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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think they've made a massive mistake here?

161 replies

PepsiColaaa · 24/08/2021 12:39

I've recently started a new job working from home. I was miserable in my old one and wanted to try something completely different. I found this job online via an agency who was recruiting for a company and they put me forward for an interview. I was offered the job last month, my equipment arrived last week and I started my training yesterday. It is only minimum wage but it was a way for me to get experience in this type of work (I've done the same jobs for 10 years). The job was advertised as working Mon-Fri 9-5 with weekends off and when I spoke to a lady from the agency she confirmed that over the phone to.

This morning whilst we were all on teams (8 of us) the trainer asked everyone to explain why they had applied for the role. One person said it was because they had a family and wanted to spend more time with their kids on the weekends etc. At that point the trainer must have realised and asked us all if we knew it was shift work. Apparently they operate 7 days a week 8-8 Mon-Fri and 9-6 on weekends and we would be expected to work shifts. They are also open during all public holidays (even Christmas Day Sad). I explained that there had been no mention of any shift work at all and I was under the impression that it was Mon-Fri. Everyone else said the same. Apparently we only work that during the 2 weeks training and then we start working on a rota basis.

It's not a huge problem for me as I've worked shifts before and I don't have any other commitments, but I think it's terrible that the agency have given all the applicants the wrong information. Some people have even left their jobs to take this one. One lady said she wouldn't have taken the job if she had known it was shift working as she has other commitments on weekends. Obviously some wires have been crossed but AIBU to think this is a huge cock up on the agency's part? Or maybe even the company itself if they've not passed the correct information on?

We're all stuck now and unless we want to be unemployed we need to continue with the job...

OP posts:
nonotmenotI · 24/08/2021 15:07

I had this once and was told my contracted hours were 5pm-9pm. I turned up and was told it's 4.30 - 11.30pm.

Me and 7 others who started at the time all left within a week.

rolyisntittimefor · 24/08/2021 15:12

Never ever resign until you've seen the contract from the new place - life lesson.

OnceTheyDid · 24/08/2021 15:15

Haha! I bet this is a Test and Trace company.

They are fucking shit ...and also sack half their staff regularly because they suddenly realise the calls they are getting/having to make reduce so much from month to month leaving staff sitting with little work to do.

Look for another job.

Iloveginger · 24/08/2021 15:32

True, but notice period won't make up for leaving your previous employer, its more the distain of posters making out the op and her new team were idiots not to have a contract but any employee is very vulnerable in the first two years.
I do think it is a bit naive to leave a job without a clear outline of the job you are going to and the conditions of employment (pay, hols etc) confirmed to you in writing. Obviously these aren’t a cast iron guarantee that the offer will not be withdrawn, you will not be dismissed, or you’ll love the job, but the employers willingness to issue them does show they are being transparent about the job role.
I am aware that the op didn’t leave a job to take this one and my comments were aimed more so at her team members ( nhs employee).
I agree to an extent that the contract itself is not worth much, it’s the other things it indicates about the employer that say a lot though.

QueenBee52 · 24/08/2021 15:33

OP never had a job ... to leave ..

skodadoda · 24/08/2021 15:39

@MiddleParking

Yes, YABU to think they’ve made a mistake - they’ve done no such thing I’m afraid!
You don’t know this at 12.45! OP says at 12.50 what happened with the contracts and the trainer admitted the agency had got it wrong.
PepsiColaaa · 24/08/2021 15:44

Sorry still in training and haven't had a chance to read through replies properly just yet...

@OnceTheyDid no it's not a test and trace company. Nothing to do with covid at all

OP posts:
PepsiColaaa · 24/08/2021 15:45

Need to clarify as posters keep on saying it - I left my last job weeks before I applied for this one!

OP posts:
BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 24/08/2021 15:46

@JaniceBattersby

They’ve done it deliberately. This shit happens all the time because there a glut of jobs and a dearth of workers. Agencies have to fill the jobs to get paid so they bullshit their way through the process. The companies are usually compliant, and if they’re not, ask why they haven’t sacked the agency that made such a terrible ‘mistake.’ No way would I work for a company that pulled this kind of move.
This.

However - the offer letter should have set out the terms (working hrs, pattern, salary etc.). If the offer letter was dishonest, you may have a case to dispute this with them.

Farwest · 24/08/2021 15:46

The company has already treated you poorly and it is only Day 2. The agency lied because the company asked them to.

If you need the money, continue using them as a temporary paycheque until you can secure other employment with a reputable employer.

BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand · 24/08/2021 15:49

Looks like the offer letter was sufficiently vague so as not to be dishonest. That's pretty crap.

I definitely think the company did it deliberately though. When companies go out to advert through agencies, companies usually vet the advert content.

