Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

I want dh's wages.Today

73 replies

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 19:10

Dh works for the 'family' business and is paid weekly (or at least he is meant to be).

They do not have a standing order set up although the wages should be in every Friday they rarely are. Today they were meant to be paid in at 4pm. Yet again they have not been.

I told dh we need them today as have to go food shopping in morning and have bills to pay. His excuse is that it's a small business and his wages can't be paid till other people who owe the business have paid.

I'm sick of this. He works hard and I expect the wages to be paid each Friday and not to be worrying every week whether we will get them or not.

He thinks I'm nagging as I told him to phone his db and say we want the money by 9am tomorrow.

OP posts:

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:20

He had a job before but when bil started his business he put the pressure on for dh to work for them instead. Dh accepted because 1, he wanted to help his family and 2, he had been having difficulties with previous employer regarding time off when dd was really unwell so he changed job thinking it would help the situation.

OP posts:

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:21

OP it does sound like things are tough for you but you have to understand that the family appear to be helping you out by giving youur husband a job and accommodating his time off.

It also sounds like they might not employ a direct replacement if he were to leave so you can't really expect them to pay him if the business hasn't been paid.

The cause of most small businesses failing isn't a lack of potential etc, it's cash flow. If they don't get paid they can't pay others.

ItsNotATest · 04/10/2013 22:24

There is no point in stating that they have to pay him if there is no money to pay him.

He needs to get another job. Or you need to earn too.

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:25

Err, I'm not being a wanker, I hadn't read the OP's post about her daughter but my point still stands. How on earth do you expect a company to pay someone if they haven't been paid?

You can preach all the employment rights you like, if the reality is the family wouldn't employ someone else in the same position then they are trying to help him out as best they can. If they have no money then they can't pay him.

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:25

If the wage situation was better it would be an ideal job, it is just so frustrating waiting and waiting for money for food and bills and being stressed about it on top of everything else.

Not sure it would be an option currently for dh to retrain as anything else as dd needs a lot of care and tbh aim struggling with depression as well and need dh's help when he's not working.

Mil is very much of the opinion that the family business is very important so probably wouldn't be a great deal of help.

OP posts:

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:29

I'd love to work but doubt very much we could afford child care and would def struggle to find a nursery for dd due to her needs. We could manage fine financially if only dh got paid on time!

Like somebody else said though there's almost an element of having to be grateful and sometimes accepting no wages and late pay due to the fact they are so flexible with hours meaning dh can rush off if dd needs hospital without worrying he could lose his job.

Maybe I just need to suck it up, be grateful dh can help when I need him and be grAteful when he does get paid?

OP posts:

JoinYourPlayfellows · 04/10/2013 22:30

'How on earth do you expect a company to pay someone if they haven't been paid?"

That's their problem, the big bosses who will get to keep all the profit when there is any.

They convinced this guy to give up his job to work for them and how they OWE him his wages and they owe them in a timely fashion.

They need to do whatever it takes to pay them.

That's what you get paid the big bucks for when you're in charge.

Not paying your employees and whinging about cash-flow is bollocks.

This man has done his week's work. He needs to be paid.

Even if they pay him out of their own pockets, he needs to be paid what he is owed.

KirjavaTheCorpse · 04/10/2013 22:35

Even if they pay him out of their own pockets

Exactly. You take the hit yourself if you own the business and you pay your staff.

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:36

join I think the OP's husband might find that if he pushes the matter it will become his problem because he won't have a job.

It didn't sound like he needed too much convincing as his employer at that time had an issue with the time off required due to ther daughters illness.

If you think small business owners earn 'big bucks' then that's up to you.

The reality for most is that it's a struggle. Do you really think there is a distinction between 'their own pockets' and that of a 2 man band business?

ICameOnTheJitney · 04/10/2013 22:37

OP....could he train in something else right now? There are loads of things he could do...what is he interested in? What about you? I know DD has health issues but maybe there's something you could study online? And DH could train in the evenings...

ICameOnTheJitney · 04/10/2013 22:37

Kirjava that's right and that's what my BIL does. He'd go home with nothing as long as his laborers got paid.

Tiredmumno1 · 04/10/2013 22:38

OP ignore the stupid responses.
I bet those saying that would be the first to complain if they were paid late.

Of course he should be paid regardless of who owns the business. No you shouldn't really have to suck it up. Family or not. I can't actually believe people think its ok. It's really not.

