Time to look for a new job!! mega rant !!

[Gill ZB]

beyond angry!!! Was told today after just one week of being "on the books" that I had a choice of a lift in the company van or to use my TT for a 76 mile return journey with no mileage claim ! I'm on not a great wage so I needed the 25p a mile ! I As work has 'slowed down" they won't pay my mileage or travel time ....so I now have to drive to head office 10 mins away from home, leave my beloved TT parked there for the day - on an industrial estate - and be ferried up to westerhope and back again ....I was working for an agency but the company offered me 40 hours and fuel expenses in my contract - a week later I'm told it's a lift in the van or I'm down the road! The total d*** of a boss said " why are you worried about leaving your car in a car park - it's just apiece of metal with 4 wheels - you're going on like its a baby!" .....errrrr...yes ...he is my baby !!! ok so I don't have kids - I have my TT and I've never owned anything but cr** cars and I've saved up for him - and the thought of leaving him in a car park 40 miles from where I'm being taxied to worries me sick ......I'm seriously on the brink of telling them to shove their job ...I know for a fact once they get used to not paying my fuel claim that they won't reinstate it .....Its a shame as I love my job but I love my TT more - I think asking me to leave the agency and go to work for them but tell the agency I wasn't looking for work to save them having to pay a fee for taking me on was a bit naughty - so now I'm in limbo - left the agency and on the company books but they've reneged on the contract - however I'm sure the contract small print has me stitched up. The boss did make a sarky comment about paying too much if I could afford to buy an Audi ........errr- mate I saved up and have worked all my life and never signed on or claimed a penny from the state ......if anyone has read through and made it this far in this rant .....thanks lol!!! In the words of the Stranglers - "should I stay or should I go?!!!"

 

[voorhees]

So many employers taking advantage of employees,its just wrong

 

[Gill ZB]

So many employers taking advantage of employees,its just wrong

It's a shame as I love the job and have great work mates but greedy bosses are spoiling it ....I would like to stay in the construction industry as I have so much experience but I don't think I can stay with this bunch of tin pot amateurs - so it's back to the agency or go back into teaching ....which is a last resort ...but thanks for the support

 

[Pinky1959]

Can you go and ask for your old job back and if you get it surely the agency can screw them over for telling lies that you were not looking for a job .or can you take them to court for not agreeing to terms unless you haven't got it in writing .
Contact the new companies HR and see what they say it maybe your new boss trying to work one to make him look good .
Please don't stress to much it will work out in the long run and you still have (Him ) Your AUDI TTTTTTTTT.

 

[Gill ZB]

Can you go and ask for your old job back and if you get it surely the agency can screw them over for telling lies that you were not looking for a job .or can you take them to court for not agreeing to terms unless you haven't got it in writing .
Contact the new companies HR and see what they say it maybe your new boss trying to work one to make him look good .
Please don't stress to much it will work out in the long run and you still have (Him ) Your AUDI TTTTTTTTT.

Thanks but I got the job as a temp thru agency ...was a 2 month assignment but 3 weeks before end of my assignment the company said they Would take me on - that they would tell the agency i was no longer needed as long as I didn't tell the agency they were keeping me. Apparantly this is a no no as if a company takes an employee from an agency they should pay the agency for me...I don't know how it works. As for the HR dept - it's a small company that handles everything in house and there isn't an HR per se - just a narky old battle axe who moans at the amount of work she has to do but still finds time to ring me up to tell me I've made a typing error and wasn't I supposed to be an English teacher?!! I used to work at head office but the bosses asked me to go and work on site ....because none of the other 3 women would - it's rough and I'm in a portacabin with no heating when the generator packs up and unisex loos I share with the builders lol and Im the only woman there but I remain professional and just get on with it. It takes a lot to phase me and I'm totally unshockable but in my couple of months there I have seen behaviour that would not be tolerated In any decent company. One particular manager has verbally threatened a lot of the labourers and sacked some for no reason at all. He also had a go at me claiming I was doing too much work for one of the managers and none for him - swearing and shouting so much that I'm ashamed to say I started to cry lol!! My colleagues sent me home that day and the manager now refuses to have anything to do with me or my colleagues which I
Is difficult as I deal with admin, calls and complaints and I now have to email them all to him as he wont speak to me! I know he has told the boss who has stopped my fuel allowance that I shouldn't be there and it seems the boss does anything he says! I'm beginning to wonder why I bother but I hate being defeated and I like the rest of my colleagues. I don't think i can go to my original agency (who were great) as I have told them I was having a break then going into teaching to save the greedy boss from having to pay a fee for me - so I'm snookered either way. I'll never get my fuel allowance back, I don't want lifts to work as I like my own transport and independence - and I HATE being a passenger !!! Yeah - I think it's time to move on ....such a shame as I loved the job....yet another one to add to the back catalogue of jobs !!!

