Hubby being taken for a ride with his employer?

VenuS

Hi MSE'ers, wonder if some of you could advise me on the following. Im not going to use exact figures(salary alot less than stated) or names, incase any of his company view these boards.

Im sorry if this is a bit long, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

My hubby has been with his current employer for almost a year now. On the day of his interview he was told his starting salary would be around £13.000 and then increasing to £14.500 on completion of his probationary period of 3 months. He was offered the job and he accepted glady.

After 3 months had passed, he asked to be taken off probation, but they told him he now had to complete extra tasks to prove he could do the job and meet they're standards. All his work is graded, and he has to tell every single caller that the calls are being recorded. On one occasion, the lady who he had told the legal bits to, called him back, and he got a bad mark for not telling her that the calls were being recorded for the second time. For that he was told he had to start another 3 months probation.


After 6 months had passed and an amazing amount of pressure and stress, he was told he was now 'permanent'. When he asked about the pay increase, he was told "oh sorry, you was mis-informed at your interview"

My hubby also HAS to stay late if he's working on a case file, but doesn't get paid for it.

Then my hubby was told he would be moving departments, to do more work, but he would also recieve more pay. He wasn't happy about moving, but the pay increase tempted him. When he asked about the pay increase, he was once again told, "im sorry but there wont be one"

As you can imagine, he's furious with this company at the moment, but held onto hope about their tier scheme. Around the 5th month he was there, the company held a big meeting, and a new pay scheme was introduced. Each tier is there to be aimed for, so tier 1 would be basic wage of £14.500, then next tier would be £16.000 and so on. A big email got sent round with details of this new tier system to every employee.

So after being told he wouldn't be getting an increase in wages for the second time, he asked about the tier system, and when he would be put on it (seeing as he's permanent now) and he's been told "that email was sent out in error, and you won't be getting a pay increase" This being months after the original email was sent out.

Im apalled a company can do this to their employees. Is there any legal grounds here as to the email he has stating the new pay increase?

They're turn over for staff is huge, everyweek people are quitting and more come in, only to leave 1 or 2 days later.

My husband is really good at what he does, but this company expects way to much for what they pay. They recently arranged a big meeting outside office hours, and made ALL their staff feel pressured if they didn't attend. The working enviroment is less than desirable, and my hubby has just informed me they have crammed more desks into a tiny office to fit in more staff.

He can't just leave, but what else can he do here? I feel for him everyday and I just can't stand by and watch them walk all over him.

But what can I do?

Thanks in advance for any advice

gwinnie

Hi Venus

I have to say that if it was me, I'd start looking for another job. It seems that this is a deliberate thing, and they're not too bothered about turnover, after all, the work gets done and they're only paying probationary salaries ...

But if you do decide to fight, here's what I would do: gather all the evidence and take it to expert legal advice.

Make a file containing his contract, copies of all emails and letters, notes of all conversations and announcements, notes of his working hours and tasks he performs, his account of what happened when his probation was extended. I expect most of this will have to be from memory, so it might be worth keeping a diary from here on in as well.

Then take all this along with his contract to a Citizen's Advice Bureau.

All the best, and I hope he gets the recognition and salary he deserves.

elona

I think I can guess the answer but was your husband given a contract and does the firm have a union?

VenuS

elona wrote: »

I think I can guess the answer but was your husband given a contract and does the firm have a union?

He has a contract, but it only states his probationary salary. He was told new contract would be given on completion of probabtionary period.

Of course he never recived one as they lied to him about the increase in salary in the first place.

No union though.

VenuS

gwinnie wrote: »

Hi Venus

I have to say that if it was me, I'd start looking for another job. It seems that this is a deliberate thing, and they're not too bothered about turnover, after all, the work gets done and they're only paying probationary salaries ...

But if you do decide to fight, here's what I would do: gather all the evidence and take it to expert legal advice.

Make a file containing his contract, copies of all emails and letters, notes of all conversations and announcements, notes of his working hours and tasks he performs, his account of what happened when his probation was extended. I expect most of this will have to be from memory, so it might be worth keeping a diary from here on in as well.

Then take all this along with his contract to a Citizen's Advice Bureau.

All the best, and I hope he gets the recognition and salary he deserves.

Thanks Gwinnie, your right about the above. Yet they just recently boasted about being the best in their field of work, and have taken over other smaller companies. I guess it's easier to make cash when you have no moral values or standards to your employees.

Savvy_Sue

As well as CAB, ACAS might be able to advise. But I'd be looking for another job too ...

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, there's an interesting article here from the Community Legal Services.

It states that:

Every employee has a legal right to receive a written statement that sets out the terms of employment. You should get this within two months of starting your job.

You may want to consider taking the employer to an Emplyment Tribunal. CAB can assist you with that.

HTH, Penny. x

CFC

Penny Penguin, he already has a contract.

VenuS, in reality companies can do pretty much what they want, and he has a contract stating his salary. Nobody is entitled to a pay rise, so there's no way of forcing the company to cough up. Unless the contract states otherwise, there is no need to issue a new contract at the end of the probationary period, though often a letter is sent out congratulating the individual on passing their probation and confirming their status. It all depends on how the original contract is worded.

A tactic sometimes used by unscrupulous managers is always to promise 'jam tomorrow' in an effort to retain staff.

Your OH just needs to look for another job and give up on this company.

jobbingmusician

CFC wrote: »

Penny Penguin, he already has a contract.

I'm not so sure of this. If he has it in writing that he has passed his probationary period and thus his job title has changed, or if his contract states that it applies only to the prob period, then he doesn't have a contract IMHO...

Penelope_Penguin

VenuS wrote: »

He has a contract, but it only states his probationary salary. He was told new contract would be given on completion of probabtionary period.

Of course he never recived one as they lied to him about the increase in salary in the first place.

No union though.

CFC wrote:

Penny Penguin, he already has a contract.

It appears from above that he doesn't have a valid written contract, reflecting what the situation is now. He does, of course, have a contract with his employer, evidenced by the fact that he turns up and they pay him.

My point was that he doesn't appear to have, in writing, the contract for what he's doing now, and he is entitled to that, by law (see my link in my previous post).

Penny. x

VenuS

Hi PP

I asked my hubby about a new contract, and he said, that all they did when he was taken out of probabation, was to get him to sign a form. He said on that form was something to the fact he wouldn't get a new contract.

I asked him why he signed it, and he told me he trusted them to be upping his pay when he moved to the new department and the pay would then alter. Of course they lied to him, again.:mad: