The new easy firing of employees rule - quickly sneaking in your workplace?

TwelveStopsThenHome

We've all heard of plans by the coalition to make it easy to fire employees. Whilst this isn't law just yet, does anyone think companies are starting to implement this without warning?

I am basically finishing my job at the end of October due to being accepted for voluntary redunancy. What I have noticed is, some VERY strict rules are being enforced to dismiss employees. This is a local government authority in a large city in the Midlands.

These new rules will be: spreadsheets monitoring the amount of work. Whilst I agree with this, this can be open to abuse. Failure to submit each week will lead to cautions and a low grade on a year review. Looking presentable. Jeans are banned. Whilst I do agree with this to an extent, the reason for this is to show brilliant presentation to visitors from.....France and other nations. This is not Eurovision! Failure to adhere to this rule will lead to dismissal. I feel as long as people do their job and look tidy, it's fine. Yet what makes me mad is, it's OK to cover your face for cultural and religious reasons. Without the risk of being racist, I am sorry. You are basically isolating yourself and putting a barrier against communication. It's opression of women too. On top of that, it would encourage a rise of far right parties winning seats on the local council.

Another strict rule is failure to complete trainings equals official warning. Whilst I understand that employees can be busy due to short staffing, office moves and increased workloads, there is no need to punish people for not completing an online training.

I am very glad not to be working there for much longer, and I do not want to work in public sector again.

Is this happening to your company?

mountainofdebt

Another daily mail reader?

Sambucus_Nigra

No. It's not happening where I am.

MissSarah1972

OP - go and work in the private sector then where there will be no such thing as a spreadsheet to get rid of you.

andygb

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

OP - go and work in the private sector then where there will be no such thing as a spreadsheet to get rid of you.

Probably a bit harsh, but unfortunately very true. I have worked in the private sector for 25 years, and over the last 10 years I have seen some appalling exdamples of the way staff are treated (myself included - Made redundant" after serious hospital treatment). My wife has returned home on a Friday in tears, because she has been asked to clear her desk and leave without any reason given.
The private sector is a lot harsher, because the majority of workers do not have big unions to help them out, they are on their own.:(

bevanuk

So basically work want you to

A) Do your work
Prove you have done your work
C) Dress presentably
D) Get trained and up skill yourself

How dare they? If I was you I would contact the most superior person you know in the company and demand that they cease this dreadful behaviour.
If they don't answer, get down to Downing Street.

MissSarah1972

andygb wrote: »

Probably a bit harsh, but unfortunately very true. I have worked in the private sector for 25 years, and over the last 10 years I have seen some appalling exdamples of the way staff are treated (myself included - Made redundant" after serious hospital treatment). My wife has returned home on a Friday in tears, because she has been asked to clear her desk and leave without any reason given.
The private sector is a lot harsher, because the majority of workers do not have big unions to help them out, they are on their own.:(

When I was made redundant I asked to see the scoring system after speaking to ACAS and I was told to return to work and give back the PILON if I wanted to know. What a cheek!

LittleVoice

MissSarah1972 wrote: »

When I was made redundant I asked to see the scoring system after speaking to ACAS and I was told to return to work and give back the PILON if I wanted to know. What a cheek!

So if you returned to work you would have a job and not be redundant?

ohreally

andygb wrote: »

My wife has returned home on a Friday in tears, because she has been asked to clear her desk and leave without any reason given.
The private sector is a lot harsher, because the majority of workers do not have big unions to help them out, they are on their own.

A decision not to join a TU is one which your wife has taken. If an employer doesn't recognise a TU for collective bargaining, that is not a barrier to you wife joining for advice and representation. If sufficient employees join, an employer may have little option but to engage in statutory recognition.

MissSarah1972

LittleVoice wrote: »

So if you returned to work you would have a job and not be redundant?

No my boss told me I would have had to work the notice they paid me for and hand back the money - still being made redundant. He seemed to think PILON was a favour.

andygb

ohreally wrote: »

A decision not to join a TU is one which your wife has taken. If an employer doesn't recognise a TU for collective bargaining, that is not a barrier to you wife joining for advice and representation. If sufficient employees join, an employer may have little option but to engage in statutory recognition.

The last time I belonged to a union was way back in 1985 when I worked in the public sector (NALGO).
Since then, I have worked in a variety of private sector companies, from huge to small, and in that time I have never come across a union, or anyone who belonged to a union.
I think that is a pretty dire situation, and I would add that with the current employment laws, If an employer found that you were a union member, or were encouraging others to join a union, then you would be out the door ASAP, and your name would be blacklisted within that sector.
This is pretty disgusting, but is reality.