 

[SimonSystems]

...I had a similar situation, some years ago...boss told me not to tell agency that he had taken me on full time...then proceeded to 'alter' my contract...
I got onto the agency and told them the whole story - they appreciated that I was put under pressure by the boss (promise of a job)...and...they appreciated that I'd told them. In the end, I left the company and the agency rewarded me with a far better job nearer home - and they sued the company for breach of contract (an out of court settlement was reached).
Keep the faith - believe in yourself...

Simon

 

[opelfruit]

Ah, dirty laundry in public. Previous employers (and prospective employers) love that sort of thing........

 

[Gill ZB]

Thankyou - I'm just trying to work out what to do for the best - I don't want to leave until I find another job but I'm so angry at what they've done that I just feel like waking away. I know it sounds petty but it was the comment about my TT being a lump of metal with 4 wheels ...from someone who himself owns a Q5 but can't pay me 25p a mile and has just had 3 weeks in Miami and his co director who is learning to fly and wants to buy a company plane !! Meanwhile the fleet vehicles are dropping bits and some have no MOTs!!! No ...the more I think about it the more I realise I'm not going to get my fuel expenses ever again and will be reliant on lifts from a colleague who is also unhappy at car sharing - and as the colleague works different hours to me he will either have to work my hours and be paid more - or I will have to work his and be paid less-as I'm on a v low wage and he isn't - guess who'll take the fall?! The car sharing means leaving the house at 6am and not getting home till 6pm - I'm paid for 8 hours a day. They've had me over whichever way I look at it. Did you speak to your boss and try to sort things out or did you just go straight to the agency? I feel so bad for not telling the agency the truth. I know if I give my boss an ultimatum he will just tell me to leave - no one is indispensable as my dad used to say and after all I'm 'just a secretary'!!!!

 

[45bvtc]

Leave, go elsewhere, and be happy; obviously where you are that just isn't going to happen: and I speak from experience; being happy and content in your job is most important...

 

[opelfruit]

If the HQ is your permanent place of work then any travel to and from other sites should be done as part of your paid working day, not outside of it. If you start at 9 and work to 5 then you should expect to not leave in the van until 9am at the earliest and be back on site by 5pm. Anything outside this (including getting stuck in traffic) is overtime and you should claim for it. Also, if you were using your personal car for commuting then you should have been paid 45p (for the first 10k miles).

 

[SimonSystems]

...I discussed it with him first - got to give them the chance to do the right thing - got nowhere, so went to the agency...
Good employers play fair...bad employers need be advertised as such - so prospective employees know what they are about...

Simon

 

[Gill ZB]

Ah, dirty laundry in public. Previous employers (and prospective employers) love that sort of thing........

Yes it's true that prospective employers would be put off employing me if I caused a fuss - but am I just meant to sit back and be made a fool of by a company I went to in good faith - and have worked over 60 hour weeks doing a job that none of their existing employees would touch? I've always just put up and shut up and never caused trouble but this time I'm really angry.

 

[Gill ZB]

...I discussed it with him first - got to give them the chance to do the right thing - got nowhere, so went to the agency...
Good employers play fair...bad employers need be advertised as such - so prospective employees know what they are about...

Simon

Thanks Simon - I think this is what

If the HQ is your permanent place of work then any travel to and from other sites should be done as part of your paid working day, not outside of it. If you start at 9 and work to 5 then you should expect to not leave in the van until 9am at the earliest and be back on site by 5pm. Anything outside this (including getting stuck in traffic) is overtime and you should claim for it. Also, if you were using your personal car for commuting then you should have been paid 45p (for the first 10k miles).

i leave the house at 6.30am to get to site for 8am as I have to get through A1 roadworks - I leave at 4..30pm and it sometimes takes 2 hours to get home. I am paid from 8am-4pm as I don't get paid breaks. I get (or rather got) 25p a mile. The irony is that when employed by the agency the company paid me an hour each way travelling time and asked me not to tell the agency that I was working away from HQ which was my place of work! Just one week of being on the books and I've lost my travel time and now my fuel expenses. Thanks for the advice - I really appreciate how helpful everyone on here is - it's good to get so much advice from educated and unbiased people allowing me to make an informed decision.

