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AIBU?

To be feeling awful/I've been fired before I started?

26 replies

PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:25

I'm not in the UK so mind the time difference (it's late afternoon here right now).

Currently looking for a job after my last workplace closed suddenly with just four days notice for everybody who lost their jobs Sad it's a very rough time right now and my family are barely making ends meet.
That said I do have some reasonably sought after skills, especially if I'm willing to travel a bit. So I'm not too worried.

Yesterday at 9am I got a phone call asking me to come in for interview, I went in at 2pm did the interview and trial and was offered a 32hr a week position with some great overtime.

Only problem was that I had to procure some things to do the role (mainly health and safety related clothing) I bought these yesterday at the cost of $120, I don't begrudge that as my partner works in an industry where he can use these if I don't end up in a job where they're required (they aren't always).

Also bare in mind that at the moment we're surviving on $800 a week with a $550 a week mortgage. That's obviously not including the utilities, contracts were locked into that can't get out of, food and school money for DC for their snacks and stuff we have to pay for here (books, etc).
We do have some family helping us out right now though. Thank god.

So it was still a lot to me. I was expecting a phone call by 5:30pm to let me know what I'd be working for my first shift so I called up at 6:30 when I hadn't had a response.

Told that he was very busy so to expect a call later or early tomorrow (so, today.) I phoned up at 2;30pm to be told that actually I wasn't going to get any shifts as another new person they've hired isn't happy to work with someone who doesn't have a certain qualification (which is something that's handy but not exactly required or essential and I'm actually qualified to a level above that in that qualification set)

Aibu to be very upset by this huge let down?

It isn't the end of the world, I have a trial on Wednesday and 2 other interviews next week I'm positive I won't be out of work for longer than a month total (so far been out of work for shy of a fortnight) but I feel so so let down, I've never had an employer do this to me. Especially annoying that I had to phone to ask about my first shift before I'd been told rather than telling me when the decision was made (the meeting with the other person included in the team expansion took place yesterday at 4pm)

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:26

By the way if anyone's interested or it's relevant the qualification I don't have is similar to (for eg)

I don't have a qualification in business operations.
But I do have a qualification in business operations management and lots of experience in both.

It's not that qualification but I'm just being careful

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Sunshineboo · 05/10/2017 07:27

Did they tell you to buy the clothing? If so o wonder if you could ask them to reimburse.

Horrid situation OP - really feel for you.

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Zampa · 05/10/2017 07:28

YANBU to be upset. That's poor. I presume no contracts had been signed though?

Presume you're not in the UK but I thought employers were obliged to provide PPE?

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TurtleCavalryIsSeriousShit · 05/10/2017 07:30

This says more about the company than about you. I think you've dodged a bullet. I'm sure it happened for a reason and one of the other interviews will come through.

In years to come you might look back and realise how lucky you were.

Good luck. I know it's hard, but hang in there. Stay positive and don't let the bastards get you down xx

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Locotion · 05/10/2017 07:32

Oh my!! That is very cruel.
I am glad you have lots of opportunities round the corner - and how lucky you dont have to work at such an unprofessional place after all - imagine all the other nonsense thsy would follow if that is hoe they treat their staff and applicants.

Perhaps write a formal letter of complaint to the head office if only to make you fel better and to put closure to the scenario. Or else think "bastards" and turn your head and strut off to a better place.

;) Good luck. Money worries are the pits. Many of us in the same situation - you are very lucky (you worked for them of course!!!!!) to have those qualifications so focus on those Smile

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:32

They told me I'd need it to start, so effectively yes. I had to get it. I was also told I'd start next week. So it's not like I was told "you'll need to get it if we hire you" as far as I was concerned I'd been hired IYKWIM.
There isn't a legal obligation here for employers to provide it - some do, but many don't.

No contract signed but one was meant to be en route to my home via courier

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ShiftyMcGifty · 05/10/2017 07:33

I don't quite understand either. They can't have you come in for a trial anything if you haven't signed any paperwork - and they certainly can't have you doing anything requiring safety workwear can they? What if you were injured on their premises?

