What's in it for him?

kirei

Hi, I took a job working directly for someone who runs a small business. It was on a month long basis but at the end of that he said about extending it. Now, I became sick and had a couple of days off and also decided the money wasn't ideal for me at the moment so said I'm getting better now but I appreciate being given the chance to stay on but I will leave at the end of the month as the money isn't what I'm after at the moment (it's part time). The guy said if I can get sick notes from the doctor he would like to keep me on his books but on SSP as I will get some money then and can come back when I want to and if I change my mind can leave then. I thought this sounded a bit shady as I have just told him I'm no longer sick. I -could- get sick notes because of my depression because it is really bad which is actually more honestly one of the reasons I do want to leave and have a bit of a break, but he doesn't know about that. I just thought it all sounded really weird, and WHY would he do this? What benefit is it to him? I don't want to be involved in some sort of tax fiddle or anything. I was really taken aback by it and also isn't he telling me to get sick notes when as far as he knows I'm not sick anymore? Isn't that a bit weird?

mrsrwallace

no idea about employer/employee relations but i'm just throwing this idea your way.....maybe he fancies you????

marybelle01

Dodgy aside. You need a break after a whole month of part time work??? Wow. I must be bloody exhausted after 20 years of full time work! Please tell me your dont also expect to get benefits?

kirei

Well I wanted to quit rather than claim benefits because I don't feel I am entitled to SSP if I'm not sick (even though I technically am I don't like the idea of being "on the sick" because I want to work in some way or another). I am going to do this but I wanted to understand why he is saying this to be honest. And no, when I say a break I will be looking after our baby at home and my wife will be working. Not that it has any relevance to my question but we only get child benefit and have no intention of living off the state, we work hard for what (little) we have got and before this month of part time work I was working full time for 10 years but was made redundant.

princessdon

Was there an incentive for taking you on? Ie had you been long term unemployed?

Maybe he liked what he saw - was willing to give you a chance and left the door open.

Is there anyway you can do work from home (whilst looking after babes) or agree to hours around childcare if it keeps your skills up and he agrees?

kirei

He did say he is really pleased with my work, and doesn't want to lose me. I wasn't long term unemployed. Maybe I've misunderstood and he thinks I'm still ill or something?

phill99

I think you need a full time job. Simply so you ave less time to think and over analyse things.

Savvy_Sue

He's missing the point. If you have a Fit Note which says "not fit to work", then you can't work. If it says you might be able to work with adjustments - well, why doesn't he just make the adjustments and let you get on with it?

Also SSP doesn't go on for ever. What happens at the end of it?

kirei

Update, told him I can't get SSP as I'm no longer sick, he said he wants to still keep me employed but not as a casual worker, just on no hours but he can call me in whenever he needs . I just said no and that I'm looking for something with more hours or am going to care for the baby full time while my wife works full time but part time hours isn't ideal because it means my wife can't work as it doesn't pay enough to cover childcare. I think he wasn't trying anything weird, he was just under the impression that I WAS still sick, for whatever reason.

Savvy_Sue

What he's describing is not uncommon, often known as a zero hours contract. In your position, I might say "OK, let's try that," but keep job hunting as well - you can if you like tell him that this isn't likely to be a long-term arrangement.

If you get enough notice of when he wants you to work, and you can sort out childcare reasonably easily, it can work well for both sides.

That way you are actually employed, which looks stronger on applications, and you have a current reference rather than just a previous employer.