 

[Gill ZB]

...I discussed it with him first - got to give them the chance to do the right thing - got nowhere, so went to the agency...
Good employers play fair...bad employers need be advertised as such - so prospective employees know what they are about...

Simon

Thanks Simon - I think I will have to do the same thing. I've looked at my contract and nowhere does it say that the travel expenses can be withdrawn. However they could easily give me a weeks notice by saying the construction programme they have been contracted to has ended - thus rendering my services unnecessary. I had an excellent working relationship with the consultant at the agency and I felt awful telling him I was taking a break then going into teaching - I wonder if I could speak to him off the record for advice?

 

[Terminator x]

If they treat you like **** now it can only get worse. Get another job and move on. Don't even waste your energy ranting about it

TX

 

[Gill ZB]

But I need a good rant lol!
Looking online for other jobs now...want to stay in construction but not much out there in admin - wish I was younger I'd retrain as a plumber!

 

[45bvtc]

Move on, Gill; move on

During my career I've been made redundant - more than once; had several companies fold from under me; and worse, have had to make others redundant; but I've always moved on and fortunately most times to better things. Don't be afraid to say 'this is not acceptable' and 'be prepared to leave' and if not now be looking positively 'now' for new opportunities and employment.

Be happy in what you do, life's way too short - even with an Audi TT

 

[Gill ZB]

Thanks - you are quite right - I need to be a bit more assertive and speak up when situations are unacceptable .I'm not afraid of change - I've had close to (if not more than!) 100 jobs. I've done some amazing, fun , strange, horrible and crazy jobs and I'm still learning!!. I just graduated as a teacher in Jan this year but I still haven't found my niche ...really want to stay in construction so looking online - will also register with more agencies - but thanks for the support

 

[Gill ZB]

I've just updated my CV and applied for 4 jobs ....I feel better!!

 

[Gill ZB]

I didn't realise just how many jobs were out there!! Just applied for another 16! Mainly in housing as what I do now crosses over into social housing - with any luck I might get a job that combines my teaching/mentoring skills with my housing/construction experience - there's a great job doing just that in Sunderland - not far to travel and back on home ground ...I know I'll get something - I always do - just never thought at my age I would still be looking for the perfect job yet I know it's out there - and I've found the perfect car - and as fruitloaf says " two outta three ain't bad!" Haha

 

[45bvtc]

Well there you go, simples or what: good job you don't live close by or I'd give you the kindly words I'm well known to give to help you on your way: STOP, turn around, look over the wall, and move on; it ain't hard if you've the right 'can do' attitude

From a drawing board to saying yes to an alternative job I was in Hong Kong and then Zhangzhou PRC a week later - hate to tell you where I went after that...

Good luck Gill, move on and beeeeee happy

 

[Gill ZB]

Well there you go, simples or what: good job you don't live close by or I'd give you the kindly words I'm well known to give to help you on your way: STOP, turn around, look over the wall, and move on; it ain't hard if you've the right 'can do' attitude

From a drawing board to saying yes to an alternative job I was in Hong Kong and then Zhangzhou PRC a week later - hate to tell you where I went after that...

Good luck Gill, move on and beeeeee happy

Where did you go after that ? Haha!! Thanks for the kind words - I'm not going to do my usual and jump ship with nothing else to go - I'll stick it out there until I get something - but if that total loser boss (hard not to use site style industrial langusge!!) thinks I'm leaving the love of my life in some dodgy car park he's wrong - I'd rather pay for my own fuel and keep him with me !!

 

[wolfie138]

"company offered me 40 hours and fuel expenses in my contract - a week later I'm told it's a lift in the van or I'm down the road!"

how is that not breach of contract then?

