Hi forum folks, new today but wish Id found this site a while ago...hoping you can help
Started work beginning january 2012. In july last year the company issued a letter that we were all getting new contracts and the main point was to alter the holiday allowance and its usage. NOWHERE did they say that some would be converting to fixed term contracts. They hand delivered them 1 week before the deadline to sign or...you would not get your new pay rate backdated for that month (woo) at 5% above NMW thats not a big incentive to just quickly and blindly sign- is it. It was a real shock to read a termination date I can tell you. Out of 20 doing exactly the same job 9 of us were on these contracts. The reason was put in the contract and it was `for those with less than 2 years service' At that point I was a few months away from that amount.
One of the supervisors heard that a manager was coming to answer any queries..that didnt happen. I had queries, big ones and as the upper managers are stationed 7 miles away with no direct phone numbers or email addresses I went elsewhere to get my facts straight but had conflicting advice from both the usual bodies the public can go to. One told me to refuse and see what happens and the other told me to sign because in the end they can force me to or fire me. Confused still I wouldnt sign. A few days before the date I get a call asking me where my contract is, I get taken into the rest room and unofficially told Im being silly and I will be given a new contract after the date is up, I point out it doesnt say that.
Im just about to go home one night 2 days before the deadline and get told to `come with me' by a manager...there in another room are 3 of the top guys standing over me. 45 minutes later with no one to hear what theyve said, Ive been told to sign or they will sack me anyway.They give me an extra week to calm down and feel `settled' (to me god cop bad cop tactics) 5 days later Im getting a call to say what am I doing, a day later I get a letter saying they hope they have put my mind at rest during the meeting without elaborating on the issues discussed (no they hadnt) but if I refuse to sign I am willingly terminating my employment.... I had to sign having no other income or another job to go to and earning just over MNW I have little savings.
The company is nepotistic, virtually everyone knows each other from years ago. If your face doesnt fit then you get the worst shifts, the dregs of the shifts, little privileges are kept for the favourite, the cliques.
My problem now is that come end september Im gone unyet I hear from others that the contracts will automatically be renewed. I heard that myself when under pressure to sign unyet its not out there being said out loud. The company gave no real solid reason when I asked them why FT for some? they said we dont want to discuss that at this stage. Thats dreadful that they cant reveal the truth then backtracked saying its for those who havent completed 2 years, is that seriously a valid reason?? Then they also said...sometimes we employ people and then things come to light about them and we dont want to have to keep them. Yes we have some dodgy people there but thats their fault for employing them, peoples family and neighbours and they can discipline or fire with less than 2yrs service....but not me as I, like 3 out of the 9 of FT started pre april 2012.
Just recently someone has left and have those full shifts been offered out fairly? no they are being quietly and sneakily passed over to others. They say that they need some people to be very flexible as they fell into a rut with others settling into definite patterns and never helping out but..again.. they let that happen. I have no idea what days Im working each week. Im emotionally exhausted, depressed actually and financially have hardly anything to show for all the stress and negativity I have put up with for 2.5 years. Im like the new girl, the agency staff...still. Mostly because Im not someones schoolfriend or sister.
Yes Ive gone on but I had to paint the full pic, sorry folks:tinysmile_hmm_t2: what do you suggest?
Started work beginning january 2012. In july last year the company issued a letter that we were all getting new contracts and the main point was to alter the holiday allowance and its usage. NOWHERE did they say that some would be converting to fixed term contracts. They hand delivered them 1 week before the deadline to sign or...you would not get your new pay rate backdated for that month (woo) at 5% above NMW thats not a big incentive to just quickly and blindly sign- is it. It was a real shock to read a termination date I can tell you. Out of 20 doing exactly the same job 9 of us were on these contracts. The reason was put in the contract and it was `for those with less than 2 years service' At that point I was a few months away from that amount.
One of the supervisors heard that a manager was coming to answer any queries..that didnt happen. I had queries, big ones and as the upper managers are stationed 7 miles away with no direct phone numbers or email addresses I went elsewhere to get my facts straight but had conflicting advice from both the usual bodies the public can go to. One told me to refuse and see what happens and the other told me to sign because in the end they can force me to or fire me. Confused still I wouldnt sign. A few days before the date I get a call asking me where my contract is, I get taken into the rest room and unofficially told Im being silly and I will be given a new contract after the date is up, I point out it doesnt say that.
Im just about to go home one night 2 days before the deadline and get told to `come with me' by a manager...there in another room are 3 of the top guys standing over me. 45 minutes later with no one to hear what theyve said, Ive been told to sign or they will sack me anyway.They give me an extra week to calm down and feel `settled' (to me god cop bad cop tactics) 5 days later Im getting a call to say what am I doing, a day later I get a letter saying they hope they have put my mind at rest during the meeting without elaborating on the issues discussed (no they hadnt) but if I refuse to sign I am willingly terminating my employment.... I had to sign having no other income or another job to go to and earning just over MNW I have little savings.
The company is nepotistic, virtually everyone knows each other from years ago. If your face doesnt fit then you get the worst shifts, the dregs of the shifts, little privileges are kept for the favourite, the cliques.
My problem now is that come end september Im gone unyet I hear from others that the contracts will automatically be renewed. I heard that myself when under pressure to sign unyet its not out there being said out loud. The company gave no real solid reason when I asked them why FT for some? they said we dont want to discuss that at this stage. Thats dreadful that they cant reveal the truth then backtracked saying its for those who havent completed 2 years, is that seriously a valid reason?? Then they also said...sometimes we employ people and then things come to light about them and we dont want to have to keep them. Yes we have some dodgy people there but thats their fault for employing them, peoples family and neighbours and they can discipline or fire with less than 2yrs service....but not me as I, like 3 out of the 9 of FT started pre april 2012.
Just recently someone has left and have those full shifts been offered out fairly? no they are being quietly and sneakily passed over to others. They say that they need some people to be very flexible as they fell into a rut with others settling into definite patterns and never helping out but..again.. they let that happen. I have no idea what days Im working each week. Im emotionally exhausted, depressed actually and financially have hardly anything to show for all the stress and negativity I have put up with for 2.5 years. Im like the new girl, the agency staff...still. Mostly because Im not someones schoolfriend or sister.
Yes Ive gone on but I had to paint the full pic, sorry folks:tinysmile_hmm_t2: what do you suggest?
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