Having some problems at work

[Badbill]

Right so basically im owed alot of money from a small carpet firm (legit job) they are docking 7 hours a week out of my pay...
Yesterday i walked out due to the bosses son being on a power trip and picking faults that wernt there in my work then shouting and swearing at me infront of other employes.
I didnt hit the guy but what should I do now? is it straight for the courts? and being unemployed again?

[Badbill]

Basically i went back today and have been told I have been suspended (not given a reason) and told to attend a meeting on monday...
The docked wages are at a guess 1hr a day for a lunch break that i dont get and 2hours a week for when i do a late night...
I wouldnt mind as much if I was a lazy guy but i work my balls of for this firm and get nothing back...

[Hongkongfooi]

He's probably suspended you for walking out and he should have told you why and what is being investigated.

You are entitled to a lunch break but I guess this is not paid? Only you know why they are withdrawing pay and this should be documented by the firm somewhere?

He is being very unprofessional carrying out employment issues in front of staff and maybe you could have him for bullying tactics?

He should have identified areas in your work if they were defficient (im not saying they are) and had a meeting with you to talk about improvement and set timescales to improve.

Your meeting on monday means you are entitled to a witness or union type person?

Sounds like a tribunal after the meeting?


and no I don't do this for a living just experiance.

You are entitled to lunch breaks and Tim is correct in saying that you don't have to pay for this as a boss. You should however be informed of this, especially if this is a new occurance.

With regards to the employment issues in front of other staff members, that is a serious no no If there is any kind of issue it should have been dealt with privately, or with an independant arbitor in the meeting. Would any of these mebers of staff back you up with what was said? If so, play it cool.

Are you employed or self employed?
Do you have any kind of contract of employment?
How long have you been there?

Sorry for more questions, but it is all important.

Do yourself a favour today though and write down the events as they happened and how you saw it. This will prove invaluable.

[Badbill]

Originally Posted by worzel

You are entitled to lunch breaks and Tim is correct in saying that you don't have to pay for this as a boss. You should however be informed of this, especially if this is a new occurance.

With regards to the employment issues in front of other staff members, that is a serious no no If there is any kind of issue it should have been dealt with privately, or with an independant arbitor in the meeting. Would any of these mebers of staff back you up with what was said? If so, play it cool.

Are you employed or self employed?
Do you have any kind of contract of employment?
How long have you been there?

Sorry for more questions, but it is all important.

Do yourself a favour today though and write down the events as they happened and how you saw it. This will prove invaluable.

I have a strange feeling the staff (2 out of 3 have had problems with the boss before) will bottle it mate.
The bosses son is already denying he swore at me during the initial arguement and thats what wound me up initaly and i counted twice...but its my word against his you know.
Im not self employed and have no contract of employment i have only been in this firm for 4 months.
Since I started work this sort of thing just finds me,
Working on finding a decent firm to work for today applyed for 4 jobs and 2 agencies so far.

[Justin]

Good luck, both with the meeting and the jobhunt.

Didn't the guy swear at you in front of others? so its his word against a few?

IMO swearing has to be taking in context, especially in the heat of a situation

For example

"You're late all the ****ing time" is nowhere near as bad as "You're late again you lazy ****ker"

[Mortster]

Take a look at the current working Time Directive, explains is exactly allowed when it comes to Breaks and the gap required between shifts etc etc.

As for being susspended, thats fine, but they would have needed to Give a reason, then this should form the basis of the meeting on Monday, which you should get a written invitation too. This meeting should be classed as a investigation, and should not be a disciplinary, thats the next stage, based on the outcome of the investigation. Your allowed a witness for the investigation too, but they just observe, and cant say anything.

The first line of the investigation, should be....Where here to discuss ( insert the reason why they susspended you ). And at some point, they Have to ask.....Is there anything you'd like to add.

Possible outcomes are

1.NFA ( No further Action )
2.LOC ( letter of Concern )
3.Moves onto a disciplianary hearing.

if it is 3, again you should get a written invitation to it, and again, your allowed a witness

Hope that helps a little, if you need anymore help give me a shout. I do ivestigations/Disciplinarys for my work, and we have to do everything 100% exactly right, or you leave yourself open to action being taken by the employee.