 

[Gill ZB]

"company offered me 40 hours and fuel expenses in my contract - a week later I'm told it's a lift in the van or I'm down the road!"

how is that not breach of contract then?

to be honest - im wondering that myself?!!! ive looked at my contract and it does say in the offer letter rate of pay plus travel expenses. Im no expert but nowhere in the contract does it say travel expenses can be withdrawn. it does say my location can vary to suit the need of the business - so they could save expenses by having me at HQ - but Im not needed there - im needed on site. Without someone who knows something about contracts and legal issues to look at my contract im pretty much stuffed. I just feel they are looking to cut costs and last in first out - but its only been 2 weeks !!!! I know its been said that its better to lose my expenses and keep my job and they seem to think its perfectly acceptable for me to drive to HQ to get a lift and the same back again. But if I had been offered those terms originally I would not have accepted the job. Its hard to say I don't want to car share because I like my independence and hate being a passenger!! I work different hours to the guy im sharing with and it inconveniences both of us, Im on a weeks unpaid sick now - so im wondering what will happen when I go back - they'll probably say they don't need me - they only have to give me a weeks notice. May be best all round, they sure would not have treated me like this when I was on the agency books - I got paid travel time and my expenses! I would like to bet they find an excuse to finish me next week. im applying madly for jobs now!!!

 

[45bvtc]

Where did you go after that ? Haha!!

Throughout China extensively and then Netherlands, Japan, and Canada; just takes that kick-up-the-butt (and being as pi**ed off as you seem to be does help) to move on...

And I ain't sayin' it's easy but sometimes you've just gotta do it...

 

[Gill ZB]

Throughout China extensively and then Netherlands, Japan, and Canada; just takes that kick-up-the-butt (and being as pi**ed off as you seem to be does help) to move on...

And I ain't sayin' it's easy but sometimes you've just gotta do it...

Yeah I am a little p****d off - does it show ?!!

 

[45bvtc]

Yeah I am a little p****d off - does it show ?!!

Not so much, just think of the next TT you'll get with 'nicer' job and better remuneration; keep looking 'UP', and good luck

 

[Gill ZB]

Not so much, just think of the next TT you'll get with 'nicer' job and better remuneration; keep looking 'UP', and good luck

I'm still totally ecstatic about my TT - never thought I'd own my dream car - but threw caution to the winds and just went for him - as my best mate says "no use dying in credit " !! But the mark 3 TT is to die for - if I ever hit the big time then I think I'd have the TTS coupe- but I'm more than happy with my pride and joy till one of ends up in the big scrap yard in the sky- or the hotter version below - which I think I'd prefer lol!!

 

[45bvtc]

But the mark 3 TT is to die for...

Hmmmm; not so for me/us we'll stay MK 2; out chasing a TTRS ragtop (the only thing I'd swap our TT for) two weeks ago to sit along side our RS3 but it was 'white' and seriously mapped so we walked away...

​

A totally different animal to our TT Sport mind

PS: and age starting with a '4' ain't bad, just hope you feel the same when your age starts with a '7' and your still chasing TTRS ragtops... No pockets in shrouds...​

 

[Scottk]

Might be worth having a word with CAB or a specialist employment lawyer. You may have a claim for constructive dismissal but not sure how it works if you have been employed for a short time. Anyway, even if you move on, these guys should be allowed to treat people like that. At least speak to the guy at the agency as they will want their commission which could be as much as 30% of your annual salary!

 

[Gill ZB]

Might be worth having a word with CAB or a specialist employment lawyer. You may have a claim for constructive dismissal but not sure how it works if you have been employed for a short time. Anyway, even if you move on, these guys should be allowed to treat people like that. At least speak to the guy at the agency as they will want their commission which could be as much as 30% of your annual salary!

I'm going back to work Tuesday - had a week off sick and used it constructively applying for jobs - I'm going to speak to one of the directors and tell them I'm not happy getting lifts as it means leaving home at about 6am or earlier and that I'm willing to use my car and not be paid fuel expenses but only if I leave the house at 8am and site at 3pm. Those are the hours I'm paid for so that's what I'll do. He won't like that so I'll then say I have no choice but to resign and go back to the agency - he won't like that as then the agency will know he pulled a fast one on them. Even though I agreed to go along with it I wouldn't have if I had known he would cut my expenses 2 weeks into the job. I know people think I'm being petty but I don't know anyone else who does a 76 mile return journey with no expenses and no paid travel time for a low wage. I'm much too soft and scared to stand up for myself but I'm just going to have to learn to. Ive had great support and advice from you guys in the forum and I really am very grateful ....so a massive thanks to all who have taken the time to advise and support me ....the saga is far from over lol - just hope it ends well!!!

