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Original poster

Was I wrong to speak up at work?

75 replies

bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:34

I have only been there two months but the whole place is chaos.
I work selling kitchens /bathrooms in a well known shop.
They have shops all around the country.
I work Monday -Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 9-1 pm

Last week after work we had to go to a meeting at a hotel 1 hours drive away.
This meeting was from 6.30pm -9.30pm
I got home after 10.30pm and had to be back in for 8am.
We didn't get paid for this
It was them telling us how to sell more ,how to make them more money.
This happens every 3 months.
They provided tea /coffee
So we had no time for food and were starving.

I said I didn't think having to travel 1 hour then have a meeting for 3 hours after work was great.
I suggested that every 3 months for the meeting dat , closing at lunch time was a better idea then staff could get home at normal time.
Or suggested it being via teams rather than having to travel .

Was I wrong to speak up?
Does anyone else think this is a bit shit after being in work all day ?

OP posts:
Cheshireflamingo · 17/09/2024 07:42

You were right, that's rubbish. My organisation does all of that sort of stuff online during work hours.

MrsSkylerWhite · 17/09/2024 07:43

You’ll be management soon (unless your current manager blocks it).

MushMonster · 17/09/2024 07:46

Where is tha clap emoticon!
👏👏👏
Well done OP!
They are taking the piss.

Original poster
bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:47

I wasn't trying to be arsey
It was just a really long day
Nothing in that meeting was any use to the staff
It was all about making them richer
Which is fair enough but after a long day it was tedious

OP posts:
workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:48

4x a year?

suck it up

UCConfuseMe · 17/09/2024 07:49

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:48

4x a year?

suck it up

Why should she? If they want to do this it should be within work hours or paid!

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:49

you say you made the suggestion

but give zero clue as to the response

how long have these meetings been going on for?

Gelasring · 17/09/2024 07:50

You were right to speak up. It's a shitty way for them to treat their staff.

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:50

so if you’ve started a thread
i’m guessing the response was negative?

sunsetsandboardwalks · 17/09/2024 07:51

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:48

4x a year?

suck it up

Are you happy to work for free then?

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 17/09/2024 07:52

Well done for speaking up! That was utterly crap of them. Not even providing bought in pizza, or paying you for your time, I wouldn't have blamed you for being arsey, so an extra well done for staying polite and professional!

Original poster
bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:53

The company up here has only been active for 6 months so this was the second meeting.
Not sure if other areas have done it longer.
They said they would certainly have a think about it -but I very very much doubt it.

I'm in Newcastle and the Christmas party is in London.
The owner and chairman etc all live in London and like to attend the party so they pay for hotel but we have to travel down
Which as well isn't appealing but have made it clear all staff need to attend unless a good reason as it's "bonding "

OP posts:
CuriousGeorge80 · 17/09/2024 07:54

You should be paid for going at your hourly rate, surely? Or are you paid an annual salary and this is included in your job description? They should also feed you.

MrsBennetsPoorNerves · 17/09/2024 07:54

That's a terrible way to treat staff. You weren't wrong to speak up, but it may go against you. In your shoes, I'd be looking for a new job with an employer that treats people fairly - I somehow doubt that your current employer is going to be open to feedback.

PrescriptionOnlyMedicine · 17/09/2024 07:55

I reckon you’ll be working somewhere else within a year. Not because you’ve done anything wrong, but because the company sounds awful

Original poster
bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:55

We get a annual salary but didn't have a clue about these meetings as nothing in contract etc
Obviously I knew we would have meetings but not where I would be travelling to them

I literally earn £1,600 after tax so it's not like they paying us a fortune for our services

OP posts:
workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:56

you’re still on probation?

you say the entire company is chaotic so even if you change this… it won’t change anything else

sounds like not the job for you op

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:56

presumably many other attendees were complaining?

FrapGlart · 17/09/2024 07:57

This is the world of "sales" innit?

Sell as much as you can, develop personal relationships with your customers to make them buy more, develop personal relationships with your team to motivate them to sell more and more, get together regularly as a team to whoop and cheer about how much you've managed to sell, and whip yourself up into a frenzy of competitiveness in order sell even more. Managers of sales people love all this shit.

Original poster
bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:57

My training they had us travelling to shops around the UK every day
So Monday we could be in Leeds then Wednesday was Manchester
When they had local shops up here
Yet they wanted us to go to the bigger shops
We got to these shops and staff weren't expecting us and were that busy they Couldn't show us anything so told us to just go around tidying the shop and warehouse.

OP posts:
TheAverageJoanne · 17/09/2024 07:58

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 07:48

4x a year?

suck it up

Your post is going to be quoted on the "phrases that irritate" thread. Lazy clichéd hackneyed response. And wrong into the bargain.

Original poster
bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:58

@workemail71 yes especially the ones with kids as they had to sort out sitters if no partner and organise after school club pick up as she normally finishes at 4pm

OP posts:
2chocolateoranges · 17/09/2024 07:59

Personally if I don’t get paid for staff meeting or staff training then I don’t go.

find yourself a new job that values their employees.

workemail71 · 17/09/2024 08:00

bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:57

My training they had us travelling to shops around the UK every day
So Monday we could be in Leeds then Wednesday was Manchester
When they had local shops up here
Yet they wanted us to go to the bigger shops
We got to these shops and staff weren't expecting us and were that busy they Couldn't show us anything so told us to just go around tidying the shop and warehouse.

shit show
not the job for you
leave

Ineffable23 · 17/09/2024 08:00

bridgelolo · 17/09/2024 07:55

We get a annual salary but didn't have a clue about these meetings as nothing in contract etc
Obviously I knew we would have meetings but not where I would be travelling to them

I literally earn £1,600 after tax so it's not like they paying us a fortune for our services

What is your pre tax salary and what hours do you work?

Minimum wage is £11.44 an hour now, which is £23,750 ish for a 40 hour week. That gives a take home pay of £1700 if you don't have student loans or pay into a pension (obviously those things may apply). Essentially my point is working unpaid overtime may put you under the minimum wage.