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AIBU?

Is DH being unreasonable to quit his job?

39 replies

mmmbagels · 16/08/2018 14:14

My God it's been a stressful day! I'm really unwell, and can't stand up right now without throwing up or collapsing. I've got an 8 month old who seems to be coming down with it too now (oh joy) but I can't care for her as I'm taped to the toilet. We tried to find anyone else who could help me care for DD but nobody can help. DH was off on Tuesday and Wednesday with this, and was practically unable to move. Today he received a snobby text saying "I suggest you get yourself in today". He was going in anyway it was just really unnecessary. One thing led to another and now I've got to go up to A&E (111 advice) . I asked DH to come home as I'm really not doing good and now I have to go to hospital I don't have anyone to watch DD and I can't drive in this state.

He was told if he took any more time off he'd be fired. ( Previous day's off: when I had a blood clot in my lung and was in the hospital when I was 8 months pregnant (1 day off and 2 half days off), when I went into an almost week long labour he stayed by my side and took two days off after she arrived (6 work days off), when he had an accident at work and had burns up his arms (2 days), and then the two days this week. )

Ok he's had a lot of time off but I think they were justified. He's over worked for what he gets paid (has to be there at 7:30 and finishes anywhere between 5 and 630 (only ever paid from 9-5) he's on minimum wage even though he's a fully qualified plumber with 5 years experience. He's the lowest paid with the next person earning more than £5 ph more. He has quite bad anxiety, so he struggles to stand up for himself. His dad works there, earns more that £12 pH more and doesn't stand up for his son. It's stupid.

He walked in the door just now and said he's quitting... I think he should. He's been made a fool of. He could get another job so easily. But are we being unreasonable to think this?

OP posts:
Thehop · 16/08/2018 14:16

Nope. He should get another job ASAP

Merryoldgoat · 16/08/2018 14:19

No. Those are untenable working conditions. He should certainly find something else.

PumpkinPie2016 · 16/08/2018 14:19

Sorry to hear you are unwell - what a nightmare Sad

Normally, I would say don't leave until you find another job - will I need a reference? If so, perhaps he would be better giving the required notice.

You mention he is a plumber? Can be set up on his own? Good plumbers are in demand!

I hope you feel better soon and your husband gets sorted out jobwise - there will be something out there I'm sure.

TheMerryWidow1 · 16/08/2018 14:19

go for it, plumbers are always in demand.

YogaPants · 16/08/2018 14:26

Given that in my part of the country there is such a shortage of plumbers and the ones that are here, charge £60 and hour for a minimum 1h call out, i’d be encouraging him to quit ASAP.

glamourouspud · 16/08/2018 14:33

He should definitely quit! He can set up as self employed - google will tell you everything you need to know. His employers are taking the complete piss out of him.

Hope you all get better soon! Don't stress about the work situation, it will work out for the better.

Ginorchoc · 16/08/2018 14:36

I’d take advice, he has to be paid for the hours worked, Langleys solicitors recently did some case law work on this if you google it. Burns up his arms from a work accident??

Ginorchoc · 16/08/2018 14:37

Also I had a two week wait to book a plumber for a smallish job after trying 6 difference firms, they are in short supply.

SometimesMaybe · 16/08/2018 14:37

Good plumbers are like gold dust where I am, he should be able to get work no bother.

LeroyJenkins · 16/08/2018 14:38

he's on minimum wage even though he's a fully qualified plumber with 5 years experience

Why on earth is he still there?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 16/08/2018 14:39

If they haven't been paying him for all his hours worked aren't they effectively paying him less than minimum wage.

I suggest he speaks to ACAS
www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461

They have a helpline
www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1410

Bluelady · 16/08/2018 14:40

He's absolutely done the right thing. Qualified plumbers earn shedloads of money.

WutheringTights · 16/08/2018 14:43

Report them for paying less then minimum wage.

www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/worker-disputes-over-minimum-wage

IsaidMrDarcynotArsey · 16/08/2018 14:46

Hope you feel better soon Flowers completely missing the point however : it’s very difficult to get a decent trustworthy, tidy and timely plumber in my neck of the woods - encourage him to set up on his own - might be a better solution all around. I think individual householders are more sympathetic to family emergencies than what sounds like a terrible employer. If you work you get paid end of, this might be the catalyst he needs to improve his working conditions.

dinosaurkisses · 16/08/2018 14:48

Encourage him to go self employed- picking and choosing his own jobs and working hours sounds like it would suit your family set up at the moment much better!

Purringkittenmama · 16/08/2018 14:56

Definitely agree with everyone else on here saying he is doing the right thing and he should set up on his own. We always have to wait ages for our plumber (who set up on his own straight after college) to fit us in as he is so busy.
I work for myself with DH and it is so much better than being employed by unreasonable ***.
One word of caution- make sure he sets everything up properly with HMRC if he is going self employed. Also, don't let the fear of keeping records etc. put him off. If you don't feel confident to do it yourself, there will be people who can do it for you. I'd recommend seeing an accountant for advice.
Best of luck and hope you feel better soon.

PatchworkGirl · 16/08/2018 14:58

I'd say definitely report them - it sounds like they are paying less than minimum wage and they need to be pulled up on this - and leave. Self employment sounds like the best way forward - plumbers are in so much demand and (if they're anything like any of the builders I've tried) just answering customer's messages and communicating properly would ensure he could charge a premium.

1forAll74 · 16/08/2018 15:02

Yes best that he quits under those circumstances, not pleasant to work with all the worry and hassle. Your partner should be able to get another plumbing job easily, and hopefully not have problems with having quit his job.

I hope you will be feeling better very soon. too much on your plate with all your health problems and a baby,and everything else.

Travis1 · 16/08/2018 15:05

Not unreasonable at all, get set up asap as self employed plumber. I'd also be claiming for unpaid hours if possible, speak to ACAS.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 16/08/2018 15:06

Not unreasonable, it sounds like he'll be able to get another job. Also I'd be looking for compensation for getting burned at work - that's not ok

AncoraAmarena · 16/08/2018 15:07

He shouldn't quit, he should wait to be fired (if it comes to that) and then claim unfair dismissal.

In the meantime report them for the less than minimum wage part. And start looking into setting himself up as self employed.

Hope you're feeling much better very soon.

AnnieAnoniMoose · 16/08/2018 15:08

He clearly does suffer from anxiety as anyone else would have told them where to shove it well before now.

He needs to find the confidence to go out on his own. I don’t know know a single place in the UK that has an abundance of plumbers. He has a good trade, he is a mug to be working the way he is, for twats like that.

As for his Dad, what’s the story there? No decent Dad would be acting like that, no matter how old his son is.

I hope you are all feeling better soon 🌷

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OutPinked · 16/08/2018 15:09

Plumbers are in demand. He should strongly consider becoming self employed.

Sorry you’re feeling so shit OP, I hope you feel better soon Flowers.

SanFranBear · 16/08/2018 15:09

Perfectly reasonable, I reckon.

Get well soon OP Flowers

AnnieAnoniMoose · 16/08/2018 15:11

I wasn’t very clear, sorry, I wouldn’t advise he ‘quits’ though. I’d suggest he works the hours he’s paid to work and let them fire him. THEN take them to the cleaners.

In the meantime get well, then both sort out everything he will need to go out on his own.

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