 

[Scottk]

The agency won't just know he pulled a fast one. The company would have had a contract with the agency which would state that they could not employ any agency staff for at least 3 months after the staff stopped working for the company or a finders fee becomes payable. This is a standard clause in agency contracts so they will be liable to pay that fee (it's more than likely on a sliding scale so if you leave quite soon after being employed they don't pay so much).
At least get travel time paid-don't lay down for this treatment.
Good luck, be a shame to leave a job you enjoy because of the way the management is treating you. Remember that bullying in the workplace is taken pretty seriously nowadays.

 

[Gill ZB]

I know it's a no no to take on agency staff but didn't realise the gravity of the situation! My boss is so greedy he won't want to pay tne agency for me! Maybe that's a bargaining chip - pay me a months wage and I'll leave quietly!! I wouldn't dare! I've always been scared to complain or cause a fuss as it doesn't look good for future employers, but I really am so angry - all they had to do was pay my expenses as per my contract. it was only 25p a mile - but it made a big difference to me. As I say if they had offered me 40 hours, no travel time and no expenses I would never have taken the job. Yes I love the job - but not so much that I'm paying to work there! I know I have to face all this on Tuesday and I'm dreading it - I avoid confrontation at all costs - but it has to be done. I've realised too late what a cowboy outfit they are. It would be best all round if I just left as soon as possible. At least I've been forced to look for other work and there's a lot out there - I think I aim too low sometimes and just look for min wage jobs - yet I have a lot of work and life experience, a degree and a teaching qual. - problem is I still don't know what I want to do! But I won't be staying there to be made a mug of !!

 

[martin1984]

whats stopping yoou from rining the agency and say your looking for work again?

 

[Gill ZB]

whats stopping yoou from rining the agency and say your looking for work again?

If the agency find out the company took me on their books the company will have to pay the agency as they aren't supposed to employ agency staff within 3 months of the temp contract ending . I'm not wanting to cause trouble but the company have taken away my expenses that were part of the contract they gave me. Having worked it out I'm on less than the agency paid me and no trax time or expenses. Tbh I'm sick of thinking and worrying about it ...best I just leave.

 

[Gill ZB]

Well......After speaking to colleagues and taking advice I've asked for 10 hours travelling time in lieu of mileage - it actually works out about the same as my mileage - so he won't honour that ! but he may give me half - if I get £40 extra I'm hoping it would cover my weekly fuel - though I'm not sure what mpg I get .... await an answer tomorrow! It's not an ideal solution but would keep me in a job while I look for another job. I'm still mega angry though and as I'm now paying for fuel i did a top speed of 70 - it was very frustrating lol! I really do want to say "shove your job" but I need something to go to. So having to switch off and just do my job. Don't know how long I can keep it up for before I get so narked I just walk lol! Thanks again to everyone who has advised and supported me - I really am very grateful ...hopefully I'll find a new job soon.

 

[Sandra]

Hope you find something soon Gill x

 

[Gill ZB]

Hope you find something soon Gill x

Thanks Sandra - I'll keep trying till I do - I don't think I'll ever forgive my "boss" for his comment "if you can afford an Audi we must be paying you too much" !! The mileage claim went 2 weeks after that!! I don't get it coz he has an Audi too ??? You'd think he would be supportive of my good taste in cars hsha!!! Maybe he's jealous lol!! Id rather pay for my own fuel and enjoy driving than being sat in a manky works van as a (very bad!) passenger lol x

 

[Gill ZB]

Well I've heard it all now - spoke to one of the "directors" - told me no travel time, no mileage - take my travel time out of my paid working hours - so as a kind forum member so rightly said my working day starts from when I'm paid - ie- 8am - so I leave home st 8am - drive to site and leave an hour before my finish time !!! Site manager not happy as that means I arrive about 9am ( A1 roadworks permitting ) and bail out at 3.30ish pm - I'm needed most between 8-9am and 3-4pm !!!! Oh and to cap it all the "director" who sorted my 40 hour contract hadn't checked with the other "director" who was In Miami at the time of my contract drawing up ...and he now says despite my contract I'm only getting paid 37.5 hours !!! I'm seeing the funny side now .....and will stay there until I get another job and laugh at the cowboy outfit they are ....just use my TT and take the hit on diesel cost myself .....looking at it positively I'm getting experience,(?!) being paid (a bit) working with guys I like, respect and have a good laugh with and I get to enjoy driving my dream car ......and those old enough to remember the saying ..."this time next year Rodney" !!!!!

 

[jojo]

This is what happens when you buy a better car than your Director Gill, so stuff them!