiday he called me up and shouted at me on the phone how stupid I was and that he was having to sort out my f*** ups. I have been told by my colleague (who has been there about 3 months longer than me) that he is now our "boss" and we have to do as we are told like little children.

I really do not want to go back to work tomorrow as I am dreading the atmosphere that will be in the office. I have had the heaviest work load and I have been told by my colleague that it is unlikely to lessen as last week it was agreed (without my being there) that I would be given further duties as the "manager" has such a heavy workload that he is finding it hard to do everything.

I just feel like phoning up and saying I'm not going in. I know I have to as I am the only wage earner in my family and my wages pay for everything. This is now at the stage that I feel sick when I think about work ... and I absolutely loved my job until this person started. I have never worked in an environment where I have been screamed at like that before and just don't want this to continue.

Maybe I should also add that I am the only female in the office!

Thank you in anticipation for your help.

Miss_Ratty

I'm afraid I no very little about unemployment law, but the situation sounds very unfair and stressful for you. I hope others are able to advise, and hope everything gets sorted.

bonsibabe

Thank you both.:beer:
I am currently looking for another job and applying like mad. Haven't had any luck yet but I think that may be due to the fact that I am earning £20K a year and the jobs I am qualified for are only offering minimum wage, although I would happily take a pay cut to get away from this .

What upsets me is that I did this job and was doing well until this person started. After that, every little thing started getting picked up. I am meticulous in my work and my workload has steadily grown heavier and heavier. But now that I do the most work, there have been little piddly mistakes made. I have always held my hands up and admitted if I have made a mistake but this has gotten to the stage that I feel physically sick going into the office now.

To top it all off, I have approximately 100 hours of extra work held as TOIL but that system is now changing and all this time I have worked up (to take off for docs appointments and the like) is going to be lost (well all apart from 2 days worth):mad:.

I understand what you have said Googlewhacker about having an understanding boss. He used to be someone who was approachable and you could talk to him about anything but now we can't talk to him without going thru this other person.

I think I'm just going to have to get another job and put it all down in my resignation letter.

Thank you for reading and for your advice. It is really much appreciated :beer:

claire16c

Is there really no way you can not talk to the boss without going through this new guy?

bonsibabe

I'm going to speak to my colleague tomorrow and see if we can't both speak to the boss next time he is in the office and ask for a meeting just the three of us, without the "manager". I'm dreading going in tomorrow and can see me finishing work early to get away from him. Just as well I'm not losing my TOIL till the 1st of the month lol.

But thank you

hcb42

TBH I would forget about the TOIL

Either work the hours as they are expected to be done, or manage your time at the time, but if I had to claim back TOIL for all the extra hours i had ever worked, I could probably get the next 5 years off..! No point stressing over it, most employers will not expect this much TOIL. Equally, with most balanced relationships, you dont mind putting in an extra 30 minutes here and there as long as you can easily take time off when you need it for appointments, long weekends etc, and more importantly, the job takes the hours it takes to get the job done, and it is down to us to manage that appropriately, and ask for help if it is not feasible at the time.

as for the rest, unfortunately, you either speak with the boss and express your concerns, in a diplomatic fashion - or you have to shut up and move on.

getmore4less

kick up a stink about losing the TOIL owed.

you should be using this before annual leave.

You do get at least 28 day annual including bank holidays(prorata if not full yime)

Whats changing about the TOIL system?

Cut back on doing overtime and make sure you take the breaks get out of the office even i just to go for a walk

You can't do everything, so stuff has to go undone make sure that everything is prioritised and work your hours.


whats the contract say about hours and overtime

Jarndyce

Presuming you have no agreement about how your pay increases and TOIL are to be handled, and no bullying procedure, you have two choices - stay and fight your corner (either on your own or with your colleague) and hope things will improve, or bail out.

Personally I would choose the latter option, at least in the longer term. But while you look for something else I would keep a detailed record of anything that verges on bullying behaviour. If it is serious enough, and certainly if it crosses the line into sex discrimination (any reference to you being female or any patronising comments etc) then you may also have grounds for a future claim and will need to produce evidence.

mountainofdebt

One word of advice - change your picture if that's a picture of you........you never know whose on the weba nd what will be used against you.

McKneff

And just before you leave, put a couple of kippers behind his radiator

Jarndyce

McKneff wrote: »

And just before you leave, put a couple of kippers behind his radiator

:D
McKneff - if that is your picture in your avatar I would change it - you never know who might be watching.