To think my colleague has messed it up for herself?

[TwistedBirkenstockBlister]

So until recently I worked with a lady I got on well with. I was a permanent staff member and she was agency. She was on a significantly higher wage (due to being agency) even though we were doing the same job.
I heard on the grapevine that her time was almost up (part of a push towards getting rid of agency) and they were going to advertise her job as a permanent position. I tried very hard to get her to apply but she said over and over that she wouldn't work for such a low wage. I kept trying to 'sell' the good parts of the job, like it was local to her and school hours and there was room for progression.
When they recruited and told her that they weren't going to need her after a month. She reacted badly, getting angry and acting as if the company had been disloyal to her. I think she thought that they'd change their mind and offer her a huge salary to stay. They didn't.
We've stayed in touch and I've been sending her many jobs but she's not interested unless they're really good money, school hours and in her local area! She also keeps asking me if there's any jobs going at ours and there are but a lot are internal. I think she would have done much better to apply for the job, take a pay cut and then waiting for a secondment or promotion (which happen quite frequently.) Instead she's unemployed and has no contacts within our company anymore.

You sound way too invested in this persons career than is healthy. A

Stop sending her adverts. She can find her own job. You really don't need to take any responsibility for sorting her life out for her.

For those saying the pay rate needs to compensate for the lack of permanent staff benefits, that isn't as relevant as it used to be. On a recent spell of temping I got holiday leave on a pro rata basis, pension & sick leave - this is a legal requirement for agency workers.

But on the the hand, you have zero security and are the first to go if the work load drops, or there's cash flow issues.

The whole point that agencies pay more is that you have little security and no sick and holiday pay!!!! This obviously has passed her by....

It used to be when you worked in public service roles the quid pro quo was that although the salary wasn't as high as private sector, you'd have good terms and conditions. ..longer holidays/sick pay...

In my lengthy old woman experience these sort of people moan continually when someone else has these longer holidays or is well looked after by employers when seriously ill. A seriously ill colleage with stage 4 cancer was told by a tactless friend how lucky she was she had cancer as she got 6 months full time sickness pay. ..the person in question wouldn't work for less than a agency huge hourly rate ans couldn't see the link...idiot.

Honestly, I would disengage. There's nothing wrong with having a long list of requirements for work, but you do have to accept that the jobs won't come round so often. If she was worried enough about the money she would take one of the less ideal jobs. Don't take on this worry as your own.

I don't know why you are letting this get to you. Don't send her any more information about jobs. If she really wants/needs a job (and I question this) then she can look for herself.
Do you know much about her personal circumstances? If she was really that desperate for money she would work for less money. The fact that she doesn't want to suggests that her personal financial situation means she doesn't have to - Is she married? Is she receiving some kind of benefit?
She may claim she is "struggling" but I don't think her situation can be that bad if she can be so fussy about jobs.

Anyway, it's none of your business. She can do what she likes. I feel you are a bit miffed about her attitude that you perceive to be thinking she is too good for the jobs you are doing. Honestly, forget about it if you can. You've got your job and that's great.

@IamtheDevilsAvocado yes she was one of these people. We get very good holidays, sick pay and carers leave days, which with two kids is very useful! Plus as you get older things that seem of little benefit become very important, I went for a company with the best pension and sick leave as it will affect me in the future and you need to be prepared for anything.

@hovatn I'm trying to not let it get to me but seeing her and having her on social media and hearing the constant 'woe is me!' is irking me slightly. Also there is the small matter of her asking me to put a good word in for her about a job that I'm hoping to get myself, in my existing company. If she turns up at that interview and ends up being my boss. Otherwise if I get it she'll definitely play the 'you're a traitor' card!

@TwistedBirkenstockBlister How much does she pay you for being her VA?

If you have space at the same rates I have a huge amount of typing up that needs doing...

... alternatively see her for what she is, a manipulative user, and stop being her unpaid drudge!

Also there is the small matter of her asking me to put a good word in for her about a job that I'm hoping to get myself, in my existing company. If she turns up at that interview and ends up being my boss. Otherwise if I get it she'll definitely play the 'you're a traitor' card! What the fucking hell did you think you were doing alerting her to that job???

Seriously - tell her to get to fuck... and then leave her and her temper tantrums there!

