Overreacting? A Workplace Problem

OakTree2007a

Sagaris wrote: »

Well, I'd like to see your boss' reaction if you came in late for a few days by the amount of time you were coming in early, and take an extended lunch break, the same length as the one that was denied you (less the 15 minutes you did take, of course).
Then I think you'd see some serious over reaction! :rotfl:
No, I think you are absolutely right - and they are taking the Michael.

A brilliant idea! As cheeky as it sounds, it's actually fair. For those in permanent work and their working hours/breaks, is it the norm to work past your hours for no extra pay? Just seems so wrong.I'm writing another e-mail to another contact at the agency, raising the new point too, so will see what happens.The more I think about this, it feels right to leave.

LittleVoice

t.swain wrote: »

A brilliant idea! As cheeky as it sounds, it's actually fair. For those in permanent work and their working hours/breaks, is it the norm to work past your hours for no extra pay? Just seems so wrong.I'm writing another e-mail to another contact at the agency, raising the new point too, so will see what happens.The more I think about this, it feels right to leave.

Personally, yes. When I've been in permanent work I have often worked extra time. I have the view that I am being paid to do the job rather than for particular hours. (This does depend on the type of work you do, of course.) It's also a matter of give and take and trust.

Where I work now as a temp, I see permanent staff who spend a great deal of time on personal phone calls (their own mobile and the office landline) and general discussion of TV, relationships, children, the news, society's evils of the moment, etc and balancing the tea fund and lottery syndicate money. But they don't seem to work overtime either!

Savvy_Sue

I do work past my hours, but I can also take TOIL (Time Off In Lieu) and I do ...

I've had agency staff working for me, and I've signed for the hours they've done. If one turned up early for a week without me realising, I'd sign for their hours and then tell them to work slightly fewer the following week if it was going to be a problem. If they were only with me for a week I'd notice the first day and send them home early!

And leave a temp on their own for 2.5 hours? Not me!

CFC

We employ quite a number of people on a temp to perm basis and in my experience the agencies are terrible, including the big ones. I've lost count of the number of times a temp has come to me and said that their pay has been wrong - but we've put their timesheets in correctly and on time...and they rarely pass on a message saying that their temp is going to be late, and a call about sickness will usually come half way through the day, even if the temp called in promptly.

PasturesNew

ohreally wrote: »

In a word, yes. I have concerns re you being left for 2½ hours alone.Your health and safety may have been compromised, does your employer have a lone workers policy? What would have happened should you have become ill,an unwanted visitor got access, a fire broke out etc etc etc.

There are loads of jobs where people work alone.
I had a job 2 years ago where I was the only employee and the boss was out all day. He was a photographer.
And that's not the only time I've worked alone.
It's common isn't it?

Alexandria

t.swain wrote: »

A brilliant idea! As cheeky as it sounds, it's actually fair. For those in permanent work and their working hours/breaks, is it the norm to work past your hours for no extra pay? Just seems so wrong.I'm writing another e-mail to another contact at the agency, raising the new point too, so will see what happens.The more I think about this, it feels right to leave.

I have always worked over my contracted hours in every job I have had. I make it a daily habit to arrive 20 mins early, this way if traffic is bad I am never late. I also find that because its noted then I never have issues if I need to take time out for my daughters hospital appointments. To me its just give and take, its only a problem when it is one sided like in your situation.

Savvy_Sue

PasturesNew wrote: »

There are loads of jobs where people work alone.
I had a job 2 years ago where I was the only employee and the boss was out all day. He was a photographer.
And that's not the only time I've worked alone.
It's common isn't it?

I think the thing is that the OP thought they were part of a TEAM, but the team disappeared and left them on their own. That's less common, IMO. And while it shows a good deal of trust in the temp, it's not necessarily fair to put that responsibility on a temp.

And in some workplaces there is a 'lone working policy' which almost says "you must never be on your own in the office". Certainly when the office is open to the public, I've always had policies in place, eg at one place there had to be a receptionist, a manager, and one other member of staff in the Reception area at all times we were open to the public.

Alleycat

I definately do not think you are overreacting and should continue to pursue your agency. If the company are refusing to pay you for time worked, then I would assume it would be up to your agency as the 'middle man' to sort this out.

Something which may be a concern also is that dependent on how long your working day is, you should have had at least a 20 minute break if working over 6 hours. This is the law under the Working Time Directive and all workers including temps are covered by these rules.

**woody123**

Also with those agency jobs with a view to to a permanent job you have to be careful they are not stringing you along.. With the manager being like you say he is towards you it maybe going that way.

My sister had an agency job a couple of years ago and was very often told by the company what a good job she was doing and there could well be a permanent job in it for her but there wasn't.. When the 13 weeks were nearly up they said something like they were making redundancies, noone else had to leave only her.

olly300

OP you are being taken for a ride by your agency. Once you are in the job agencies don't care about your working conditions as long as they get paid the money for you being on assignment.

The best thing for you do to is go in and see them personally and complain, or walk away from the job as your manager is not flexible.

Agencies in my experience never deal with emails or telephone complaints properly but if you are there face to face they have to deal with you.

You are a temp and as so it's up to you to enforce your contract rights as noone else will do this for you.

What I've learnt if your manager is flexible about lunch times etc. then you should be, if they are not then don't be. Take a book or magazine in with you and when it's not your scheduled time to work be seen reading it or ensure you are not at your desk. (I've sat in toilets not to be seen at my desk.) If they say something point out that you are a temp and your sheduled working hours are xx hours per day with 1 hour break for lunch and repeat this. If they ask you to leave find another agency and make up some excuse for leaving as you are well out of there.

BTW as an MSE I always take something in for my lunch so I can eat at anytime I want.