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Hi all, hope alls well.
Im currently struggling to get some wages and holidays I think I am owed from my last employer. In November 2012 I got offered the position of Bar steward/manager in what was my life long local members club and institute. I accepted and bearing in mind this has always been my local where I normally frequent, I knew everyone who uses the place and deemed them as all good friends. It's a small club, struggling money wise, I was fully aware of this but as it was my local I felt the extra responsibility of making sure I worked hard, and that exactly what I did. I worked very long hours, sometimes for free to make sure we banked enough money. I was trusted with everything as I am that sort of person, so much so my name was put on the mandate with the bank so I could sign cheques. I literally did everything and for not a big wage. I wanted the club, my club to stay open!
All was going great, the bar was doing well, not a single genuine complaint, no verbal or written warnings, I was really enjoying it to be fair, until Friday 18th April 2014.
The following is a document I wrote out to show ACAS and CAB what happened and when. They have not been much help though!
Friday 18th April/Saturday 19th.
After a ridiculous and uncalled for row with two club members about making them move to watch a rugby match over two months ago. One of the two members was very aggressive towards me. I asked them to move because some members requested football and some rugby, as football can only be watched on one of the two screens, I had to ask some members watching rugby on that screen to move to watch rugby on the other screen. This was two months prior to when they started rowing with me about it. I explained it was the only way it could be done but that made no difference and the members in question were extremely unpleasant towards me. Another member described it as bullying! As I closed the bar at 1am, in the heat of the moment I sent a text message to the club chairman saying ‘I quit’.
Saturday 19th April.
The chairman, representing the committee, text me saying how good a job I had done and that they don't wont me to quit.
At this date onwards for one week I had holidays booked for one week. I was told by the chairman to take the week off as normal to think about what I was doing as the committee did not want me to finish.
Tuesday 22nd April.
I called the chairman to talk over what was happening. He told me to take the following week off as unpaid leave as they had arrange bar cover for that week just incase I didn't come back, but also to attend a committee meeting on the following Tuesday. I agreed. As far I was told and understood was that this meeting was for me to decide if I would be returning to work or not.
During all this time I was still ordering the beer barrels and doing some of my normal routine as though I was working, without actually working the bar.
Tuesday 29th April.
I attended the committee meeting at 8pm.
The committee, Chairman, two committee men, secretary and treasurer were present. (This is all the committee!) I was asked to explain what happened which I did. I admitted I was very angry and upset at the time of the row. The treasurer who should not have a say on club matters as he is not a member or committee man, suggested to me that I was out of order to back chat the members I had Fallen out with. I disagreed as there were no committee men present to defend me so I defended myself. After talking about what happened I asked if a pay rise was possible. Somewhere along the line the committee claimed they had heard I wanted a £100 pay rise!
I actually asked for a £24 per week pay rise. I was asked to leave for 10 minutes while they discussed it.
The committee declined suggesting they were not making enough money, even though I was now opening the bar a lot more hours than normal, with once a month events (artists). Takings are up, on a regular basis. I accepted there could be no pay rise.
I then asked if it was ok if I let them know tomorrow if I was coming back. The committee agreed and I left.
Wednesday 30th April.
I sent a text message to the chairman offering my return to work as soon as possible asking for the keys because the bar and cellar were a mess and I wanted to get it back to the standard I normally kept it. Spotless!
Thursday 1st May.
The chairman replied to my return to work message, stating he told the committee I’d come back and they said ‘No’.
He then called me. I said it was a silly decision as they did not accept my ‘I quit’ text message and that as far as I was concerned that meant they were sacking me and he agreed. He said he would call an emergency meeting that night to try and sort it out.
That night it was getting late and I had not heard from the committee so I went up the club, the chairman and one committee man were present. I asked what was happening and the chairman told me they committee had a vote and the result was against my return!
I am reliably informed that the treasurer had a vote to which is not allowed as he is not part of the committee. The chairman told me they would send me a letter.
I collected my belongings and left.
Tuesday 6th may.
I had to text the Chairman to ask where the letter was.
Wednesday 7th May.
Received the letter which reads as follows,
After much debate and careful consideration, the committee feels unable to accept your offer to return to work at this time.
Your behaviour and subsequent demeanour were not acceptable and has left us little option but to seek an alternative approach to the stewards job.
We will review the position regarding outstanding wages as soon as is practicable and will contact you in this regard.
To date I have not received any of the money owed for hours worked or holidays owed.
Estimated to be approximately:
17 days holidays from 2013 year. These were not used as the committee at the time said they could not afford to pay me holidays and pay someone else to run the bar at the same time, so I obviously took some holidays but not all.
Any holidays earned in 2014.
Wages from monday to friday of the last week I worked. Monday 14th to Friday 18th April.
Overtime hours from Friday 18th April. Opened at 5pm for poker, closed at 1am.
The odd from every wage packet Ive had as I only ever took the square amount.
Plus my wage went up £3 earlier this year, I was not aware of this and have never taken this money.
The committee keep putting things off all the time, I have said I will accept monthly payments but I get the impression they are trying to get away without paying anything. One member told me they are saying because as they claim, I walked out, they don't have to pay me. Is this true?
How can I go about getting what I think I am owed.
I apologise its so long but it was the only way I felt I could explain things properly.
Any help is very much appreciated.
