My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Relationships

Husband working unpaid on day off

94 replies

Strugglingtofunction · 28/05/2017 12:36

I found out yesterday that for the last six weeks or so when my husband has been going into work on his day off he has not been getting paid. He only has one day off at the weekend and instead of spending it with his family he has chosen to go into work. This also coincides with me seriously struggling and again instead of being here to help and support he has been working unpaid. He works in retail and not in any managerial position. So he has basically been volunteering instead of being there for his family. He is refusing to understand why I might be unhappy with this set up. What do others think???

OP posts:
Report
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 28/05/2017 12:40

Are you sure he's actually there?

Report
Strugglingtofunction · 28/05/2017 12:45

OMG. That thought hadn't even crossed my mind. Feel really stupid. In the bath at the moment he is still at 'work' haven't heard from him and no idea when he will return. Feel like this is the straw as they say and after years of being unhappy I just want to end things.

OP posts:
Report
Blinkyblink · 28/05/2017 12:45

He would not have been allowed to work unpaid because their Employers Liability cover would have not have applied to him if he was not contracted to be there.

I don't think he's been working OP

Report
Strugglingtofunction · 28/05/2017 12:47

Seriously! Where the bloody hell is he then and what is he doing. I am a fool!

OP posts:
Report
fridayrain · 28/05/2017 12:48

Phone his work and ask to speak to him

Report
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 28/05/2017 12:49

Is there a Laser Quest or similar near his work?

Report
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 28/05/2017 12:51

Yes, call him at work and see if he is there.

What kind of work is it? DP is a store manager and his staff have been known to come in on days off and pick up commission. Whereas my job if you're not on shift you're not there.

Report
GlitteryFluff · 28/05/2017 12:52

Yeah i'd phone work and ask to speak to him.

Report
DailyMailDontStealMyThread · 28/05/2017 12:53

phone his work place.

Does he have an iPhone? Just wondering about checking the locations on it?

Report
CaulkheadUpNorf · 28/05/2017 12:55

I go into work on my day off to catch up on admin I haven't had time to do. Similar to staying late at work. I have flexible-time so can go in whenever I want. Is it this sort of thing or a role where he does set shifts and is doing an extra, unpaid shift voluntarily?

Report
PickAChew · 28/05/2017 12:55

You need to go shopping and pop in and say hello.

Report
fridayrain · 28/05/2017 12:58

Regardless, i would be well pissed off that he choses to go into work, unpaid when his wife and children are at home. There is no reason he could give that would justify this to me.

Report
walmo · 28/05/2017 13:03

Did he tell you he was working unpaid, or did you find out due to the lack of extra money?

He's not working, that would be ridiculous if he's shop floor.

Report
MommaGee · 28/05/2017 13:04

Yep def go and surprise him at work. But also think about if being with him makes your life better or worse. You don't need a reason to decide it isnt working

Report
ImperialBlether · 28/05/2017 13:07

There's no way he's at work, OP. Think about it - retail is a bloody hard job and the employers' insurance has to be watertight in case of accidents to staff or customers.

Why would anyone go in voluntarily to work? Why would any company allow that to happen, anyway?

Report
WatchingFromTheWings · 28/05/2017 13:08

I've gone into work on my day off for free a few times so it's not impossible (I'm in retail too). But every week for 6 weeks?? I'd go shopping and ask to speak to him whilst there.

Report
WatchingFromTheWings · 28/05/2017 13:10

Why would anyone go in voluntarily to work? Why would any company allow that to happen, anyway?

I've done it when something has cropped up that might leave the store up shit creek. A few hours of my time can save days of hassle. So long as I sign in and out I'm covered by insurance.

Report
HunterHearstHelmsley · 28/05/2017 13:11

I'm at work today, unpaid, on my day off. It's not as unusual as everyone seems to think!

Personally, I'm a bit miffed that I'm doing it but sometimes you just have to.

Report
TupperwareTat · 28/05/2017 13:15

How do you know its unpaid? Has he said this?

Report
Penfold007 · 28/05/2017 13:16

Hunter unless you are self-employed with your own business you why are you at work for no pay?

Report
hmmwhatatodo · 28/05/2017 13:16

I imagine he is either choosing to go to work so he doesn't have to deal with whatever is going on at home or he really does have stuff to do at work (not sure what that would be though) but if you've both had years of being unhappy, I would imagine its the first case.

Report
alltoomuchrightnow · 28/05/2017 13:18

No it's not that unusual. In retail you are a team and there's a lot of pressure when they are short staffed. You don't want to leave colleagues in the poo. It's really quite the norm in retail and I've worked in all kinds of retail.
As watching says..it can save days of hassle. It's not ideal but in retail especially management, you just suck it up. In one job I had it in my contract that I'd do a certain amount of unpaid hours when needed (I think it was up to about 15 extra a week but always worked out more )

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Justaboy · 28/05/2017 13:18

Can you not just talk to him and ask him why he's working on supposed days off?.

And yes I do know people who have done and do do this.

Report
BeefyCakes · 28/05/2017 13:19

That opens up a whole can of worms.

Not just because of insurance but do these hours push his hourly wages under national minimum wage? That opens up tbe potential for fines and all sorts.

If he in a non management position is working for free, then there is something seriously wrong there, either in the process or the staffing levels. Neither of those things are his fault and him working hides these issues. If he is working he needs to whstleblow.

And if he is not at work, well you need to know what he is doing.

Report
user1491572121 · 28/05/2017 13:19

Is it a chain shop OP or a family owned store?

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.