DD’s boss and babe station comment?

[GazingAndGrazing]

DD is 16 and commenced an apprenticeship at the beginning of September.

We asked for a contract and the HR person said she was working on it.

1st day I picked DD up and she was full of beans, all good and laughing that they have dress down day every Friday and as long as she wore heels she could wear jeans etc

It’s a smallish team with a company director/owner. DD is autistic, I let the HR person know after her first day, explained how organised and meticulous she is.

DD is 1 of 3 apprentices she is the youngest. She grumbled that she has to make all the tea, fetch milk and then it was clean kitchen cupboards out, empty bins, fetch Directors lunch whilst the other 2 answered phones and took messages. DD is very black and white so she questioned why she was being treated differently.

I only have DDs version of events. She said, when she questioned being treated differently he said it was because he could, she was only an apprentice and she would do as he told her because he earns £300k a year and she earns nothing.

She asked to book holiday on Christmas Eve and he said no, she doesn’t get holiday for the 1st year as an apprentice and she was only allowed 15 mins lunch instead of an hour like the other 2.

Last incident where DD walked out was him telling the other males in the office that he would earn more from the apprentices if he put them to work on babe station.

That happened on Friday. I called to speak to him, he was “in a meeting” I called Again and left a message fOr the HR person to call me. I’ve heard nothing at all.

What rights does DD have as an apprentice of not even 1 month with no contract?

If that was my daughter I'd be marching in with a axe fuck the consequence, hope you are dealing ok.

@HeresMe

If that was my daughter I'd be marching in with a axe fuck the consequence, hope you are dealing ok.

An axe?

Yep a axe

@ameliajoan

DD is very withdrawn, I can tell it’s taken a toll on her so I’ll continue to fight her corner whilst she gains confidence to be able to do it herself.

How do you think she’ll gain the confidence to do it herself?

Confidence doesn’t come from nowhere; you don’t wait to grow into it. Confidence comes from experience and if you never give her the experiences to allow her to grow confident then she’ll reach adulthood—as she almost has done—with no confidence.

Wow! Just wow!

Do you honestly believe that throwing a teenager with autism and lacking in self confidence to the lions is going to fill them with self confidence?

You clearly know nothing about autism and very little about teenagers. The kind of treatment the OP's daughter has experienced is enough to rock the confidence of an adult. Or are you really that thick skinned and completely lacking in empathy?

I think the OP is doing a great job in supporting her daughter.

Well done OP. I would have done the same - my DD does not have autism but is young and vulnerable c

I'm glad your daughter is out of there OP, and she has your full support. I hope you're able to hand this terrible man his arse on a plate.

When I was 16/17 I got a job in a health setting, and was badly bullied by an older lady. (We were both part time but she was annoyed at me being hired as she wanted my hours). I remember crying on my way home every day for two weeks straight before I finally quit. I was too proud to tell my parents what was going on and in hindsight wish I had done. Parental intervention isn't a negative in such circumstances, handling things myself at that age didn't increase my confidence in the slightest. In fact the opposite.

As a 16 year old there are protections regarding hours of Work and breaks.
Sounds like a rubbish place anyway. Clearly not treating her fairly. Walking was the best thing. Wishing lots of luck to find the new perfect role :-)

DD had a message this afternoon from the other apprentice. Director has been stomping about slamming doors with nothing much to say to anyone and left shortly after lunch (they didn’t go down the pub today either)

Hopefully he took an early leave to reply to my email. I keep refreshing the inbox!

Oh my. Your poor DD.

I hoe this guy gets everything he deserves.

I would imagine he may be seeking advice before replying to you.
What did Acas say in terms of an actual resolution? As in - what type of action would be taken against them?

@Timinfuckingruislip

I would imagine he may be seeking advice before replying to you. What did Acas say in terms of an actual resolution? As in - what type of action would be taken against them?

Ultimately we could end up at a tribunal but DD doesn’t want to do that. I’ll see if he pays her what is owed at the end of the month and decide from there.

This is all very new to me so I’m learning on the go.

Am just asking as can’t help but thinking he will “get away with it” and just continue as he is - as am assuming (but have no idea about this type of thing) that, as she’d only been there days the payout would be small.
Which makes me think that the press - or at the very least Glassdoor should be a go to as well.

Hi OP, I'm disabled. Much older than your DD but I have been through the grievance, appeal and tribunal process for disability discrimination.

DO NOT take the money and leave it there.

FIGHT IT. You will get more.