She's shot her self in the foot there . I think there is a touch of arrogance from her through . She obviously thought they will offer her a job on the pay she was on ,but as she has learnt everyone is replaceable and they want to employ someone on less pay than what they pay the agency which will be very high .
Do not worry about you applying for the other job if you get it she should understand that and if she doesn't no loss to you just move on .
You sound like a nice person but some people take advantage of that . Let her find her own job let her worry about money and do not worry about applying for the job and good luck .

Lots of people who work ‘on contract ‘ refuse to swap the benefits of employee stays for their high hourly rate.

Leave her to it.

Why are you so invested in this? You sound a little bit controlling/codependent.

She’s an adult who made a decision and is dealing with the consequences. Let her get on with it. She’s not your kid.

I'm trying to not let it get to me but seeing her and having her on social media and hearing the constant 'woe is me!' is irking me slightly. Also there is the small matter of her asking me to put a good word in for her about a job that I'm hoping to get myself, in my existing company. If she turns up at that interview and ends up being my boss. Otherwise if I get it she'll definitely play the 'you're a traitor' card!

She doesn't sound like that great a friend to be honest. I'd snooze her on social media for a bit so you don't have to put up with the "woe is me" nonsense.
I wouldn't worry about her ending up becoming your boss. It's highly unlikely she'll get it when she didn't want to apply for one of the other permanent positions after her agency work. And don't put a good word in for her. In fact you could just tell her directly that you are applying for the job and therefore won't be putting in a good word for her.
Or just let the friendship die out - she's using you - and she sounds like a right pain in the backside.

So you think she should, basically, have taken a pay cut? I'm always encouraged by people who refuse to grovel to employers who expect more work for less money and 'loyalty' on top.

Well the sensible approach to this would have been to have applied and then 'refused to grovel' once they'd offered her the permanent position and she was in a stronger position.

I'm trying to not let it get to me but seeing her and having her on social media and hearing the constant 'woe is me!' is irking me slightly.

It might be best to unfollow her if it bothers you.

Also there is the small matter of her asking me to put a good word in for her about a job that I'm hoping to get myself, in my existing company. If she turns up at that interview and ends up being my boss. Otherwise if I get it she'll definitely play the 'you're a traitor' card!

It doesn't sound like she's very nice. Can you just try to avoid her? She seems to be taking up a lot of your headspace.

Avoid her. Unfollow her. Stay away from her social media accounts.
Simple.

I’ve known people get themselves into this predicament too. All I’d have said is what’s a bigger pay cut than losing your job? Maybe then she may have understood the gravity of the situation. I wouldn’t be sending her jobs anymore. She’s made her bed she lies in it.

This thread is slightly ridiculous and you are as bad as she is: neither of you are taking responsibility for yourselves.

1. the next time you see her tell her there are no more opportunities at your work you can put to her. If she asks you about the promo job just be honest and tell her you've applied for it yourself. She has no right to be cross as you are permanent and she was just agency: remind her of that.

2. She has ideas above her station: whilst I applaud anyone who wants to better themselves, she is strangely under the impression she is "owed" better and no one is "owed" anything.

3. you're exacerbating an existing problem by drip feeding her. You said yourself you get over involved so here's the thing: stop.

Yes she's shot herself in the foot and that's her problem. Stop making it yours.

I think you got overinvolved.

Perfect reason to step back 'well as we might be in competition for future roles I think we should steer clear of talking work roles, but it's always nice to see you and talk about non work things'. Then if she raises work/jobs 'oh can we not talk shop, thanks'. Then distance if she can't. And mute her on social media.

Well
It’s up to her what she does, I don’t get then aibu here?
My TA was agency for 2years, she refused a permanent position because the money was crap so she left when the new head didn’t want agency - she is a fantastic TA, she got a job in a private school for 26k, 12k more than the basic at our state school.
People have to do what suits them, I can’t see why you’re so invested.

Why are you so over invested?

I would leave her be, be friends with her but stop going on about jobs, for now

My daughter was agency and they offered her a permanent position at, of course, a reduced rate. I must say at this point, she absolutely loves where she works and the people. However, they work her to death, she often works all weekend from home. She gets time in lieu but honestly if she takes time off the work piles up so she rarely takes time off. I think she will have to leave. She's single and can't get a mortgage on what she earned. A member of staff once told me that they didn't know how they would manage without her, what a pity the management don't realise her worth.