This isn’t normal is it? Job related.

[ButtonNoses]

Recently started a new job and it’s just not what was promised or described. I’m in the middle of both moving house and trying for a baby so don’t feel like I can leave. I’m only a month in and this is what I’ve found:

For reference job is community outreach, I was told I’d be travelling a maximum of 2 hours each way to each place. So 4 hours a day in the car.

Anyway, since then the following has happened:

Have been told I’m covering a colleagues mat-leave as nobody to cover her. Wasn’t told this at interview. She lives 3 hours away from me to start with and I have spent most of my time covering her area since starting. A lot of them fall within the 2 hour each way on a good day but mostly with traffic it can be closer to 3. Sometimes 3 and a half or more. Sometimes they’re put in right at the end of my working day.

We are only allowed to submit one mileage claim a month so I’m finding myself pretty broke (it used to be weekly at my old place).

Our contracts say that we get toil for working past hours. A few times I’ve got home really late, such as 8pm-10pm (suppose to finish at 5) and basically been told by manager to suck it up. Colleagues don’t receive toil either.

We have a conference coming up and have been told we must share a room with a colleague to cut costs. As I don’t know anyone I’ve been put in with my manager. I just find it horrifying that I have to sleep in a bed bra less next to my manager and use the loo with them in a bed next door- it feels inappropriate but I don’t feel like I can say anything as everyone thinks it’s normal and fine.

We lone work on the road, and last week I went 4 days without anyone checking in. I wrote on our group chat twice and this was ignored.

Thursday I had an allergic attack (egg allergy) and on the Friday I still had really swollen eyes I could hardly see. I didn’t put my camera on for our team meeting as I didn’t want anyone to see my face. I did explain to manager. Days later she calls me telling me it was unacceptable for me to not have my camera on.

I don’t know what to do. I just feel like I’m in some weird nightmare. I know it’s new. I don’t feel like I can leave either as we need me to have this job for the mat leave and house. I also feel being so new I can’t highlight issues I’ve found as they’ll just get rid of me.

Look for something else. This sounds horrendous
if you’re in your probationary period you have to give a week (?) notice

there’s no shame in something not working out Tbh I suspect if you try to ‘suck it up’ your mental health and bank balance will really suffer.

In your shoes I'd look for another job asap but if you want to stay dont just accept it. Talk to ACAS, it sounds like you have a bad manager and they can help you.

ACAS 0300 123 1100
https://www.acas.org.uk/advice

Leave now. Don't get stuck. Loads of care jobs.

Sorry I’m not a carer, I’m a community fundraising officer if that helps people understand it a bit more :-)

Leave, trust all your instincts and get out of this job. What if you stay get pregnant and them come back to this hell after mat leave, this organisation are not going to look after you. Life is too short to waste it in a shit workplace.

I would go now.

Quit. You can quit with as little as no notice during probation but generally 1-week is seen as acceptable. Obviously if you cannot afford to quit, don't but I would.

Good grief, sounds hideous, leave as soon as you possibly can.

Have you checked what the company policy on qualifying for any enhanced maternity pay is? You may have to be there quite a lot longer than the standard length of service for Staturoty MP.

I've be looking for another job. If they are ignoring contractual entitlements like TOIL (which I'd argue about actually - do they have an HR de[department you can speak to?) and the travelling is a lot more than they said at interview, it just indicates they aren't a good employer.

You might have to stay to get a mortgage. But there is a shortage of good people in your field, places are struggling to recruit; Get another post asap.

I'd actually leave now. That's awful. I would.never share a hotel room with a male,.unless.we were together.

Leave OP, sounds awful and really badly managed.

I would look for Something else, anything else. THat sounds horrendous and very unreasonable.

The manager is a lady, at any rate op uses "she" later in the comment.

I think it depends how desperate you are for this job. It sounds not brilliant, but if you really need it, not deal breaking.

This will only ruin your life, your health, your money, your car and your relationship. Can do better, right ?

Sorry they can't make you share a room for conference!

Also the travelling is ridiculous without a company car and you are owed that toil.

Definitely speak to ACAS!

That’s really bad - is it a large charity? I’ve never heard of such conditions before. There’s a LI group called crappy fundraising practices, or post anonymously on Fundraising Chat to see if others have experienced this, but I haven’t. Awful. I’d leave tbh

It is common in lots of jobs that require a lot of travel in the charity sector not to have a company car. It is also normal to get mileage monthly.

What is not normal is getting no TOIL. Sharing a room at conference is not normal, but probably not against any employment rules, especially as the manager shares as well.

Charities are awful for relying on good will. I’d refuse to share a hotel room - and I’m fairly chilled.

It doesn't sound the best of jobs and I don't think I would stay. But I'm fascinated why, given the other issues, that sleeping bra less in the same room as another woman is a problem! 😆😆

Does your employment contract say you get TOIL? If it does they are acting illegally. But they can also get rid of you in your probationary period no problem, so its a hard one.

I wouldn’t share a hotel room with one of my sisters, never mind a manager. Not in a million years and I’d absolutely put my foot down. I’d put all the grievances in writing and give them a chance to sort it out, but I’d also be looking very hard for something else.

Find a new job, this is not going to get better. So many red flags!

I’d recommend that you stop trying to conceive and look for another job.
They are understaffed and overworked and it appears to be the general rule of thumb, so it won’t change without something drastic happening!
is this job in the NHS by any chance?

Just look for something else.

You spend a long time at work.