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Felt really uncomfortable @ lunch today

13 replies

ChlorinePerfume · 04/05/2015 22:01

Working at a bank so believe it or not but we have to work on bank holidays. We are getting extra pay and work arranged lunch for us (paid by the employer). Thing is that we have a temp at work who was today told that she was not allowed to have the free food at lunchtime because it was for permanent staff only. The temp has been with us for about 6 months... It may be legal but I felt sorry for the temp and also felt uncomfortable eating lunch as we had lunch at our desks whilst the temp was there.. Awful. I think I may just try to get annual leave next bank holiday. Don't think the extra pay is worth it in the end. Just out of interest, do temps not have similar entitlement as permanent staff when it comes down to having to work bank holidays... Can't immagine giving my free time up for nothing.

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SycamoreMum · 04/05/2015 22:17

I don't work for a bank but something similar happened to a temp Receptionist/ office assistant we had in once. She wasn't allowed to have any of the practices ordered in lunch for a staff meeting. I caught wind that she wasn't getting any just before the meeting so I nipped down for an egg and cress sandwich meal deal thing for her. I just put it on the desk with her name. Just didn't feel right her not being able to pop out because she had to man reception on short notice.

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ChlorinePerfume · 05/05/2015 07:58

Had I known what was going in before lunch I would have gone out for lunch. Can't understand how employers can be so anal.

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wobblebobblehat · 05/05/2015 08:06

I thought temporary staff had the same rights as permanent workers after 12 weeks?

www.gov.uk/agency-workers-your-rights/overview

I doubt I would want to go permanent if that's how the company treat staff!

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Penfold007 · 05/05/2015 08:07

Someone with better employment law knowledge will hopefully comment but I think your employers behaved unlawfully. Temp staff should have the same access to shared facilities including food etc as other employees. Whatever the law it was rude, nor surprised you felt uncomfortable.

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ChlorinePerfume · 05/05/2015 10:57

They are probably well within their right to do whatever it is they do... Workers don't seem to have any rights at all. Employers always seem to be able to spin things in their favour. Seems temp workers are even worse off. Perhaps it is different in public sector...

This morning a lot of my colleagues were still talking about it in the office. Amazing how a slice of pizza or lack thereof can cause such a bad atmosphere! I'm actually tempted to find out if this is legal or not and perhaps have a quiet word with my line manager before the next bank holiday if is appears not to be.

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AmandaTanen · 05/05/2015 11:06

I worked as a temp for a government dept. I wasn't allowed to eat Christmas lunch in the canteen or go on the Christmas night out (civil service social club) it was really shitty but I just had to get on with it, and was glad when I got a permanent job elsewhere and anyone was welcome to celebrate.

It was made worse by the fact that I had to cover everyone's phones over the long lunch, but I hadn't been trained to cover an area so someone else needed to miss the lunch too, I was given the silent treatment for weeks after that for something that wasn't my fault. Didn't even get to go out for my lunch that day and was moaned at for eating at my desk.

It was my first job after uni, it really opened my eyes to the world of work, as a manager now I would never allow this treatment of staff.

Sorry for that rant, it was over 15 years ago but I still remember it well.

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peteneras · 05/05/2015 18:01

I'm afraid one lunch more for a temp working on a bank holiday for a bank is going to 'break the bank'.

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YonicScrewdriver · 05/05/2015 20:45

How crap. Especially if it was something like pizza which is "pile in for a few slices" not everyone ordering specifically.

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ChlorinePerfume · 06/05/2015 19:10

The temp said she emailed CAB who advised that she is indeed entitled to the same rights as her colleagues who are doing the same job and work for same company. However they go in to say that because she is a temp the employer can say they don't want her anymore without giving a reason. Temp has therefore decided to keep her head down and put up with crappy treatment. What is the point of giving rights to temp workers if employers can still flaunt them?

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Akire · 06/05/2015 19:16

Sounds so penny pinching , unless there fighting over sandwiches surely there would have been enough for temp also?

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flowery · 06/05/2015 19:19

Well it's not legal, no. But actually, and almost worse, it's really really mean. Sometimes managers or employers don't know the law. But most people aren't mean.

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ChlorinePerfume · 06/05/2015 19:26

Personally I think she is more worried about pay than the lunch arrangements. People who come in on bank holidays get lunch abd double pay. That is employees not the temp apparently...

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ChlorinePerfume · 06/05/2015 19:30

Thanks Flowery. One would think that recruitment agencies or HR departments at banks, which are not a small corner shop would have someone in the department who knows a bit of employment law? Probably have the wrong end of the stick.