JOB MAKING ME ILL BEEN STRUGGLING OVER A YEAR

Mar59

I have been working for a company for a year and nearly 5 months. Started January 2020 just before covid.  It was ok, although I noticed a few things straight away.  Unprofessional, director and my manager didn't have a good word to say about any of the company employees, very old fashioned, no employment law taken into consideration.  Treating suppliers like dirt, making comments we don't pay them unless they take us legal and when they do we pay them the day before the deadline and then we go to another supplier, this type of behaviour.   I didn't want to start looking again, so thought I will grin and bear it.  Then covid happened.  They dumped everything on me, and I did it, applying for covid grants, loans, getting all the Health and Safety setup on our sites and in the office for covid, all stuff I am not qualified to do but did it to save my job I was scared.  They then took everyone's holidays off them inc. me.  as holiday year end was 2 mths after covid.  Everyone was afraid to take time off there was so much to do, no-one furloughed, he made us work and travel in the first lockdown regardless, we weren't key workers.  I found out exactly what bad payers they were.  Got over 30k in grants and a 250,000 covid loan, which starts being paid back in 2 mths.  That got us out of it a bit, he took cash out like it was going out of fashion. 
Situation has gotten worse and worse regarding paying suppliers.  Then last November HMRC turned up and I had no knowledge of this, the manager hadn't been paying over National Ins. , PAYE tax, or CIS tax.  there was a sum of 222,000 owed.  She and the director agreed to pay 9k a month for a period until it was paid.  And that they had to start paying the monthly commitment again on top of that, around £17k average a month.  They paid one instalment January and defaulted and have not paid the monthly commitments at all on top of it.  So I should imagine it is close on 300k now with all the interest, late chgs, penalties, etc.  Also, last year they hadn't been paying the pension over, and they caught up with it when I told them they were breaking the law with that.  They paid it up to date and i then withdrew as I didn't want to risk my money being not paid over anymore.  I found a spreadsheet the other day and a letter and they are behind again around 9k or more now with pension conts. not being paid over.  We have suppliers calling everyday, she hasn't been in for 2 wks and its me taking all the calls and emails.  Solicitor letters, debt collectors, and I am on my own taking it all.  The rent on the office hasn't been paid for over 7 mths, we owe 11k, I just can't see an end to it.  We are constantly on stop suppliers are getting absolutely fed up and they have told me its been like it for over a year, which I know.   He is writing cqs that he asks them not to cash until 10 to 14 days to keep his credit open with materials, they are bouncing all over the place then when he gets cash we pay by bacs and then he writes cqs again to bide him time.  He knows he hasn't got the cash.  I was sat there on Friday waiting until 530 pm with the wages done waiting to see if the cash was going to land thankfully it did.  I spend every payday waiting and wondering if we are going to have the money.  He owes his mother as he pays her 1000 a month back.  He has his daughter and wife on the payroll and they don't work. 
I fear the HMRC ARE going to turn up at any moment and I won't know what to do and I know she will or probably has been avoiding this by staying away.  What will they do? the HMRC.  What is the next stage?
I am stressed to high hell.  She is back tomorrow (my manager) when she comes in it will be why haven't you paid this or that......she normally does the payment runs and me only in her absence.  I don't know who to pay with such little funds is the truth and I feel like my head is spinning and I don't want to go in i want to resign I hate it.  I have put on about 3 stone between covid worries and worries in my job.  I am trying to get a temporary role or anything with an agency to get out but I don't think my mind can take it anymore, drinking and sleeping pills to try and keep me going.  I have never been sick or taken time off in the whole year and 5 mths.  I keep surviving.  

Mar59

What I meant to add is if I just resign and apply for univ credit I don't want to work my notice, i don't even want to go in tomorrow.  Im only on 9.62 an hour, for all that SH**, I know how badly its affecting my mental health, its bad.  

HampshireH

That sounds awful and very stressful.

I'm not sure what you are asking in your post. But I'd it's validation to leave, then you should put your health first and resign. There are jobs out there even if they are ones you don't want. They will pays the bills until you find one you want.

Hospitality and retail are recruiting for the current demand.

HampshireH

Just saw your follow up.

You could get signed off by the GP with stress as it sounds like you have a genuine case.  Then give your notice to coincide if four weeks.

However sounds like they wouldn't pay you if they don't do things by the book.

Mar59

If i resigned as of tomorrow or with immed. effect I would lost last weeks wages and part of this week.  if i wait and resign on Friday after I am paid for the week, I will only lose one week in hand.  I may have to do it, and then see what happens.

TadleyBaggie

If you resign you may find that you will be unable to claim UC.

Mar59

what even with all that illegal and awful stuff going on.  there are other things which i can't say on here they are doing, illegal stuff, so basically I feel like i have to leave as it is impossible and impossible situation? I think i am just going to have to go sick and if they don't pay me which they prob. won't I can apply for univ credit whilst sick as I am not working due to the stress it is causing me.  I don't know I just don't know and tomorrow will tell her first day back she is always in a bad mood when she comes back from time off.  If she starts i don't think I will handle it i almost feel out of control to be honest.  

[Deleted User]

I imagine I will have everyone after me to dispute this, but yes I got Universal Credit even after leaving a job. So I cringe when I see others told well, if you leave your job you won't get ought.
The last job I travelled 60 miles round trip and paid to park to go into work which was literally pence above minimum wage.
(I've had far worse behind the above job Employers though to the point end of 2020 my family were tipped off that I must like working for a certain group of people) ended up interviewing up at certified Bailiff's office recently who just said well, you've worked for some interesting characters.  It did make me realise that I wouldn't see anything back, one employer I worked for made the way payday loan companies in the olden days treatment of customers look good! 7+ week's to reconcile payments to customers accounts, by heck. Customers waiting months for genuine refunds. When I worked for crooks, it just led me to more of the same as I became blinded.  Covid is no excuse.
Honestly even though I've kind of picked up an easy telesales 'anyone can do it' job free of job stress but working long hours potentially and it's early days but along with declaring this and £40 earnt from a factory job very recently, whilst I wasn't allowed council tax reduction help in the end, I still came out with £385.00 universal credit paid out for the month I spent looking for new work and NO sanction which I wouldn't say is not helpful when you consider I stayed home with the exception of interviews.
Please take care of yourself, as no one can do it for you.

MattMattMattUK

Wait until you reach the two year threshold, resign and sue him for constructive dismissal.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/leaving-a-job/dismissal/claiming-constructive-dismissal/

penners324

Tell the police, tell HMRC, tell the pensions regulator, then resign.
Plenty of accounts jobs around st the moment especially for people with payroll experience. Most paying a lot more than what you're on.

TBagpuss

Speak to your GP - if you are signed off with stress you can put in your notice and serve it while you are signed off. It may also make it easier to claim UC is you have evidence that you resigned for health reasons.
You can notify the pensions regulator about the missed pension contributions - see https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/contact-us/scheme-members-who-to-contact/report-concerns-about-your-workplace-pension 
Do you have a written contract? What is your notice period?  If your contract doesn't specify u only have to give a week's notice, 

You may well also be entitled to any outstanding holiday pay - your employer can't normally just take this off you , so if they didn't take steps to ensure that you were able to take your statutory holiday least year then you may well be able to claim that holiday pay from them . Make a note of what you are owed and include it in your notice letter - setting out how many days holiday you are entitled to be paid for for last year and for whatever you have accrued for this year.