Abusive spineless boss - what to do

ChristineLouise

I would work your notice. Many contracts of employment are written in the employers favour. You may not want to go in, but you may find monies withheld in "leiu of notice not worked" Most contracts are written to allow employers to deduct something if you leave them in the lurch. Ie an employee who collected money from customers then ran off with it and never came back in, had it deducted from his final pay, another employee who smashed up the van at the weekend delivering and just left it outside had the insurance excess docked from his pay. If your notice is written into your contract - and you don't go in then you may find whatever monies you are owed you will have your notice docked. Read your contract VERY carefully.
I once worked under a very childish boss whom was a bully and its not nice, I can empathise. He used to yell and scream a lot, I left there after 18 months, but never got my final pay. I signed up to a union because of all the stress, after I left I approached the union because he had not paid me my final pay (the last 2 weeks amounting to approx £500) - the union took up the matter and were going to file papers with ACAS, until at the last minute my ex-bully boss contested my final pay, producing my contract stating I had paid myself unauthorized overtime resulting in me owing him £1000! Being responsible for processing wages including my own, and there being nothing written in my contract about overtime being paid I had nothing in writing to say that over the 18 months I was entitled to that overtime - despite everyone being paid overtime and the MD authorising the wages before they were finalized. My union dropped the matter immediately. The company went bust shortly after but the lesson is you are only entitled to what you have written proof of, and if your contract states 3 months notice and "if no notice is given then pay in leiu of notice may be taken" you dont want to lose out (more) financially and fond you don't get paid, unless you really can't face going in and can support yourself by other means till you secure another job.

motorguy

Pancakesss wrote: »

Just an update on this. I went in 45 minutes early this morning as suggested. When the MD came in. he just ignored me. His secretary (also his wife) also pretty much ignored me. My colleagues were sending me private messages saying how uncomfortable the environment was. His wife handed me some production documents (we all get this), as she walked away i dropped this by mistake as it was heavily than i thought and it literally slipped out of my hand. as i was bending down to pick it all up, she told me off 'for slamming things around'. I guess from this, I can do no right from now on.
I typed up the whole incident of what happened last Friday with dates and times including the lead up to the incident, and how this has negatively affected me.I had typed up a proposal of: working from home this week, an earlier finish date (almost 2 months instead of 3) to finish off all my current projects to hand, and have left it open to if the MD would like to discuss an alternative suggestion then to call or email me. I then left after telling colleagues why I am leaving early (but they all said they dont blame me and i looked terrible).
Hopefully he will come up with something or even better, just let me go.

He sounds like a right !!!!. You're better off out of the place.

Get applying for other jobs.

Derboy

stator wrote: »

If this ever gers to an employment tribunal things like going home early without permission would not look good. As others have suggested it's best to stick it out.

It won't. Workers have no right to tribunal unless they have 2 years continuous service.

Derboy

Pancakesss wrote: »

Just an update on this. I went in 45 minutes early this morning as suggested. When the MD came in. he just ignored me. His secretary (also his wife) also pretty much ignored me. My colleagues were sending me private messages saying how uncomfortable the environment was. His wife handed me some production documents (we all get this), as she walked away i dropped this by mistake as it was heavily than i thought and it literally slipped out of my hand. as i was bending down to pick it all up, she told me off 'for slamming things around'. I guess from this, I can do no right from now on.
I typed up the whole incident of what happened last Friday with dates and times including the lead up to the incident, and how this has negatively affected me.I had typed up a proposal of: working from home this week, an earlier finish date (almost 2 months instead of 3) to finish off all my current projects to hand, and have left it open to if the MD would like to discuss an alternative suggestion then to call or email me. I then left after telling colleagues why I am leaving early (but they all said they dont blame me and i looked terrible).
Hopefully he will come up with something or even better, just let me go.

Technically you are now in breach of contract. You're either at work, off-sick or on holiday. You should be working your notice unless anything else is agreed so if you can't handle going in, follow the sickness procedure in your contract.

Tiddlywinks

Pancakesss wrote: »

Just an update on this. I went in 45 minutes early this morning as suggested. When the MD came in. he just ignored me. His secretary (also his wife) also pretty much ignored me. My colleagues were sending me private messages saying how uncomfortable the environment was. His wife handed me some production documents (we all get this), as she walked away i dropped this by mistake as it was heavily than i thought and it literally slipped out of my hand. as i was bending down to pick it all up, she told me off 'for slamming things around'. I guess from this, I can do no right from now on.
I typed up the whole incident of what happened last Friday with dates and times including the lead up to the incident, and how this has negatively affected me.I had typed up a proposal of: working from home this week, an earlier finish date (almost 2 months instead of 3) to finish off all my current projects to hand, and have left it open to if the MD would like to discuss an alternative suggestion then to call or email me. I then left after telling colleagues why I am leaving early (but they all said they dont blame me and i looked terrible).
Hopefully he will come up with something or even better, just let me go.

