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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to say no to work

29 replies

milewalker · 27/10/2013 22:57

I started a new job 5 weeks ago, its a family run shop and there are 5 of us working there-one of them is the owners daughter. the remaining 4 of us are all part time and none of us have contracts of employment but I have a list of days/hours that are mine to work. since being there I have done extra every week.
tonight the owner phoned me to tell me one of the staff was ill and I have to do all day tomorrow. I was out at the time so my husband took the message and passed it onto me when I got home. I have no contact numbers for them so couldn't phone to say no I can't do all day so aibu to go in tomorrow and say I can't do all day but I can stay till 3pm?

OP posts:
InTheRedCorner · 27/10/2013 23:00

Yanbu if you have plans and can't stay. Can you help out or do you. Just not want to?

Original poster
milewalker · 27/10/2013 23:04

I have plans but they will expect me to cancel them. I've gone in at a few hours notice a few times now and had to cancel things. wouldn't be as bad if during an 8 hour day we got a break/somewhere to go and sit and have something to eat.

OP posts:
frustratedashell · 27/10/2013 23:05

You should have a contract and a phone number. They are taking the piss

frustratedashell · 27/10/2013 23:07

No break? God I wouldn'twork there. You are too available

JoinYourPlayfuckers · 27/10/2013 23:09

You are being horribly exploited by this outfit.

It would not be remotely unreasonable to refuse to work under these conditions.

That's why we have a social safety net, so people won't have to put up with this kind of shit.

InTheRedCorner · 27/10/2013 23:10

How do you call in sick without a number?

frustratedashell · 27/10/2013 23:12

I agree with join

Coupon · 27/10/2013 23:12

They are taking you for granted. They shouldn't be telling you that you are working tomorrow. They should ask you whether you are free, and be suitably grateful if you agree to help out at short notice.

Original poster
milewalker · 27/10/2013 23:14

thanks for replying, I will go in and say I can only stay till 3pm. i think if they won't change how they are then I shall be looking for a new job. all the other staff do as they're told/don't complain. I shall have to go in and say no I can't do all day and stop being such a walkover.

OP posts:
Original poster
milewalker · 27/10/2013 23:16

if we are sick we go in and they decide if we are well enough to stay. the other staff have moaned to me about how its run but they won't do anything about it so it looks like i'll have to try and make a change.

OP posts:
frustratedashell · 27/10/2013 23:20

Sounds dreadful. They only get away with it cos no one stands up to them!

2Retts · 27/10/2013 23:43

Also agree with Join.

Your employers are floutiing a number of legal obligations and this actually strengthens your position to challenge their practices (although you are probably better off if they are challenged by somebody empoyed with them for longer)

tiredoutgran · 28/10/2013 00:41

It sounds like an awful place to work - by law if you work 6 hours you must be allowed at least a 20 minute break.

Hegsy · 28/10/2013 18:58

Hope you stood your ground today op.

mysteryfairy · 28/10/2013 19:07

Hope this has worked out. If they've contacted you can't you save the number they use as contact details for them?

Original poster
milewalker · 28/10/2013 20:17

i went in for 9pm which was hour and half earlier than my normal hours and said I could stay till 3pm. I was told that appointments should/could be changed and I said I couldn't change them. so in the end they said they'd phone one of the other staff to come in at 3pm.
I did 1471 last night when I came home but caller withheld number. I have found the managers home phone number on a pad at work this afternoon so now have it.
late last week (Friday-my day off) the fire brigade came and did a fire check only to find the fire door blocked by a pile of boxes, and padlocked..it took over 10 mins to find the key to the padlock. I think they think they're above the law.

OP posts:
Delayingtactic · 28/10/2013 20:27

Milewalker I honestly think you need to leave and leave now with a clear letter to whoever is responsible for overseeing these things. There must be some ombudsman who makes sure businesses can't do this.

DontmindifIdo · 28/10/2013 20:35

You need to find a new job ASAP.

Original poster
milewalker · 28/10/2013 20:41

as of today i'm looking for a new job, I had few job offers as well as this one at the time and turned the others down for this one. i'm positive I won't be in this job by the time the clocks change again.

OP posts:
NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 28/10/2013 20:49

Glad you stood your ground . You are doing them a favour by working an extra shift at short notice. It is their responsibility to arrange cover, you're helping them by doing a lot of it but have other plans so they need someone else to help out too.

It's illegal for you to work more than. 6 hours without a break.

The fire check sounds seriously dodgy too

Good luck finding a new job where they treat you like an employee rather than a muppet

raisah · 28/10/2013 20:57

Can you report them to the council as they are breaking the law on several points and I wouldnt.be surprised if you were being underpaid. See advice from CAB.

Original poster
milewalker · 22/12/2013 20:41

I'm coming back on this thread to ask one more question and am being lazy by not starting a new one that explains what my work has been like.
I've been with this employer for 13 weeks and most weeks my hours have changed and I've had a few hours notice of this. I have been told not to make any plans as I might be wanted anytime from 9-5.30 mon-sat.
I have saved up a bit and now have the chance to leave and look for another job instead of staying there until I find another job. my problem is they have said they won't give a reference, not even to say I was employed there. I have two other really good reference's from my two previous employers before them so when it comes to filling out application forms do I put this job on there? and how do I say they won't give a reference but I have two others? will this be a problem?

OP posts:
PenguinBear · 22/12/2013 20:54

Just leave it off and say you we're a SAHM in the interim
:)

Lottiedoubtie · 22/12/2013 20:58

Leave.

Whether you put them down or not is up to you.

I probably would but not cite them as a referee. If asked why at interview I would explain honestly, that they were unproffesional and not the best judge of your character Wink

Original poster
milewalker · 22/12/2013 20:58

the job previous to this one ended due to redundancy /the shop shut down in june so I could just leave this one off any application forms but won't it show on my p45?
I was thinking about just saying it was a temporary job and they don't give reference's.

OP posts: