Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell them to shove their job...??

75 replies

Donatello68 · 23/08/2018 21:04

I was successfully self employed for 10 years and following a divorce, got a bit panicky and took a full time job locally,

It is a weird family company where no one ever leaves... whole family generations work for the company. It is very clique and insular. However, I went for the financial security.

The bloke who I took over from had been there for 10 years. They absolutely worshipped the ground he walked on and he worked all the hours god sent. He asked for an assistant as the job is way too much for one person and they gave him an admin assistant who is keen but, not great so, he left.

He had left by the time I started so there was no handover and no notes. Nothing was written down!! It was a complete nightmare as it was nothing like anything that I have seen before and massively over complicated. I do have a lot of experience but, no matter how hard I worked, nothing was good enough.

It was the most demoralising job that I have ever had and I started having nightmares that I was useless. After 9 months, I resigned and they have made me work the full notice period.

The bloke who had the job before had changed jobs twice in the nine months so, when I resigned they offered him his job back. They offered him £5k more money than I am on and less hours. They actually showed me his new contract!!

They have presumed that I would stay on as a contractor. It now turns out that I was part of the package.... I am expected to be his new assistant!!!

I have told them that I am leaving at the end of my notice period. They are really angry that if I don’t stay, the other bloke will leave.... again...!!!

They think that I am being unreasonable!!! WTF???

OP posts:
delphguelph · 23/08/2018 21:37

It sounds totally fucked up.

Imagine how it'd be working there as his assistant Confused

Bit perverted really

Jb291 · 23/08/2018 21:39

OP seriously I would be calling in "sick" for the remainder of their stupid notice period or as much as they will keep paying you for. If they won't pay you any sick pay or its limited to a short period only, then wait until that has been exhausted and then just tell them you won't be coming back. It's utterly ridiculous to impose a three month notice period when you've only been in the job such a short time. What are they going to do if you leave early ? Sack you?

chchchnamechanges · 23/08/2018 21:39

Again, you can’t claim constructive dismissal until you’ve been there 2 years. You’d have to go for discrimination.

chchchnamechanges · 23/08/2018 21:40

But id go off sick if it was that bad and making you ill.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 23/08/2018 21:47

Go off sick. You've got nothing to lose.

Whocansay · 23/08/2018 21:53

That is one of the weirdest things I have ever heard!

Why would they think that you would do that? They didn't even ASK you before agreeing with the returning guy?

As they are clearly psychotic, I would just keep my head down and work out the rest of my notice period. But you have to give them a firm 'no'. If it's a small town, it's probably a good idea to keep everything as amicable as possible. I wouldn't give them any reason to trash your professional reputation.

Or give them some extortionately high contracting rates.

Ilovelblue · 23/08/2018 21:54

I feel for you Donatello. I can't say I went through anything quite like that, but I did work for a local family firm for four years. The MD, a couple of the directors who were his siblings and their spouses all worked for the company plus three of the MD's children. A lot of the workers had been there for years. I had a problem with my boss (not a family member) and in the end, after having secured a new role with a household name company locally, I said I was going to take him to court for sexual harrassment. They were keen to pay me off to leave quickly as it would have given them bad publicity. I said I would never work for a family firm ever again (and I never have).

I don't think in your position I would just not go back as you never know in this world when you might need a reference, even if you are going back to being self-employed, but I would just try to negotiate an early release date once the man taking over comes back in.

LeftRightCentre · 23/08/2018 21:56

Fuck them. I had a job like that once. I lasted one month before walking out. They are not worth it.

Uncreative · 23/08/2018 22:17

Tell them you are happy to do some contract work for them after you leave - and make sure your rate is high enough to reflect your annoyance with them.

Your solicitor friend may be right about the tribunal but it probably isn’t worth the hassle.

Do you have any annual leave you can take during your notice period? Remember that you continue to accrue leave during the notice period as well and they cannot prevent you from taking it without good reason.

IncrediblySturdyPyjamas · 23/08/2018 22:21

And are making me work every bloody day of it!

Jesus, phone in sick tomorrow and every other day until your end date is gone.

HoleyCoMoley · 23/08/2018 22:24

Agree to do contract work then laugh and walk off.

BlackberryandNettle · 23/08/2018 22:26

This is really weird... You've given notice, obviously you are leaving. Why would there be any question over whether you will in your mind or in theirs? Just work the weirdly long notice period and then go.

HoleyCoMoley · 23/08/2018 22:29

Have you got an employment contract, I'd be looking to get out of the 3 month notice period.

Santaclarita · 23/08/2018 22:38

I imagine since previous guy managed to go from a 10 year job to then two jobs in 9 months that he's not actually good at his job and has realised the only idiots who think he is good work at this company.

Leave when you can, he'll be there til he retires.

PigletJohn · 23/08/2018 22:41

Certainly don't stay. You don't like them, and they don't like you.

Family firms are often a bit weird.

If you want to do contract work (I wouldn't recommend it) then in my line a good rule of thumb is:

Permie annual salary £100k - Contractor daily rate £1,000

Permie annual salary £50k - Contractors daily rate £500

Permie annual salary £35k - Contractors daily rate £350

and so on.

Obviously, calculated on the new, improved rate they have offered your replacement.

Contractors don't work unpaid overtime (unless at director or exec level when they work at least 25hours including taking clients to the opera)

Contractors work the days and hours arranged and contracted in advance and are not available on their rest days.

Original poster
Donatello68 · 23/08/2018 22:52

Thank you all for such good advice...

I am glad that it’s not just me!! I did think that I was losing the plot. They are incredibly arrogant and feel that you should be grateful to work there.

You are right about the bloke being pretty useless in the ‘outside world’. I had a nightmare trying to figure out his bizarre ways of doing things. I hope that he is looking forward to staying there until he retires.... in 40 years...

I am counting down the days until I can leave then, I haven’t breached my contract and let karma do the rest...!!!!

OP posts:
stillnotTheDoctor · 23/08/2018 22:54

How do you get locked into 3 months notice after only working 9 months?!

Original poster
Donatello68 · 23/08/2018 22:58

Well, I was given an employment contract early on with a 3 month notice period written into it. The bloke before me only had to give a months notice and as they didn’t believe that he would leave, didn’t start interviewing until his last day. Hence, no handover.

I didn’t sign the contract and neither did they but, I was advised that it was an ‘implied’ contract and I was buggered...

OP posts:
stillnotTheDoctor · 23/08/2018 22:59

If neither of you signed it you're not bound by it.

mumsastudent · 23/08/2018 23:00

right any paperwork put through shredder or mix up, computers redo (!!) files misplace address book...(don't do it really just take pleasure in thinking what you could do!)

stillnotTheDoctor · 23/08/2018 23:00

With no contract you have no good cause to turn up tomorrow.

mumsastudent · 23/08/2018 23:01

ps find some fresh mackerel and hide in office day you leave

stillnotTheDoctor · 23/08/2018 23:01

I think. I'm not hot in law. But no signature = no contract.

Original poster
Donatello68 · 23/08/2018 23:02

I was advised that as I rolled up every day and they paid me, it was implied that I agreed to their terms and conditions as they did not infringe on my statutory rights...

OP posts:
stillnotTheDoctor · 23/08/2018 23:03

I'd contact citizens advice but that sounds like a load of crap. Like the same crap they're trying to pull with you working for that guy. Sounds like bullying tactics have worked for them in the past.