Dos and donts in the workplace.

Concerned75

I would like some professional advice if possible on this situation.
I've started work at a place I can only describe as 'communial'. I have been in my work profession for 26years in various workplaces and never seen an environment like this.
This is a small business of 10 people. Half are related or close relationship, the others are new to the type of work or new to the workplace.
The boss is very controlling. He tells everyone when it's time for breaks( if he has to go out, you must have your break at that time) when you can go home etc...
He spends every break within the working unit and he, his wife and the supervisor are always talking about other people's work and private information amongst themselves. As far as I'm concerned, this is wrong, unprofessional and nepotism shouldn't be in the workplace at a close proximity, but he has run his business like this since 1997 when there was only 4 of them and is stuck in that lapse attitude period of time. I sense you are not allowed to be an individual and think for yourself. He always talks in 'everyone' and collectively blames if something goes wrong.
There is no privacy or effective open door policy as whatever you tell him, he duly tells other related people about it.
I only work 4 days, so I get a break from this. I dislike the unfairness and discrimination clearly in this workplace. There are no boundaries or an independent person that you can air your concerns with.
Needless to say, there are lots of absences from people who are spoken to belittling at times (these people are young and it's their first job) One worker just walked out because of him, but he is delusioned into thinking they left for reasons not relevant to them.
What are the official roles of the Employer, Supervisor and is he breaking any employment laws or free to run his small business as he wants?
By the way, I'm still working there because I've decided it's my last PAYE job and pays the bills until I have enough contacts to go self employed.

Comments appreciated.

Undervalued

Concerned75 wrote: »

I would like some professional advice if possible on this situation.
I've started work at a place I can only describe as 'communial'. I have been in my work profession for 26years in various workplaces and never seen an environment like this.
This is a small business of 10 people. Half are related or close relationship, the others are new to the type of work or new to the workplace.
The boss is very controlling. He tells everyone when it's time for breaks( if he has to go out, you must have your break at that time) when you can go home etc...
He spends every break within the working unit and he, his wife and the supervisor are always talking about other people's work and private information amongst themselves. As far as I'm concerned, this is wrong, unprofessional and nepotism shouldn't be in the workplace at a close proximity, but he has run his business like this since 1997 when there was only 4 of them and is stuck in that lapse attitude period of time. I sense you are not allowed to be an individual and think for yourself. He always talks in 'everyone' and collectively blames if something goes wrong.
There is no privacy or effective open door policy as whatever you tell him, he duly tells other related people about it.
I only work 4 days, so I get a break from this. I dislike the unfairness and discrimination clearly in this workplace. There are no boundaries or an independent person that you can air your concerns with.
Needless to say, there are lots of absences from people who are spoken to belittling at times (these people are young and it's their first job) One worker just walked out because of him, but he is delusioned into thinking they left for reasons not relevant to them.
What are the official roles of the Employer, Supervisor and is he breaking any employment laws or free to run his small business as he wants?
By the way, I'm still working there because I've decided it's my last PAYE job and pays the bills until I have enough contacts to go self employed.

Comments appreciated.

Well, unless he is breaking any laws (and I see no evidence of that in your post) then yes, he is free to run his business how he wants!

It may well not be good practice or not even good for his business but that is another matter. Having said that, the business clearly runs, provides a living for a number of people including the proprietor and his wife and is presumably viable.

Discrimination is perfectly lawful unless it is for one of the few reasons prohibited by law (race, gender etc).

So, unless you and other employees who share your opinion can influence his to change for the better (as you see it) then it is really a case of put up with it or look for another source of income.

1886

A workplace, and even worse a small workplace, where a number of family and friends work together is not a good place to work. You will be overlooked for promotion and always an outsider. Just my opinion

xapprenticex

This is a plus point to running your own business, you get to do what you want.

From the sounds of it, you need to get a job elsewhere ASAP

NYM

By the way, I'm still working there because I've decided it's my last PAYE job and pays the bills until I have enough contacts to go self employed.

Are you planning on poaching your employers client/customer details?

Concerned75

Are you planning on poaching your employers client/customer details?

Self employed as in providing work for businesses, not running one myself, so no fear or "poaching" as you put it. Besides, the work I do now, couldn't be done at home.
I'm not pressured working there, as I have experience in the type of work he is pushing to start doing. My concern is more for my colleagues who are getting stressed and I'm sure something will blow soon, as another worker has left or was dismissed today.

lisa110rry

This seems a horrible situation to be in, and the direct opposite of my firm where you are trusted to just get on and do it and otherwise are free to have a coffee and a chat when you feel like it.

Malthusian

Concerned75 wrote: »

My concern is more for my colleagues who are getting stressed and I'm sure something will blow soon, as another worker has left or was dismissed today.

Let them take care of themselves. It sounds like two of them already have.