Rights as company temporarily closed

warriorsq

Hi all,
I'd like to ask if anyone can give me any idea on my rights as the company I work for burnt down on Xmas eve and is completely destroyed. I've heard from another worker that the owner intends to find a new premises, but I've not heard from my employer yet. Under the circumstance and the fact it was Xmas eve I can understand he's not contacted me yet. I'm due to go in tomorrow 27th but obviously there's nothing left and I'm hoping he'll contact me today or I'll contact him later. 

I've been working full time there for 8 years but have no written contract (probably not unusual for small companies tbh) and I've no idea if he has to pay me or any of my rights but I understand he's lost everything too. TIA

Marcon

warriorsq said:

Hi all,
I'd like to ask if anyone can give me any idea on my rights as the company I work for burnt down on Xmas eve and is completely destroyed. I've heard from another worker that the owner intends to find a new premises, but I've not heard from my employer yet. Under the circumstance and the fact it was Xmas eve I can understand he's not contacted me yet. I'm due to go in tomorrow 27th but obviously there's nothing left and I'm hoping he'll contact me today or I'll contact him later. 

I've been working full time there for 8 years but have no written contract (probably not unusual for small companies tbh) and I've no idea if he has to pay me or any of my rights but I understand he's lost everything too. TIA

In the absence of a written contract (as you say, not unusual but unfortunately not helpful either, especially in this situation), what has your standard working pattern been?

Without knowing much more about the company and the employer's position (eg was he renting the premises? If he owned them, were they fully insured? Did he have things like business interruption insurance?), it's impossible to comment with any real certainty.

If he doesn't contact you by early afternoon today, I'd give him a ring.

warriorsq

Marcon said

In the absence of a written contract (as you say, not unusual but unfortunately not helpful either, especially in this situation), what has your standard working pattern been?

Without knowing much more about the company and the employer's position (eg was he renting the premises? If he owned them, were they fully insured? Did he have things like business interruption insurance?), it's impossible to comment with any real certainty.

If he doesn't contact you by early afternoon today, I'd give him a ring.

Thanks Marcon, 

I work full time 37hrs a week Monday-Fri. He rents the unit but I've no idea re insurance. I'll need to speak to him obviously and find out if I'll be paid. Otherwise I'll need to find out if I can claim benefit somehow 

Hoenir

Until tomorrow there'll be little your employer can constructively do. Imagine the entire focus will be getting the business up and running again as soon as possible. Commercial insurance cover is far reaching . 

HampshireH

If the premises has burnt down and is not usable I would have expected the employer to reach out today (at least by email) to all employees and especially those due to turn up for a shift tomorrow morning even if only to explain loosely and than you're not needed in but will still be paid.

Grumpy_chap

If the employer does not make contact before the time you would normally leave to go to work tomorrow, then I would go to work as normal ready to start work.  That might seem pointless, and very likely will be, but you are showing your readiness to work plus it gives the employer the opportunity to make some kind of communications to the team members.  You may feel this is a waste of time, but you would have spent that time at work in any case, so you are not losing anything.

By way of a comparison, I was once working for a company and the premises became unusable overnight (not as severe as the OP's case).  A good number of staff knew through the grapevine before the day started - some of those took their own decision to not attend the office.  I did not know so travelled in normal time ready to start work.  There was a fair bit of faff and waiting around but the company sent a representative from the management team who gave a briefing (at the gates) on what would happen next and the implementation of the business continuity plan.  Those that were present and shown their availability and readiness to work were paid.  Those that failed to attend on their own accord were noted as unauthorised absence and not paid.

Marcon

warriorsq said:

Marcon said

In the absence of a written contract (as you say, not unusual but unfortunately not helpful either, especially in this situation), what has your standard working pattern been?

Without knowing much more about the company and the employer's position (eg was he renting the premises? If he owned them, were they fully insured? Did he have things like business interruption insurance?), it's impossible to comment with any real certainty.

If he doesn't contact you by early afternoon today, I'd give him a ring.

Thanks Marcon, 

I work full time 37hrs a week Monday-Fri. He rents the unit but I've no idea re insurance. I'll need to speak to him obviously and find out if I'll be paid. Otherwise I'll need to find out if I can claim benefit somehow 

Presumably working from home isn't an option?