CatJumperTwat · 24/08/2021 15:51

Its not entirely worthless, you maybe entitled to your notice period from your 'new employer' .

Yeah, you might get one week's wages. Not exactly worthless, but not exactly protection, either.

Never ever resign until you've seen the contract from the new place - life lesson.

Read the thread - life lesson.

Iloveginger · 24/08/2021 16:14

*its not entirely worthless, you maybe entitled to your notice period from your 'new employer' .

Yeah, you might get one week's wages. Not exactly worthless, but not exactly protection, either*
I never said it was protection, but the contract and offer letter will outline the job you are being employed to do, alongside other important details like how much you are being paid, hours of work etc. Which is clearly what hasn't happened here.
Doesn't matter so much if you are unemployed, but I wouldn't want to leave a job without know what I was going to.

Tohaveandtohold · 24/08/2021 16:28

They’ve definitely done this deliberately.
I had a call centre job like that when I was looking for entry level jobs as I just moved to this country then. The company did the interview and it was not even an agency and at the interview, they tell you that you are work 9-5 on Monday to Friday and then one out of 3 Saturdays.
16 people started and during the 4 week training it was 9-5 and it was the last week we were told it was shift work. The shifts were from 7am to 11pm, mon to Sunday. Granted we had a contract and the contract just says they are open 24 hours and that your work hours is based on the business need.
They told every one the same thing during recruitment. We were stunned. 6 people left immediately but I worked there for 6 months and when it left, it was only one person that was left in my training group.
They had bad staff turnover and they didn’t care. They were awful. They make sure you don’t know the hours till you’ve left your old job.

54321nought · 24/08/2021 16:35

agencies lie

report them under the trade description act every single time

its the only way

Hoppinggreen · 24/08/2021 17:00

DH is a contractor and was offered a really good new contract. He refused to terminate his existing contract until he got a new one.
He was invited to a welcome evening which he did go to and most of the people there had given notice at Permanent jobs or Contracts. The next day they were all told the project wasn’t going ahead, the agency were basically building a team without proper sign off from the client.
DH was still in Contract so was fine but a lot of people were screwed
So some agencies can be very very unscrupulous just to get bums on seats

TerriblyNaice · 24/08/2021 17:01

It wasn't 'Sensee' or 'Arise' was it?
I know somebody who found work through one of them and they'd been lied to completely about both the job requirements and hours.

onelittlefrog · 24/08/2021 17:05

It's shitty behaviour from the company but there's nothing you can do about it. You didn't protect yourself by getting something in writing before you started. The advert is irrelevant - you need a contract.

You should never leave a job before you have your contract for your new one in your hand. I appreciate you were unhappy, but that is the best way to avoid this kind of situation.

Unfortunately you're just going have to chalk it down to experience and start a new job search.

Also - if an online job ad sounds to good to be true, it probably is. There are a lot of dodgy work from home jobs being advertised to stay at home parents with few qualifications who are vulnerable/ exploitable. You need to be careful.

ProfessionalWeirdo · 24/08/2021 17:09

This is a common tactic by agencies. They've been doing it for decades.

When I was looking for a job (40-odd years ago) I told the agency that I didn't want one that involved taking minutes of meetings. Guess what they kept putting me forward for...?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/08/2021 17:10

they've basically just said that the agency have made a mistake

It's possible, but equally (or more) likely that they've lied to the agency too, knowing the original hours would be better bait. Strictly speaking they're not allowed to do it, but some do it anyway and roll out some fictitious sap who they blame for a "clerical error" - rinse and repeat

I'm only surprised a company like this bothered giving you a contract at all, but at least you didn't leave a previous job to take this (though I realise others did)

Sadly I doubt there's much to be done since they'll play the blame game until the cows come home, so hang in there while applying elsewhere and leave as soon as you can, as plenty of others have probably done before you

CorrBlimeyGG · 24/08/2021 17:12

@onelittlefrog

You should never leave a job before you have your contract for your new one in your hand. I appreciate you were unhappy, but that is the best way to avoid this kind of situation.

RTFT!

mathanxiety · 24/08/2021 17:17

This is a deliberate bait and switch.

Get another job asap.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 24/08/2021 17:17

Need to clarify as posters keep on saying it - I left my last job weeks before I applied for this one

I know you did OP, but people don't always read things even when they're pointed out repeatedly
They don't always read contracts either, which is why at least some who insist they were diddled probably have only themselves to blame. It's not their fault if a company lies, but that's why you do everything possible to protect yourself and certainly (as a principle, not personally) don't resign without a proper contract in place

pianolessons1 · 24/08/2021 17:23

I've worked in the NHS for 20 years. Never had a contract before starting a job, not usually within the first 3 months.

CareerOrBaby · 24/08/2021 17:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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