Advice about new job?

StevenB12

Hey everyone

I started a new job about three weeks ago now in a specialist building/construction company, I've got previous experience in this, my last job was more in Drainage Engineer but long hours and low pay made me go back into my previous work, but something seems a little 'odd' , I was made promises of my own work van etc and things like that, something which hasn't happened yet.

Basically when I had my interview he told me what the company did, what I would be doing, what I would get etc, company/work van and so on. A few days before I start my boss emails me saying to take my own vehicle to the site for that one day, fair enough. I ended up having to take my own car for two weeks, costing me about 60 pound in fuel. I met up with an agency worker there who is sub contracted through my work place, but as it turns out (there is only me and one other full time/ through the books worker, a long side the owner) me and the other worker are also getting sub contracted OUT to other sites, basically I represent the company, but don't 'work' for them if that makes sense?

It may explain better - The the site I was working on with the agency worker, we were there to demolish two rooms and install two new doorways, that's what the site has paid the company for, 3/4 days work, tops. While on site though we were getting orders from the site manager to help out with roofing/brick laying/general site clean up etc, basically jobs that the sites own employees should be doing.

The way it's going it's more like I'm a full time/permanent agency worker who is going to get sub contracted out to do numerous different jobs on various sites, where the site manager becomes my manager, and some of the jobs I'm doing, agency workers/tradesman for that role are getting paid more, but this is a cheap way around it for the sites.

I don't really want to be looking for another job so soon but I feel as though I've been mislead in coming into this job, any general advice on the situation? Is it worth looking elsewhere, does it sound a bit dodgy etc?

Thanks for reading

jobbingmusician

It does sound dodgy. But not the hiring out thing so much - I can see that might be legit. I am more worried about the failure to provide you with things that you were promised at interview. I think you should write to your employer asking when these things will transpire, pointing out that you used your OWN VEHICLE for the first two weeks, and asking for the fuel money back for these two weeks. You will be in more of a position to judge what the company is like when you get a reply to this letter/email.....

StevenB12

Yeah I told him I wasn't happy about having to use my own car, if I was told this at the interview then fair enough.

Think I'll email him seeing what's what as far as the van goes and things like that. I'm still not sure on the sub contracting, it probably is legit etc but just a weird way to be working, new for me anyway haha.

Sarastro

Have you told your boss that you are being asked to do things that his company isn't being paid for? If he squirms, he's lied to you; if he's angry, they've lied to him. Either way, he doesn't sounds very inspiring.

If he's given a price to do a job, you do the job and go home. But, it sounds like he's given a price for day labour, dressed up a bit. I mean, it's fair enough if you're on site and they need a quick hand with something - but this is going beyond that.

It's not a clear arrangement (i.e. more unclear than dodgy). I'd have some concerns about your insurance status if you were injured whilst doing something the company wasn't being paid to do.

You are employed by your boss, and he can either offer a fixed price for a fixed job or a day rate for labour; either way you are still employed by your boss. It's not unreasonable for you to be managed by the site manager for the time you are on site - health and safety, etc. but, if you're there to do a fixed job, it is unreasonable of the site manager to ask you to do things he hasn't paid for...unless of course he's paid a day rate for labour, in which case he can ask you to do anything he wants.

I don't mean to be rude, but are you a skilled craftsman or tradesman? If so, I'd ditch him and strike out on your own or find a new job. If you're only wanting labouring work, I'd still ditch him and join the agency - they seem to be better paid!

I think he's over-sold the job to you.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Sarastro wrote: »

Stuff.

Why do you keep doing this? You come in once a month, dredge up a load of old threads that are done with and add your comments to the bottom.

The people who asked the question have moved on. Do you really think your opinions are so important they have to be aired long after the event? All you do is confuse other people who don't notice how old the thread is and waste their time replying.