Another job whilst suspended?

tawecdl

police are investigating and... my circle of friends work so having a hobby is no good and I educate myself more from work than anything else...

marlot

there are some good courses on coursera if any appeal?

redcard

tawecdl wrote: »

police are investigating and... my circle of friends work so having a hobby is no good and I educate myself more from work than anything else...

You missed the point completely.

PHILANTHROPIST

tawecdl wrote: »

police are investigating and... my circle of friends work so having a hobby is no good and I educate myself more from work than anything else...

This is becoming a rather confusing thread in part due to a lack of related facts and circumstances.

I doubt you will want to disclose the act and/or relevant sub-section under which the CPS have charged you. In order to discuss your concerns I'd recommend that you call ACAS ; they generally provide an excellent free and confidential service and should be able to help you. Link below (note - they are available till 1pm today) :

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042

Undervalued

PHILANTHROPIST wrote: »

In order to discuss your concerns I'd recommend that you call ACAS ; they generally provide an excellent free and confidential service and should be able to help you.

Really?

In my experience, which seems to be backed up by many posts on forums such as this, ACAS's initial helpline can be quite dreadful and frequently gives out duff information!

It is nothing more than a call centre staffed by people with minimal training who are largely reading from script. In no way is it a substitute for proper legal advice.

At a higher level, when mediating in a dispute, ACAS can be very good but even then their function is to broker a settlement and that may not represent the best possible outcome for one party.

duchy

Where I work at the moment there's no contractual restriction - other jobs I've worked in I've had to get permission before taking on a second job-other jobs it was fine to work elsewhere so long it wasn't a competitor so I'd read your contract carefully. If there is no restriction whilst you are employed there shouldn't be whilst you are suspended -lots of people do have second jobs or have self employed income and some contracts reflect this.

My son's DLA was recently stopped ...because someone with his (relatively common) name who lived at another entirely unconnected address had gone to jail !
I rang to ask where his money was -and that's what they told me- I laughed and said No definitely not and his money was restored including back payment -but it just shows there are some huge holes in systems that can confuse two people and flag the wrong one as a criminal. From the lack of verification required by DLA I got the impressed these mix ups aren't uncommon-which is a disgrace.

If it is merely a case of mistaken identity in your situation I think I'd consider getting my MP involved to get proof for your employer if you want to rush back to work rather than take paid absence whilst they sort out their mistake. A letter from an MP usually fast tracks with most organizations including the police.

If the work is in an unrelated field I'd be tempted to email HR and ask if they have any objection if you do some casual self employed work to keep you occupied whilst suspended (I wouldn't specify what -unless they ask) but point out you'd be available to return to work straight away once this misunderstanding is straightened out. I'd phrase it as clarifying policy rather than asking their permission however.

EDIT I've just noticed you have only 12 months service so they could sack you at any time for no reason regardless so I'd bear that in mind and ask rather than rely on any "rights" as essentially below 2 years you don't really have any. Is a union involved ?

PHILANTHROPIST

Undervalued wrote: »

Really?

In my experience, which seems to be backed up by many posts on forums such as this, ACAS's initial helpline can be quite dreadful and frequently gives out duff information!

It is nothing more than a call centre staffed by people with minimal training who are largely reading from script. In no way is it a substitute for proper legal advice.

At a higher level, when mediating in a dispute, ACAS can be very good but even then their function is to broker a settlement and that may not represent the best possible outcome for one party.

I agree with you that ACAS do not provide legal advice. That is made clear to all users. ACAS do, however, for the main part offer reliable and meaningful free and confidential guidance.

Forum posts re ACAS alleged "duff" advice are IMO often unfounded and ACAS are not given a right of reply (a solution in this regard is given below).

ACAS management are aware that some anonymous persons, often with inflated egos, like to castigate them on sites such as MSE. I doubt, however, that ACAS lose any sleep over such generally unfounded criticism.

The ACAS website is excellent. Their code of practice is the benchmark for good employment practice in the Employment Tribunals Service.

ACAS is not perfect. Employment solicitors are generally far from perfect. This sub-forum is .... a forum of opinions.

If any MSE member really has a legitimate and genuine complaint re a service provided by ACAS then please raise such concerns in accordance with the following :

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4315

It would be helpful if aggrieved members (if any) could then raise a new thread detailing grounds for such a complaint and the reply received.

Undervalued

PHILANTHROPIST wrote: »

The ACAS website is excellent. Their code of practice is the benchmark for good employment practice in the Employment Tribunals Service.

I would totally agree with you on that point.

PHILANTHROPIST wrote: »

ACAS is not perfect. Employment solicitors are generally far from perfect. This sub-forum is .... a forum of opinions.

So, if ACAS is "not perfect" but, in your opinion "Employment solicitors are generally far from perfect" then you clearly feel that employment solicitors are worse than a call centre with non legally qualified staff?

Interesting!

Based on some of your other posts you seen to have an axe to grind?

tomtontom

Undervalued wrote: »

Really?

In my experience, which seems to be backed up by many posts on forums such as this, ACAS's initial helpline can be quite dreadful and frequently gives out duff information!

It is nothing more than a call centre staffed by people with minimal training who are largely reading from script. In no way is it a substitute for proper legal advice.

At a higher level, when mediating in a dispute, ACAS can be very good but even then their function is to broker a settlement and that may not represent the best possible outcome for one party.

I have to agree, I have picked up the pieces following some shocking advice from ACAS. The main issue I find is that they tend to present their advice as definitive, when of course the law is anything but - for instance, telling a call centre worker that home working and flexi time would be reasonable adjustments, when in the given circumstances they most certainly were not. In another case an employer was told there was no need to attend a preliminary hearing - this would have cost him thousands had he followed their advice.

ACAS are fine for the absolute basics, but I would be weary of referring someone there for anything more.

PHILANTHROPIST

Undervalued wrote: »

I would totally agree with you on that point.




So, if ACAS is "not perfect" but, in your opinion "Employment solicitors are generally far from perfect" then you clearly feel that employment solicitors are worse than a call centre with non legally qualified staff?

Interesting!

Based on some of your other posts you seen to have an axe to grind?

Re above.

You do not need to be a rocket scientist to recognise that I and many many other UK citizens have a legitimate axe to grind re solicitors.

Some (not all) employment solicitors can be particularly troubling. I would trust ACAS more than many so called specialist employment solicitors. ACAS certainly do not fleece people. I am entitled to my opinion, as are you.


If you however you want to debate this point then set up a new thread. Please do not continue to clutter this one.