to think this is pretty shit of my workplace?

[fedupofficeworker]

I've nc for this because it will out me completely.

I work in the head office of a very well known company, but it's frankly a bit of a craphole. Some of the lifts don't work (not a problem for me, but a real issue for staff with mobility issues, as they have to walk further to access lifts, or struggle with stairs) and haven't for 6+ months. The toilets stink, don't flush properly and are often blocked (when we complained, facilities sent instructions on how to flush the toilet ). On our floor we have 3 toilets for over 100 women. Our hot drinks machine (no kettles, it's all vending machines), break once a week because of overuse (1 machine for nearly 200 people) when we complain we're told they're looking into ordering a new one.

The floors in the office are never vacuumed and desks never cleaned. Allegedly this is because there's 'stuff' on our desks. How difficult is it for cleaners just to wipe them, even once a week?!

The last straw today was when a chair broke in half (back just came off and fell on the floor) when a pregnant colleague was sat on it. Luckily she wasn't too hurt, and baby was fine. But this isn't the first time chairs have fallen apart. Facilities were contacted and said they'd look into it. By 5pm nothing had been done.

It's shit isn't it? The business spends millions on advertising and we're sat on broken chairs. No unions, there's an employee group but they have no power. I'm sick of working like this, it's now dangerous not just unsanitary. But the message is always it has to be left to faculties etc, except they never DO anything!

Write to head office.
Go to newspapers.
All bombard HR
It needs People Power here, it does work if done properly.
Don't let the weeks/months go by without getting something done.
Good luck

Sounds absolute shit, and you should do something about it.

But, in the meantime, pack a flask for your coffee or tea, and buy a bottle of spray cleanser and a cloth for your desk. You can complain until the cows come home, but there's no reason you can't at least take some steps yourself to make your space more comfortable.

Having only ever worked for local authorities this sounds normal to me!

Union will be Unite or GMB. Are you the only office of this company, OP, or do you have offices elsewhere? Just because I'm amazed none of the unions have jumped all over your company to get members before now (I've been a trade union regional organiser for years, a site like that is gold for us, and we'd be stood outside leafleting and asking you all to join)

If i were you I'd join a union-first check on the TUC website to see if your workplace already has one and if so join that, if not I'd go with Unite. Then I'd contact them to ask them to arrange a meeting to invite your colleagues to (they'll do it in a pub or similar after work) and try to get you all joined up. Then they'll deal with this shit for you.

Sorry, it's an insurance company and they're not worried about the potential problems of equipment breaking when sat on? Are they insane? I'm just flabbergasted that an insurance company, of all things, are so slack.

Maybe the pregnant lady should set up a grievance, especially if HR are so diffident about it. It's not been handled properly at all!

But you do realise that this is why these companies are so well-off - because they cut corners wherever they can and don't care about the little people on their staff.

If you did whistleblow to HSE and even if you did get found out, there's not a lot they can do to you as its a protected act

If it's a public company, could a few of you buy a few shares - enough to get you an invite to the annual meeting - and then table a question at the meeting? Or get a parent/other half/friend/etc if you don't want to do it yourself and risk your job.

So they would ask something along the lines of 'why are you giving the director a big pay rise when you can't be bothered / can't organise safe and legal facilities for your own staff in this country' and see what happens...

Btw the union idea is all well and good but for your company to even interact or consult with one, then 10% of employees will have to be members xx

I think you would be very foolish to start making this public at shareholder meetings or in the press if you have not exhausted your internal processes first (ie by raising a grievance).

You need to bear in mind your own and the company's reputation and the potential impact of taking action.

That doesn't make what the company is doing right but action needs to be seen to be fair, proportionate and above all reasonable.

Btw the union idea is all well and good but for your company to even interact or consult with one, then 10% of employees will have to be members xx

That only applies to collective bargaining or other recognised collective union activity. You can still be part of a union and benefit from their advice, support and representation whether they are a Union recognised by the employer or not.

OP, have you thought about joining a union? (Like everyone here is suggesting). It's what unions are for.

Junosmum yep, this sounds common in local authorities. Have worked for at least two that were as bad at described. My current one however have lovely offices.

I buy a packet of antibac wipes and do my own desk and phone/keyboard every few days. Our loos are grim too, they simply don't flush enough water to "clear" even a small amount of loo roll so it just gets worse and this is because they have water hippos in the cystern to save water with smaller flushes iyswim. Put something in writing to HR, anonymous if need be. Do it regularly until someone starts getting fed up with the almist daily letters. But as for the desk cleaning, I personally don't want some possibly rank cloth wiped over my desk, I'm happier doing it myself.

Point taken re the desks. Carpets are still filthy. We have people in the office until 9pm and from 6am, and at weekends, and no one has ever seen anyone vacuuming the carpets.

Just to say I worked as a cleaner and we weren't allowed to clean the desks if they had paperwork or personal items etc on.

Workplaces don't have to provide hot water, only cold. But they do have a duty to make it accessible and safe, and to provide somewhere to go to the toilet and wash your hands.

But yes it does sound shit!