So Angry I Could Burst!

Little_Pickle

GRRRRRR....

I am an agency worker and was told a year ago when I started my new contract, that I would not be paid holiday as it was part of my hourly rate.

today I find out that I in fact DO get holiday pay and I am owed over a month's salary.

This has caused SO many problems in my life over the past year. I have had massive arguements with my OH because I couldn't take time out from work (even though I was exremely tired). OH wanted me to take the time off and even, on many occassions, wanted to pay my wages just for me to take a week or so off. I never took him up on the offer and muddled on as I never thought I was entitled to this money.

Of course, the silver lining is that I am owed a lot of money, but my money saving and relationship has taken a knocking because of this. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that my OH and I have been and are still at severe breaking point because I never took time off work, was grumpy, sad and irritable. As a result of my moods etc and a few other issues, I am now living elsewhere whilst we try to sort out our problems.

I'm so angry... so, so angry I feel like crying.
LP

madmoney_2

Hi Pickle, first of all (((((((((big hug))))))))))

So sorry to hear about the time out your partner and your good self are having, however this is what happens, most ppl argue about money - maybe oh hasnt had lightbulb moment yet seen as how they kept asking for you to take time off? Try not to blame it all on yourself, you werent in the know at the time, as you say the silver lining is the wad of money you are owed, take it, pay off a debt and pat yourself on the back for a job well done, you deserve it xxxx

Shineyhappy

Hi Little Pickle,

I am sorry that this has caused so many problems in the past. If you dont mind me asking how much do you think you are owed?

If I were you I would use some of the money to book a hotel or hire a cottage (some are really quite cheap now as its not the Summer holidays) and treat yourself and OH to a break and then use the rest of the cash to pay off a debt as then hopefully you will both relax on holiday and also you will be less stressed as your debts are lower.

Try and see the positive in this situation!

immoral_angeluk

oh god what a nightmare for you... but look on the brightside.. you're going to have a nice lump sum coming your way soon!!

Snaggles

Awww Little Pickle (((hugs))), I really feel for you. I hope you can sort out the issues with your OH. I agree with Shineyhappy about maybe treating yourselves to a little break with some of the money you are owed.

There ARE some positives here - the money & the fact that, despite intense pressure, you and oh are still trying to make it work. I hope you can build on these and get things back on track soon. Some things, such as health and love, are more important than repaying debts.

pollyanna24

I'm so sorry to hear that you've had a tough time.

But how long were you willing to go on without having any time off? Everyone needs time to recharge their batteries now and then, so I can completely understand why you were nearing your wits end.

Hugs.

Little_Pickle

If you dont mind me asking how much do you think you are owed?

I don't mind at all... let's just say it's almost enough to make me instantly debt free. It's 1,200.00.

maybe oh hasnt had lightbulb moment yet seen as how they kept asking for you to take time off?

My OH earns 3 times as much as I do and he is always SO SO SUPPORTIVE of my money worries. He has no debt at all and gets yearly bonuses that he works very very hard for. He ALWAYS spoils me anyway. The trouble here, is me. I am too proud to let him help as it was my fault I got into debt and didn't want him to be paying off my debts for me. He sees us as a team and he's money is our money and visa versa... I could just never bring myself to take money from him that he works SO extremely hard for.

I think I will book a lovely weekend away for the two of us. I know that even though he sees our money as our money, I've never really been able to 'treat him' and spoil him - especially as he has been so great.
It was my birthday last weekend and he gave me enough money to pay off the last little bit of my credit card. He's been amazing.

*takes a deep breath, has a little cry and feels so annoyed and frustrated over the whole situation*

taxi97w

Little_Pickle wrote: »

I am an agency worker and was told a year ago when I started my new contract, that I would not be paid holiday as it was part of my hourly rate.

today I find out that I in fact DO get holiday pay and I am owed over a month's salary.

I don't understand.
You have been paid holiday pay, albeit, hidden in your hourly rate.

Shineyhappy

I would be jumping for joy if I had found out I was owed that much!

Of course the other huge positive is now you can enjoy your holiday without worrying about missed earnings and its better to find out now than after Christmas!

This must bring your debt free date forward loads, although I hope your are debt free as soon as possible, I hope you keep posting after then as I will miss you loads

KME91

How long have you gone without time off? you are legally entitled to four weeks paid leave a year. that's a statutory entitlement, and your employer should have made sure you were getting it. simply paying you the holiday pay on top of your normal pay isn't legally acceptable except in extreme circumstances. (it's your employer at fault, not you before you worry about legal stuff!)

You're entitled to submit a greviance to your employer to complain about the situation, which i'd recommend doing, even if it's just so no one else has to go through what you've been through. If you wanted to you could even take it to tribunal, and they might even consider compensating you for your employer's failings.

The vast majority of employee rights apply to agency staff as much as anyone else. don't let them tell you otherwise.

If you need any help or info, give me a shout, i'm a union rep, i handle this stuff a lot *hugs*

KME91

taxi97w wrote: »

I don't understand.
You have been paid holiday pay, albeit, hidden in your hourly rate.

Agency staff are often told that their holiday pay is included in their hourly rate, and so on the days they do not work, they don't earn any money. Therefore, as they're often very low paid, they tend to avoid taking time off. A whole week of not getting paid is a struggle for these people, as the money they earn is minimum wage or just above in a lot of situations.

In this case, on the days the OP would have taken off, she would have accrued pay in the same way as when she was at work, to the tune of an entitlement to four weeks holiday a year, vital for anyone's personal sanity and general well being. Add to that the fact that the employer has a responsibility to ensure that the employee receives their statutory holiday rights, and it seems the OP's employer is bang out of line......