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:37

It wasn't a trial or full shift as such - I didn't do anything that required any kind of protective equipment.
It was the standard which is just competency tests and a few basic tasks (that don't require any kind of protective clothing) it's a bit of a grey area but standard here anyway. There are much more dangerous parts of the job that I wouldn't be doing without appropriate clothing and a contract in place. If I was injured for eg I'd want at least sick pay for the time I was off which wouldn't apply without a contract.

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GrumpyOldBag · 05/10/2017 07:40

can't you return the clothing to the shop for a refund?

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planetclom · 05/10/2017 07:40

Really this is impossible to ask unless people know the employment law in the country you are in and you haven’t even provided that.

Sorry and all that but surely a group in your home country would be better to ask.

So morally yes they are, but legally ?

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florentinasummertime · 05/10/2017 07:44

Op is surely more seeking emotional support?

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:46

I was looking more for a vent/emotional support (Aibu to be upset not Aibu to lawyer up and sue the cunts)
I know the law - part of that is my job. They've broken the law but at the end of the day I can't prove it without a signed contract so it's fruitless to pursue legally.

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Witsender · 05/10/2017 07:46

That sucks. Take the stuff back.

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 07:47

I'm not sure I can but will be popping down to ask in the morning, it's still sealed etc and I have the invoice (proof of purchase)

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LazyDailyMailJournos · 05/10/2017 07:54

Oh love - not your fault. I know times are tough at the moment but if that's the firm's attitude towards its staff then it may be that you've dodged a bullet in the longer term. I know that doesn't help now when money is so tight, but you've got other trials lined up and you sound smart and proactive - so I am sure that you will find something.

Best of luck and definitely go back to the store and see if you can get a refund.

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zzzzz · 05/10/2017 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Finola1step · 05/10/2017 07:58

It is a pain and really mean of them. But I think, in the lo g run, you have had a lucky escape.

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ArgyMargy · 05/10/2017 08:00

I would never do any work without a written offer of work. Hopefully this will be a good life lesson in that respect.

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HolgerDanske · 05/10/2017 08:07

But surely the point is that without a signed contract they haven't actually broken the law?

Anyway, that is a shitty thing to do. Luckily for you, you found out about what kind of company it is before you actually started working there. It's a set back, and I would be very upset at the disappointment and kicking myself for having spent the money, so I know you must be feeling awful. But something better will come up. Can you keep the equipment you bought for the next time you interview/have a trial?

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 08:07

It's pretty usual to do a trial (in fact someone refusing to do one wouldn't get a job, Ime) but I probably shouldn't have bought stuff without seeing and signing the contract - I recognise that. I still feel rotten but I do also recognise that I've hopefully had a lucky escape. Would I really want to work for someone who treats their staff in that way (even if it was someone else and not me)
What other ways would they mistreat staff or cut corners...?

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PickledGlitter · 05/10/2017 08:10

A verbal contract counts as much as a written one. So effectively they've hired me then unlawfully terminated my employment in a way that can't be justified (legally speaking)

But there's no proof of said verbal contract. So yes they've broken the law as much as if If id put pen to paper. But It's not really something I can pursue due to the lack of written contract (basically I can't prove it) . It's not the laws behind it that bothers me, it's the morality behind it.

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HolgerDanske · 05/10/2017 08:15

I don't believe that necessarily applies to job searches/possible jobs though. Plenty of people accept a job and then go on to turn it down, for example, if something better comes up or if something forces their hand.

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HolgerDanske · 05/10/2017 08:16

Oh but ethics, that's a whole other matter! Of course what they've done is awful. Really, you don't want to work for them. Something else will come up. I hope you manage to return the things, or use them in future if that is possible.

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LadyRosalieBeauchamp · 05/10/2017 08:20

OP are you in the US? Contracts of employment are not the same as in the UK. Employees are a bit more protected here.

Good luck - they didn't deserve your skills. I think they acted badly here

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ShiftyMcGifty · 05/10/2017 08:34

Um, I'm a bit concerned because what you wrote about written/verbal contract is just bizarre. Just how do you think verbal contracts are normally "proven"?

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