Crikey need some advice

babzy23

Hi all,

Ive been offered a job:j:jits through an agency, the hours are long but i dont mind, its the sort of job ive been looking for so Im well chuffed. Only problem is the agency called me yesterday and booked me in for unpaid training today and tomorrow. I attended today and will be attending tomorrow. The job is such that you have to go on a daily basis if you dont go you dont get paid (fair enough). Other employees have started the job and dropped out as the hours are too long. I really want to continue with the job but I have a very important appointment next friday (15/06) and a court hearing for my kids on the following Monday (18/06). Now Im not sure what to do as I will have only been working 4 days and then need 2 days off. Not a very good start I know.. But the appointments were booked well before and I cant cancel. If I tell the agency Im scared they might sack me. What would you do in this situation I really want to keep the job but the the fact that I need the above days off are equally important.

Sorry for the long post I just wanted to give a clear picture;)

Thanks

Babzy x x

CCFC_80

You possibly have 3 choices....

1) Throw a sickie on the Friday & Monday
2) Advise the agency that you need to take the 2 days off as you have already made commitments to take this time off
3) Ask if it would be better if you can start the role the following week.

I would favour option 3 followed by option 2.

Evilm

I've always advised agencies of appointments I couldn't change and taken the time off. I've never had a problem even when one was for another job (which was admittedly due to start after the agency one was expected to end as it was a planned short term project).

babzy23

I was thinking of speaking to the actual manager tomorrow but I was a bit worried he would look at me in a negative light. Im scared to say because Ive only been there a day. It may be best that I speak to the agency and advise them. I cant start the role the following week as they need people asap and somebody else will get offered the job. The person before me couldnt hack it on day 2 so they called me in instead. Im worried if I dont go in they may do the same.

ktothema

I knew I had multiple medical appointments coming up when I started my temping job recently. I didn't inform them or my agency, as I thought I'd try to get them changed. Turns out I could change one but not the other three due to consultants only being on certain days, tests being over subscribed so would have to wait another 6 months. I felt like a compete idiot having to explain that not only did I have 3 non movable appointments, they were three weeks in a row. Both agency and company were actually fine with me, I think because they realised Id tried and was quite embarrassed. You may find you'll be similar.

Mara69

Throwing a sickie on a Friday and Monday in a job you've only just started is guaranteed to get you sacked. The appointments are very important so you have no choice but to tell the agency of a manager at the company. No point in strssing as you can't move the appointments - it would help if you have evidence of the appointments in writing.

SandC

I would tell them as well. Throwing sickies is not a good idea.

As the working hours are long, wouldn't you be able to take part of the days off rather than having to miss a whole day's work? Demonstrate how you can work around them to disrupt your working day as much as possible.

paddyrg

Be upfront! "I am so looking forward to getting stuck into this role, but I do have 2 things pre-booked which will interfere - perhaps we could set my starting date accordingly? I want to be able to give it everything! Can we start me on the Tuesday, or the following week?"

If they have high staff churn, they will be doing staff orientations regularly anyway - so maybe bump you back a week or so, but if they want you, they will take you!

babzy23

Thanks for all your replies, spoke to the agency they said not a problem & that they will have a word with the manager and speak to me next week. I asked if Id still be able to go back to the job but he just said he will speak to me next week. If I manager today Im also going to inform him. Surely they cant sack me or can they???? Also if I work Mon-Thurs they will have to pay me wont they???:mad: Grr Its really stressing me out as I love the job.

sammyjammy

babzy23 wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies, spoke to the agency they said not a problem & that they will have a word with the manager and speak to me next week. I asked if Id still be able to go back to the job but he just said he will speak to me next week. If I manager today Im also going to inform him. Surely they cant sack me or can they???? Also if I work Mon-Thurs they will have to pay me wont they???:mad: Grr Its really stressing me out as I love the job.

I know you say they needed people straight away but given lots of people can't cope and are leaving the chances of there being a job for you later next week were strong.

Yes they can sack you but they do have to pay you for the days you've already worked.

Are there likely to be more of these appointments?

All you can do is tell the Manager and deal with the consequences when they happen, you have to go to your appts so you have no choice.

Best of luck.

babzy23

sammyjammy wrote: »

I know you say they needed people straight away but given lots of people can't cope and are leaving the chances of there being a job for you later next week were strong.

Yes they can sack you but they do have to pay you for the days you've already worked.

Are there likely to be more of these appointments?

All you can do is tell the Manager and deal with the consequences when they happen, you have to go to your appts so you have no choice.

Best of luck.

Thanks for your reply , the agency phoned me on Wednesday it was all done last minute I didnt know that someone had left which is why they called me I found out yesterday (my first training day) from other colleagues.

No hopefully no more appointments in the near future as ones a court date for my kids and the other is driving test with another company, which has been booked for about 5 weeks. :eek:
But even if I do have future appointments I can work my way around the job ans as with court dates I will know well in advance.