Weird bosses

Fayelizabeth

Hi Guys,

So a lot of weird stuff has been going on at work lately and I'm not sure if I'm being treated unfairly. This is the story (sorry its long)

I started work in October 2015 for a small private clinic, I work 4 days a week 9-5pm. There are two bosses that own the clinic, they are both 50+ and aren't great at 'technology.' In my interview I stated that I live 15 miles away and would be using buses to get to work.

It quickly became apparent soon after I started that buses to and from my work place were near on IMPOSSIBLE, they were always late, sometimes never showed up at all and I was nearly always 10-15 minutes late at least. two months in I met with the bosses to discuss this as I could tell they were losing patience with the lateness. They suggested I try working the hours 10am-5.30 instead as traffic was less congested at this time. It worked perfectly and I was never late. This was now 4 months in and I still don't have a contract, despite asking for one several times. They would also pay me whenever they felt like it and my DD's would fail and my rent would be late - another meeting. I told them I'd need a strict payday and that I'd need to be paid by that date every month, if not before. They argued with me for a while but finally agreed.
Things went ok for a few weeks and then they asked for another meeting with me. They dropped the bombshell that they actually needed someone in by 9am everyday and if I couldn't do it they'd find someone else. I was devastated, I'd worked so much to make the clinic run smoother, more efficiently and make more money and installed various new systems for them - I'd really helped them! SO I began looking at other bus routes and modes of transport, I even tried cycling but 15 miles is just too far! Finally I found a liftshare via an online resource. My liftshare now picks me up at 8 and drops me off at 8.30 so I am actually EARLY to work every day! brilliant, so I thought.
I've been riding with my liftshare for about 4 weeks now and I have never been late, not once. Last Wed he informed me that he had to return home to Latvia to see him family for 3 days so he could not take me in. I let my bosses know that day that on Fri/Mon/tues/ I would need to get the bus as he wasn't driving. I got up super early and luckily the bus was on time mostly, I arrived between 9-9.15 every day. I also asked AGAIN for a contract of employment - they said they're working on it.

Today is Wednesday and I am back riding with my liftshare and in at 8.30 again. This morning my boss asked for a meeting with me and said that she is really happy with my commitment, performance and the way I am with patients. THEN she proceeded to tell me that my transport situation was not good enough and that they need someone to be there 9am every day without fail. I explained that my liftshare was very reliable and that he would be able to take me probably 95% of my work days, and that when he didn't I'd only be 15 minutes late at the most.

She then told me that its not good enough and that they would need to look for someone else. She said they didn't want to fire me but would 'monitor' it for a few weeks. I have no idea where I stand now.:(

I don't get it, are they just trying to get rid of me? they'd rather fire me and retrain someone new for months and months just because of 10 minutes every once in a blue moon? Surely no one can ever guarantee to be 100% on time, no matter what their mode of transport?

Help I'm very stressed and unsure.

agrinnall

I can't see that this is ever going to work for both parties, you should start looking for another job now that you can get to on time.

spadoosh

Cant guarantee not to be late 100% of the time, i got knocked off my bike once meant i was a few minutes late.

Hard to think that buses in the uk go missing, mightbe worth letting the bus company know im sure theyd be interested in where the driver goes?! Also seems odd that there isnt any earlier buses but i live quite urban so busses run regularly from about 7am.

Whilst you might not be regularly late the unpredictable nature of it and the fact that i assume every other member of staff either gets their on time or suffers the same consequences means its unfair on your employer and your colleagues for you to get different treatment because you use the bus.

Have you considered something like a moped? Pretty cheap to run and would make your commute much more reliable.

Fayelizabeth

Thanks for your replies.

I live on the edge of Bristol in a place called Oldland common, the buses here are very infrequent with many being once every hour. The earliest bus I can catch is 8.10 however this is also the school bus and usually it is completely full and will drive past me so I catch the 8.40 bus which is usually empty and picks me up.

Buses in Bristol are NOTORIOUSLY bad. I file complaints on a weekly basis, along with probably every other person in Bristol. There are facebook campaigns and complaints pages... the lot. Don't think I haven't tried to get changes made.

Also, I am their only member of staff, so the unfair treatment argument shouldn't be an issue.

The roads between my house and my job are mainly country roads and very precarious, I really wouldn't fancy riding a moped on them, plus I'd have to fork out for the license and the bike (i am very heavily in debt)

The way I see it I am offering them the very best I can do and I guess if they aren't willing to see that or compromise in any way maybe it will be better to leave.

Newdirections

Reading your story, I have to say it seems very unfair.

They want a flexible arrangement with you (I.e. no contract), yet they cannot be flexible to your needs in any way what-so-ever. Is it even legal to offer work without a contract in this kind of capacity?

Please start looking for new roles ASAP

HiToAll

I am sorry to say that you will probably have to find another job with more 'flexible' arrangements.
The bosses do sound a bit unsure or running a business with the no contract, payments late, moving starting hours around. However, if they want you in at 9am, then you start at 9am or look for another job.

[Deleted User]

I believe you. Bosses can be funny (I want to say something else) I once worked alongside someone pushed out because they wanted holiday day when someone else unteamed related had same day, in the end the spite of it, saw me on my own that particular day.. the person went under "couldn't work with demands of small biz" this person did manage to go to interviews on employers time so do make it work for you.

HiToAll

Deleted%20User wrote: »

I believe you. Bosses can be funny (I want to say something else) I once worked alongside someone pushed out because they wanted holiday day when someone else unteamed related had same day, in the end the spite of it, saw me on my own that particular day.. the person went under "couldn't work with demands of small biz" this person did manage to go to interviews on employers time so do make it work for you.

Did you read this before you pressed submit. I think I get the gist of what you mean but not sure.

Somerset

Fayelizabeth wrote: »

The way I see it I am offering them the very best I can do and I guess if they aren't willing to see that or compromise in any way maybe it will be better to leave.

They don't need to compromise. The basics of the job were agreed at interview and have never changed - start time 9.00 am. Not mostly, always. You may be terrific at the job but they still need a 9.00 am start.


Btw, you will always face this problem unless your next employer offers a later start or 'flexible' work pattern. I live in the sticks too so can sympathise.

Fayelizabeth

But I don't understand. No one is ever 100% on time, ever. Life gets in the way?

HiToAll

Fayelizabeth wrote: »

But I don't understand. No one is ever 100% on time, ever. Life gets in the way?

Your life getting in the way, whatever you mean by that, is not your bosses problem.
However, they are going to 'monitor' it for a few weeks to see how many times you are late, and take it from there. That is more than fair.