Many Thanks, Paul.
Im currently struggling to get some wages and holidays I think I am owed from my last employer. In November 2012 I got offered the position of Bar steward/manager in what was my life long local members club and institute. I accepted and bearing in mind this has always been my local where I normally frequent, I knew everyone who uses the place and deemed them as all good friends. It's a small club, struggling money wise, I was fully aware of this but as it was my local I felt the extra responsibility of making sure I worked hard, and that exactly what I did. I worked very long hours, sometimes for free to make sure we banked enough money. I was trusted with everything as I am that sort of person, so much so my name was put on the mandate with the bank so I could sign cheques. I literally did everything and for not a big wage. I wanted the club, my club to stay open!
All was going great, the bar was doing well, not a single genuine complaint, no verbal or written warnings, I was really enjoying it to be fair, until Friday 18th April 2014.
The following is a document I wrote out to show ACAS and CAB what happened and when. They have not been much help though!
Friday 18th April/Saturday 19th.
After a ridiculous and uncalled for row with two club members about making them move to watch a rugby match over two months ago. One of the two members was very aggressive towards me. I asked them to move because some members requested football and some rugby, as football can only be watched on one of the two screens, I had to ask some members watching rugby on that screen to move to watch rugby on the other screen. This was two months prior to when they started rowing with me about it. I explained it was the only way it could be done but that made no difference and the members in question were extremely unpleasant towards me. Another member described it as bullying! As I closed the bar at 1am, in the heat of the moment I sent a text message to the club chairman saying ‘I quit’.
Saturday 19th April.
The chairman, representing the committee, text me saying how good a job I had done and that they don't wont me to quit.
At this date onwards for one week I had holidays booked for one week. I was told by the chairman to take the week off as normal to think about what I was doing as the committee did not want me to finish.
Tuesday 22nd April.
I called the chairman to talk over what was happening. He told me to take the following week off as unpaid leave as they had arrange bar cover for that week just incase I didn't come back, but also to attend a committee meeting on the following Tuesday. I agreed. As far I was told and understood was that this meeting was for me to decide if I would be returning to work or not.
During all this time I was still ordering the beer barrels and doing some of my normal routine as though I was working, without actually working the bar.
Tuesday 29th April.
I attended the committee meeting at 8pm.
The committee, Chairman, two committee men, secretary and treasurer were present. (This is all the committee!) I was asked to explain what happened which I did. I admitted I was very angry and upset at the time of the row. The treasurer who should not have a say on club matters as he is not a member or committee man, suggested to me that I was out of order to back chat the members I had Fallen out with. I disagreed as there were no committee men present to defend me so I defended myself. After talking about what happened I asked if a pay rise was possible. Somewhere along the line the committee claimed they had heard I wanted a £100 pay rise!
I actually asked for a £24 per week pay rise. I was asked to leave for 10 minutes while they discussed it.
The committee declined suggesting they were not making enough money, even though I was now opening the bar a lot more hours than normal, with once a month events (artists). Takings are up, on a regular basis. I accepted there could be no pay rise.
I then asked if it was ok if I let them know tomorrow if I was coming back. The committee agreed and I left.
Wednesday 30th April.
I sent a text message to the chairman offering my return to work as soon as possible asking for the keys because the bar and cellar were a mess and I wanted to get it back to the standard I normally kept it. Spotless!
Thursday 1st May.
The chairman replied to my return to work message, stating he told the committee I’d come back and they said ‘No’.
He then called me. I said it was a silly decision as they did not accept my ‘I quit’ text message and that as far as I was concerned that meant they were sacking me and he agreed. He said he would call an emergency meeting that night to try and sort it out.
That night it was getting late and I had not heard from the committee so I went up the club, the chairman and one committee man were present. I asked what was happening and the chairman told me they committee had a vote and the result was against my return!
I am reliably informed that the treasurer had a vote to which is not allowed as he is not part of the committee. The chairman told me they would send me a letter.
I collected my belongings and left.
Tuesday 6th may.
I had to text the Chairman to ask where the letter was.
Wednesday 7th May.
Received the letter which reads as follows,
After much debate and careful consideration, the committee feels unable to accept your offer to return to work at this time.
Your behaviour and subsequent demeanour were not acceptable and has left us little option but to seek an alternative approach to the stewards job.
We will review the position regarding outstanding wages as soon as is practicable and will contact you in this regard.
To date I have not received any of the money owed for hours worked or holidays owed.
Estimated to be approximately:
17 days holidays from 2013 year. These were not used as the committee at the time said they could not afford to pay me holidays and pay someone else to run the bar at the same time, so I obviously took some holidays but not all.
Any holidays earned in 2014.
Wages from monday to friday of the last week I worked. Monday 14th to Friday 18th April.
Overtime hours from Friday 18th April. Opened at 5pm for poker, closed at 1am.
The odd from every wage packet Ive had as I only ever took the square amount.
Plus my wage went up £3 earlier this year, I was not aware of this and have never taken this money.
The committee keep putting things off all the time, I have said I will accept monthly payments but I get the impression they are trying to get away without paying anything. One member told me they are saying because as they claim, I walked out, they don't have to pay me. Is this true?
How can I go about getting what I think I am owed.
I apologise its so long but it was the only way I felt I could explain things properly.
Any help is very much appreciated.
Many Thanks, Paul.
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