Is this allowed or legal??

katie_saver

My probation ends on the 14th of March. After that I will be on one months' notice as per my contract. My boss is away until the 12th of March so my plan is to keep my head down until then and hope that he doesn't get rid of me before then, at least I will get a full months pay. He couldn't manage without a PA at the moment as I am aslo Office manager and am covering for the Head of HR who is on maternity leave but emails every now and again. I asked her if I should be worried because I saw the email in his inbox last week and I got no response. Bad sign.
However I agree with you, how stupid can you be to use your work email when he knows I have access. I don't want to ask him about it until after the 14th to give myself more time to look for a job (and a bigger pay off hopefully - even if it is just a months pay in lieu of notice)

Tigsteroonie

Perhaps the Head of HR isn't actually coming back from maternity leave so they anticipate moving you into that job, thereby creating a PA vacancy?

SuzyZ

Is there any way you could ask Head of HR (via email) if you've passed your probationary period or not, or how you're doing? even bring up what you've seen?

They'd be daft not to think you're so daft as to not see emails/adverts etc and although they *may* want your Boss to speak to you on his return from being away, they may also have insight on this. And after all, they are HR.

It sounds as though it's a medium sized not that small company to have HR, Office Manager/PA etc - maybe they're not sure what's happening, is Head of HR coming back after maternity leave, on what basis etc?

Just saying this as I knew a friend who worked as a bilingual PA and there were unanswered questions etc up until last minute re a lady she covered on maternity leave.

I'd see what else you can do in the meantime. no harm in applying or looking for other jobs to guard your back.

SuzyZ

katie_saver wrote: »

As I suspected, thanks for all your replies. He has had 3 PAs in 2 years and all 'left' under mysterious circumstances. Back to the job sites then. I just hope that he waits till my probation ends, at least I'd get a full months pay! And yes Buzby, I have lost all the enthusiasm I had for this company, seeing the way they treat people. Not the dream job I thought it was, ho hum.

I'd be very careful about stating on a work PC or in talks (don't know whether you would or not) stuff about how this company treat people and also about the PA record of your boss. Your company and boss and other boss I presume can see or has emails and other information which you've written! I wouldn't be pleased if my PA would seem so disheartened about the way *the company treats people* etc after not even 3 months.

You really don't know at the moment what is happening and why the PAs left. If it was mysterious - well they could have been dishonest, etc or you've been told they've left *under mysterious circumstances*. You have only your company's side of the story here, not the PAs!

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katie_saver wrote: »

you be to use your work email when he knows I have access. I don't want to ask him about it until after the 14th to give myself more time to look for a job (and a bigger pay off hopefully - even if it is just a months pay in lieu of notice)

best of luck and let us know how you get on x