That last paragraph has me sympathising with the boss.

You are still appearing to continue the rift and are now involving colleagues as well.

You could have sent an email that you were leaving early (if you really couldn't do it in person) but, no, you chose to rope in colleagues to act as messenger. Of course they were outwardly going to appear to sympathise... they are probably really embarrassed by the whole thing.

You need to communicate in an assertive (not passive/aggressive) and professional manner and just ask what the management would like to do about your notice.

You can't just keep skipping school because you don't like the teachers.

Nicki

I'd let you go, without notice, as this is what you want. I wouldn't want to pay you if you are going to work out your contractual period in this fashion. Hope you have savings to cover you until you find a new job however as I am fairly sure that JSA etc doesn't apply when you just walk out of a job because you don't like your boss.

Can you really not see that the title you gave your thread applies to you now just as much as to your boss and that you have sunk to his level?

Pancakesss

Hi, just another update for those that are interested.
I have been going to work on time. We had a discussion today with another member of staff present who acted like the middle ground. The boss actually implied that it was ok for his outburst, it wasn't a big deal, and was obviously, not interested in hearing about the stress he has caused.
Anyway, we now have a scheduled meeting in tomorrow afternoon to give him an update on where all my projects are, and to discuss what are priorities.
By the way, I really don't think I have sunk to his level, as I am genuinely wanting to tie things up and not leave things in a mess for my co-workers. The end of May is not unrealistic for me to finish all I have to hand. From what other colleagues were saying, the past 6 employees who resigned just left, most without serving their notice or at most 3 weeks due to the hostility and bullying they received in their notice period, which has started for me already.

motorguy

Nicki wrote: »

I'd let you go, without notice, as this is what you want. I wouldn't want to pay you if you are going to work out your contractual period in this fashion. Hope you have savings to cover you until you find a new job however as I am fairly sure that JSA etc doesn't apply when you just walk out of a job because you don't like your boss.

Can you really not see that the title you gave your thread applies to you now just as much as to your boss and that you have sunk to his level?

Why should the O/P go right now?

The boss has acted like a !!!! and has had yet another employee resign because of their attitude.

Why should the O/P walk away from one or two or three months pay?

Hes the manager, he should be managing the situation and never have let it get to this, and should now be proposing a compromise in terms of end date, instead of trying to make it all about him and an !!! covering exercise.

motorguy

Pancakesss wrote: »

Hi, just another update for those that are interested.
I have been going to work on time. We had a discussion today with another member of staff present who acted like the middle ground. The boss actually implied that it was ok for his outburst, it wasn't a big deal, and was obviously, not interested in hearing about the stress he has caused.
Anyway, we now have a scheduled meeting in tomorrow afternoon to give him an update on where all my projects are, and to discuss what are priorities.
By the way, I really don't think I have sunk to his level, as I am genuinely wanting to tie things up and not leave things in a mess for my co-workers. The end of May is not unrealistic for me to finish all I have to hand. From what other colleagues were saying, the past 6 employees who resigned just left, most without serving their notice or at most 3 weeks due to the hostility and bullying they received in their notice period, which has started for me already.

Make sure you get what you need out of it. If it suits you best to work to the end of may, then work to get that agreement

If they want you out before then, tell them you're happy to accept pay in lieu of notice - i certainly wouldnt be allowing myself to have my contract end now, just to suit him.

If he starts bullying and you find it stressful, go to your doctor and get a sick line.

Nicki

motorguy wrote: »

Why should the O/P go right now?

The boss has acted like a !!!! and has had yet another employee resign because of their attitude.

Why should the O/P walk away from one or two or three months pay?

Hes the manager, he should be managing the situation and never have let it get to this, and should now be proposing a compromise in terms of end date, instead of trying to make it all about him and an !!! covering exercise.

The OP should be turning up on time, leaving on time, carrying out her normal duties during that time and not slagging off her boss to colleagues. If they have a problem with him that's up to them the OPs problems should if she has any professionalism stay between her and him.

If an employee of mine had resigned in the circumstances the OP did and then started coming into work late or leaving early, I would start a disciplinary against them and/or dock their pay for hours not worked. Whether or not the boss behaved badly, OP is leaving herself wide open to being dismissed before she wants to leave for absenteeism/time fraud and there isn't any excuse for it.