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Original poster

Are all employers like this?

81 replies

WildThoughts89 · 09/12/2018 20:56

I feel a prisoner to my job. They have policies that make it impossible to have a life or get another job.

Including:

  • Not allowed to work from home unless very sick, we also need to email hourly updates if we do this
  • Holidays/time off work require 8 weeks notice, and often we are made to take these during the quietest time for the business
  • A 3 month notice period
  • Lunches are timed
  • Doctors appointments must be booked outside of work, dentist appointments must be during annual leave
  • One day of compassionate leave allowed a year
  • hospital appointments must be proven with a letter
  • We are asked during monthly meetings if we are thinking about another job

Wondering if this is normal? It makes me too paranoid to even think about moving on.

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 09/12/2018 20:57

My employer isn't like this.

dhisannoying · 09/12/2018 20:58

No

SenoritaViva · 09/12/2018 20:59

It seems like a real micro managing approach to me but not unheard of.

Wintermuter · 09/12/2018 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lazyarse123 · 09/12/2018 21:00

No it's not normal. You don't have to tell them if you are thinking of leaving. I don't think i could cope with that much inflexibility. How can you work from home if you're ill?

Biscusting · 09/12/2018 21:00

Sounds s bit full on, are the employees ex offenders!?

Singlenotsingle · 09/12/2018 21:00

If you're very sick, you shouldn't be working anywhere, either at work or at home.
The last point is a bit unusual but you'd just say no, wouldnt you?
All the other points I would say are normal

abacucat · 09/12/2018 21:01

Booking dentists and doctors appointments outside of work is normal. Notice to book leave depends on the kind of work you do IME. Lots of other things some companies like this, some not,

Grace212 · 09/12/2018 21:01

I've had a couple of employers like this...most have not been like this. I accepted it when I was young and there was a lot of profit share/bonus etc, but otherwise, no way.

I'm particularly struck by working at home if you are very ill. If you are very ill, you shouldn't be working at all!

Stopwoofing · 09/12/2018 21:02

They sound a terrible employer to me.

AlexanderHamilton · 09/12/2018 21:02

Not allowed to work from home - normal
3 month notice - not normal (although dh in teaching is a half term)
Timed lunches - very normal
Dr appt - normal unless very urgent wouldn’t occur to me to book routine in work time
Compassionate leave - do you mean paid? If so that’s generous. We would have to take unpaid or holiday
Hospital appt - I would expect to have to prove an appointment
Monthly meetings - not normal

Grace212 · 09/12/2018 21:03

oh and the last point is batshit

it would be great if everyone said "why yes, we are thinking about other jobs".

AlexanderHamilton · 09/12/2018 21:03

Time off - 8 weeks notice not normal. Holiday during quiet times is normal.

5foot5 · 09/12/2018 21:03

I have been working 35 years and I think 5 organizations (although some of them changed name and ownership several times while I was working for them so more really) I have never had t put up with anything that bad.

For a start, only allowed to work from home if very sick? If you are very sick you shouldn't be expected to wok at all.

Stopwoofing · 09/12/2018 21:03

Really? Good luck getting a doctor’s appointment on the weekend! My employer gives me a lot of flexibility so if they call me the odd Saturday, I pick up and try to help.

Prisonbreak · 09/12/2018 21:04

My old work was like this. Actually worse, including what you mentioned we had to press a button at our desks to use the bathroom. This button timed out bathroom breaks and if we were longer than average (whatever that is) we were questioned on the sales floor. If targets were not met each month we were sacked on the spot. The targets were stupidly high and unachievable to meet so myself and colleges would do masses of unpaid overtime to ensure we were not out a job. I could go on 😂

namechangedforanon · 09/12/2018 21:05

Awful and personally wouldn’t work there .

I wouldn’t have to do any of that , can work from home, take whatever lunch and appointments I want in work time - trust based

backaftera2yearbreak · 09/12/2018 21:05

My employer published a story in the local newspaper announcing they had sold our officemassively impacting on the way we have to work. It will force job loses.

Shame they never told us first 🙄

Merryoldgoat · 09/12/2018 21:06

Nope. Never worked anywhere like it. I wouldn’t either.

ScrommidgeClaryAndSpunt · 09/12/2018 21:06

No, OP, it's not normal at all. I have worked for some appalling employers in the past and none went to these lengths. They employ you, they don't own you.

AlexanderHamilton · 09/12/2018 21:07

I guess I finish at 4pm so alwYs try to get routine dr appointments around 4.30-5.30pm

lightlypoached · 09/12/2018 21:09

Sounds bloody awful to me.
I have a very flexible job - sales do manage my own time but have to deliver the business or I will get fired 😬
But work at home (or wherever it suits me - I have the kit and as long as I get the job done who cares ?)
Hospital and dr appointments when I need them. I make up the time several times over.
1 month notice (but lots of restrictions as to not working for competitors).
Your employer sounds dreadful. Get out as soon as you can. When you are a grown up you should be treated and trusted as one. If not, vote with your feet and leave. Really. They don’t deserve you.

MeredithGrey1 · 09/12/2018 21:10

My job has a rule that you can’t work from home ever (despite it very much being work that can be done from home) and has a three month notice period. I’d probably need a letter for a hospital appointment and doctor/dentist appointments are strongly encouraged to be booked outside of work or as close as possible. Our lunches aren’t timed but my manager would notice if someone regularly took over an hour and would say something about it.
Needing three months notice for holiday is ridiculous (and I imagine partly designed to make interviewing for new jobs harder as you’d need to call in sick for it).

Asking if you’re looking for a new job is so pointless, anyone with an ounce of sense would lie. If you then hand in your resignation what are they going to do, fire you for lying?

glasshalfsomething · 09/12/2018 21:12

None of that is normal in my place of work. I'm incredibly fortunate to work for a company where they recognise the benefits of employee engagement.
I would always recommend asking at interviews about the company culture - there response is always telling.

AnxiousAspie · 09/12/2018 21:14

All normal for my job, including the meeting aspect as we need to give a terms notice to leave, but I am a teacher. Obviously can't comment on the holiday aspect though!