AIBU to be so cross with new work!

[Fizzielove]

So interviewed for a job and due to circumstances they want me to start the next day. Okay bit short notice but hey I want the job. I understand that I will be needed to travel occasionally, that's okay too. Fast forward to being in the office. I discover there is no flexibility in working hours ( unheard of in IT!!) can't work from home, travel time is during my time, ie not during business hours as I'm expected to be on client site, and I don't get my time back nor paid for! This was not made clear at the interview and any other company has either paid or given time off in lieu!! I was bullied by the boss into traveling today just before I go on holiday on Thursday! I have so much to do to organise for 4 people going abroad! So I arrive on client site to discover that the client isn't going to be there today!! Grrrr I am seriously fuming! Also found out that you can't take any annual leave until you actually have worked the time and accrued it!! So tomorrow I am going in with a resignation letter to give the boss if he does not agree to allow me time off in lieu of my travel time! And I'm not talking just an hour or 2! Today I have been on the go since 5.30 and won't get home until 10! AIBU to think he needs me more than I need him (the boss) !! I have savings set aside so we will be fine until something else comes along!!

Agencies will say anything to get the post filled.. I've (politely excused myself and) walked out of interviews before when it became apparent agency was wasting everyone's time by putting me up for a totally inappropriate job. Also quit after a few weeks in one job because it became obvious they had just lied to the agency about what the job actually involved! Pretty standard experience I'd say.

Stuff them and their pressure, you still have to ask the awkward questions, get answers and think it over. Agree it is well dodgy they wanted you to start the next day. Again you would be within your rights to ask why, what happened to the person who previously held this role, etc. Anyway if they are that desperate you might be able to negotiate some better terms and conditions. Otherwise give up and chalk it up to experience, better luck next time. Worth being honest and trying to save relationship with the agency if you're still looking for work and think they will be of use in future.

Accruing holiday is standard in most employers. It's usually accrued at just over 2 days a month, depending on the number of days entitlement

I've been working in IT for 15 years and have never been paid for travel time. You're on site for the working day so of course you have to travel to get there. I do set off mid afternoon the day before and stay over if it's a long way. The client is paying your employer for someone to be there all day. Where you live and how long it takes you isn't their concern.

My DH works in IT. He needs to be available at 4.30am this week because one client is in another country. He will then work until 10pm for the same reason. HE is flexible, the job isn't.

Why should they care that you have 4 people to pack for not that difficult and were you really expecting then to pay you holiday pay before you've accrued time??

Sounds like you've had a cushy number up until now

My holiday is unpaid leave and was agreed in advance. I'm talking about the new holiday year next year. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in my rant!

I just feel bullied right now and feel the whole thing is dodgy!

It sounds stringent rather than dodgy.

Sounds like miscommunication between agency and employer and you are on the receiving end.

I'm in IT consulting and in my experience perks such as working from home or flexible hours really depend on the project/client.

My current mandate has me at a client site 5 days a week - working from home is not an option. On the other hand they basically don't care at what time I arrive and when I leave so long as I make my meetings. My last client was a stickler for punctuality but didn't mind this meaning that you signed into your account from some Starbucks somewhere at 8 sharp. I don't agree that IT always offers flexible hours/work from home options at all - it really depends on the organization.

As for traveling: I'm not paid for travel to client sites so long as they're in reasonable proximity. I'm technicallly also not paid for my traveling time further away (e.g. visiting the offshore team I run) but get around that by working during my flight and charging that as per usual. It's what everyone does.

TBH I don't think these are horrible conditions in isolation - it all depends on what the job exactly is and how much they pay you for it. Mine includes a number of really great perks as well as a very decent compensation package so I'm fine. If I were doing the same thing on 23k and without career prospects or an expense account I might not be so pleased.

Can you just speak to your boss and ask about the issues that bother you, OP?

It is certainly absolutely normal for holiday entitlement to accrue according to length of service - otherwise people could take a job, take all their paid holiday, and then leave. It is equally normal in my experience for IT people to have to work the hours that the main business works. The directive about time travelling to work only applies to people who don't have a fixed office base. I think before you take any decisions you need to be realistic and adjust your expectations - are you really sure that "something else will come along" that will be any different in those respects?

Can I just say - it really makes me cringe when other posters criticise grammar and spacing. This is not a GCSE English class and it's rude to do that.

It's like correcting someone's speech in real life. OP - good luck with the future xxxx

I think some companies are going backwards in terms of flexible working, working from home etc...mine certainly is (unless of course you have children, which I understand but non parents are just told no). Sounds to me that this might not be the job for you, so enjoy your holiday and perhaps start afresh in 2016. I'm taking voluntary redundancy to escape my company and look for something else.

I've worked in IT for 15 years across 4 companies and I've never had flexible working hours or working from home at any of them, its definitely not unusual to not have it.

I have worked in IT for 20 years and it has been 50/50 on flexible hours, but 3/4 liked home working. But i am a programmer not support style IT.

Support needs to be around when people need it.

forgot, i have always had previously booked holiday allowed, they just deduct the holidays from your pay if you leave before accruing it.

Sounds like miscommunication between agency and employer and you are on the receiving end.

Yes, this.

But I have to say I'd be surprised if it WAS that flexible about working hours. My DP is in IT and it's never been particularly flexible.

If you can, talk to your immediate boss calmly and point out all the things you told the agency that don't seem to have been communicated to the company.

If you can't come to an accommodation then I guess you'll still want to leave, but better to do so amicably than just flounce, if possible.

Normally you would take holiday unpaid under these circumstances. Apart from the travel time thing (and if you are defined as having no set base this can be a grey area) they don't seem to have done much wrong sadly. The fact you are going on holiday isn't their concern in terms of the workload you have getting ready.

Could you tell them you will start after your hols once the T&C have been agreed?

YABU, you should ask about the terms and conditions at interview.
It is normal to have to accrue holidays.
If you aren't happy you'll have to give your notice, but don't think they need you more than you need them.
Somebody will snap the job up.

In over 20 years working for different companies, I have never once come across one which made you accrue days before taking a holiday (assuming permanent staff).

In fact, in my current job (financial, City), I started and had a holiday already booked less than two months after my start date and they still didn't force me to take it unpaid or cancel it.

In a previous job where I had to travel to client sites, I agreed time off in lieu with my manager. It's particularly unlucky to encounter a company that totally refuses WFH or any flexibility over travel time/hours, but I would certainly not say it's the norm.

I think it's law now - very recently - that you get paid time for travelling to/from your first and last appts.

AFAIK only if appointments are arranged by someone else (e.g. a service manager arranging a heating engineer to be on site at 8.30am) - of course that principle would apply to the OP in this case.

In over 20 years working for different companies, I have never once come across one which made you accrue days before taking a holiday (assuming permanent staff).

I believe it's always applied at the companies I've worked for, but obviously only applies at the beginning of any employment. Isn't it fairly standard to advise at an interview if you have any upcoming holidays booked? I always thought that was common advice.

So I've resigned! Phew