You don't necessarily need to go all the way to a tribunal to get a win and more compensation than the notice pay he will probably only offer you. Your DD deserves better. Fighting it, and winning it, will be stressful but ultimately boost your DDs confidence to stand up for herself.

Your union should be able to help your DD too - I think some offer advice to family members but not a full service. You can also get an employment lawyer to get a settlement agreement for your DD.

Go through the ACAS early conciliation service to indicate you intend to start the tribunal process - again you don't necessarily need to go all the way but the early conciliation adviser will negotiate on your behalf and try to help you get an offer, which you don't need to accept if it isn't good enough. A solicitor can help do the process for you but you can also do it yourself.

I also found the 'formal grievance' website helpful when writing my grievance and identifying case law to refer to and back up my arguments.

whereabouts in the country are you as if you are in my area, I may be able to help you a bit more privately due to the nature of my job.

Have you tried getting advice and support from the likes of the National Autistic Society?

oh and DONT go to the press. You will negatively influence any legal action you may choose to take if you do this. Plus the press don't always pick up on stories like this they don't want legal action against them either.

@throwingawaymyshot

Hi OP, I'm disabled. Much older than your DD but I have been through the grievance, appeal and tribunal process for disability discrimination.

DO NOT take the money and leave it there.

FIGHT IT. You will get more.

You don't necessarily need to go all the way to a tribunal to get a win and more compensation than the notice pay he will probably only offer you. Your DD deserves better. Fighting it, and winning it, will be stressful but ultimately boost your DDs confidence to stand up for herself.

Your union should be able to help your DD too - I think some offer advice to family members but not a full service. You can also get an employment lawyer to get a settlement agreement for your DD.

Go through the ACAS early conciliation service to indicate you intend to start the tribunal process - again you don't necessarily need to go all the way but the early conciliation adviser will negotiate on your behalf and try to help you get an offer, which you don't need to accept if it isn't good enough. A solicitor can help do the process for you but you can also do it yourself.

I also found the 'formal grievance' website helpful when writing my grievance and identifying case law to refer to and back up my arguments.

whereabouts in the country are you as if you are in my area, I may be able to help you a bit more privately due to the nature of my job.

Have you tried getting advice and support from the likes of the National Autistic Society?

Thank you for replying, really, really helpful. Is it ok if I PM you my location?

you're welcome. replied to your PM too

Op, how horrendous for your DD and her first experience in the workplace.

I agree that you're 100% right in what you've done and they've absolutely discriminated against her based on multiple protected characteristics and you should take them to tribunal and get as much money as possible for her as she deserves it and they also need to be taught a lesson in how I treat people and especially young women in the workplace.

Good luck Op.

How to treat, not I treat!

How is your daughter today? I hope that you have got some legal advice - such a useless boss. I wonder if the other apprentices will shift since I doubt its a good atmosphere there.

And you crappy boss apologists - WTF wrong with you? IF anybody wonders why ASD people struggle to get and maintain employment despite being capable - look at this thread.

DD is ok thank you. We have emailed the CEO and HRM with no reply and awaiting payday. I’ve contacted a solicitor but have yet to hear back with the hope of a letter being sent.

I’ve had so much support here and in messages and one positive is a nice reminder to DD that I have her back, always will, she even joined me for lunch today which hasn’t happened since she was forced to stay in during lockdown

Thing is, if people don't stand up for their young adult children, bad employers will see it as a green light to exploit them. Exploitation should not be a normal part of work.

@GazingAndGrazing

DD is ok thank you. We have emailed the CEO and HRM with no reply and awaiting payday. I’ve contacted a solicitor but have yet to hear back with the hope of a letter being sent.

I’ve had so much support here and in messages and one positive is a nice reminder to DD that I have her back, always will, she even joined me for lunch today which hasn’t happened since she was forced to stay in during lockdown

Awww that's lovely to hear. You keep sticking up for her. That's how she'll learn, by watching you!

I wonder if he's replied yet? If not, perhaps he has the wind up him, or is seeking legal advice.

I just wanted to let you know that I have also experienced disability discrimination that resulted in me losing my job. I accepted an offer of 3 months notice + 2 years salary. Far more than a tribunal would have given me.

5 years on, I have to remind myself every day that I did nothing wrong. That I'm good at my job and businesses don't give that much money away for no good reason. My confidence is still shot to pieces.

I know you you are looking out for tour daughter, just bear in mind how much of this will have an impact on her, the quicker you can resolve it and build her confidence, the better.

If it was a 3 year apprenticeship then surely the pay for constructive dismissal should be 3 years pay as his dismissal has prevented her from earning that 3 years pay?