It sounds like you have enough to deal with as it is, without the extra stress. On a different note have you spoken to your GP about how you feel in yourself?

I think DH needs to sit and have another chat with his brother and cousin. It's not fair you have to struggle.

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:44

Seriously, where the fuck do those people who think OP's DH should be paid regardless, by a 2 man company where he is the only other employee, think the money in a small business comes from?

I'm not saying its 'OK' not to pay him, and if they knew for a fact that payments were being withheld then fine, moan like crazy but the business is accommodating his leave requirements and if they don't have the cash, how can they pay him?

Tiredmumno1 · 04/10/2013 22:47

Resorted to swearing

JoinYourPlayfellows · 04/10/2013 22:48

"If you think small business owners earn 'big bucks' then that's up to you."

I know they don't earn big bucks, that was tongue in cheek.

But that's what you take on when you start a business - the risk AND the reward.

Your employees won't see the rewards and they should not be taking your risks for you.

To leave an employee short his wages is atrocious behaviour for anyone in business.

And to exploit an employee in that way because you know his family circumstances make it hard for him to leave is completely immoral.

He did his work, he needs to be paid.

That is the long and the short of it. Family or not. Desperate for a job, or not.

This is not a one off. This is a regular occurrence that this business is not meeting its most basic responsibility to the people who allow it to keep going.

That is totally fucking shameful.

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:48

I actually went to the gp last week as have been really really low and tired, they have referred me for counselling to help me come to terms with things.

I don't think ATM dh could train in the evenings/weekends, I'm ashamed to admit that by the time he gets home iam a wreck each day and need him with me to help. Maybe when things improve a bit it could be an option though.

I just got so frustrated today, the rent went out dd from our account and some other smaller bills and I kept checking to see if the wages were in as want to go food shopping first thing tomorrow but they still are not there and I get panicky as when dh doesn't get paid we end up living on carers, dla, cb and ctc and its really a struggle.

OP posts:

Bogeyface · 04/10/2013 22:49

Bear If they cant pay him then they shouldnt employ him!

Would they treat someone they employed via the papers or the jobcentre this way? No. Because they know that that person would soon leave. They are using the family connections and the fact that his child is ill against him.

His is an employee, where the money comes from is frankly not his problem!

JoinYourPlayfellows · 04/10/2013 22:50

This man's employers need to find a way to pay him enough of his wages that his bills are paid.

Even if it means paying him out of their own pockets and not having enough for their own bills.

They have a responsibility to him.

Tiredmumno1 · 04/10/2013 22:53

It's good that you are seeking help for yourself, I hope that helps.

It's still a horrid situation, I just don't know what else to suggest. But they should be paying him his wage for his work, it's not hard to comprehend.

craftycottontail · 04/10/2013 22:54

is it possible to arrange an overdraft with your bank to cover the bills?

And your DH talk to his work to see if they're happy to cover the interest incurred each month by you using the overdraft to pay bills on time?

Sorry if it's a crap suggestion, just an idea!

quoteunquote · 04/10/2013 22:54

I run a business, everyone who is an employee gets paid on time, but we don't as the owners we suck it up.

You have to pay anyone who works for you when you agreed to, or they will be forced to look else where for work.

It sounds like they haven't really got their act together yet,

What sort of business is it.

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:55

Whilst it is true that he has time off and they accommodate that they Knew that this would be the case when they employed him and he always makes up the hours at the weekends if he has been off during the week.

OP posts:

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:56

OK join what exactly do you suggest.

OP's DH tells his employers that this situation is 'totally fucking shameful' then what?

If they don't have any cash to pay him what can they possibly do?

They'll tell him he needs to find another job that does pay on time but another employer probably won't accommodate the time off he needs.

Oh and tiredmum I have resorted to swearing but you don't seem to have offered a solution other than saying 'he shoud be paid regardless' which is pretty much as pointless. How exactly does that work in the real world?

Original poster

Somanyexcuses · 04/10/2013 22:57

We already have an overdraft, got it a few months ago and am currently -756 pounds. So, so fed up.

Can't really say what sort of business it is as could out myself as it is quite 'specialist'.

OP posts:

Bearbehind · 04/10/2013 22:57

bogeyface do you really think that will help matters? OP has said he couldn't get a job elsewhere.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread