To tell them to F*** off and quit before the Christmas break?

[icyblast]

I’ve been working full time at a nursery for 3 years now, and honestly, it’s been terrible. I’m not sure how I’ve managed to stick around this long. I think I just got too comfortable. The kids are lovely, and I genuinely enjoy that part of my job. But the management / owners? That’s a different story. It’s a chain of nurseries, and all they care about is profit. The staff are treated like shit, paid peanuts, and they act like they’re untouchable / above employment law. I could share so many stories, but I won’t bother. However, this latest incident has pushed me and a few others over the edge.

To keep it short, the owners like to donate to charity (which isn’t a bad thing), but they’re not good people, and no one sees what happens behind the scenes. They’ve organised a charity event for tomorrow that lasts 3 hours and threatened us with disciplinary action if we don’t show up. We all work Monday to Friday (that’s what our contracts say) and won’t be paid for our time tomorrow. Plus, it’s the last weekend before Christmas, so naturally, most of us have plans or are going away. They only told us on Tuesday that we were expected to attend. One of my colleagues only started 2 weeks ago (already had plans for the weekend), and while our manager let her off, she basically got a warning and was told not to let it happen again. Seriously? It’s her day off! Why shouldn’t she be able to make plans?

The thing is, if they had just asked us nicely to help out, most of us would have agreed. But they’ve given us no choice and threatened to sack us if we don’t go! Then we have to act like it’s a wonderful company and put on smiles and act happy for the parents and kids. We’re going just to avoid the hassle, but most of us are now looking for new jobs.

I talked to my partner about this, and he told me to just leave. I don’t have another job lined up yet, but I’m fully qualified and have over 10 years of experience in child care. I’m not trying to be cocky, but there are so many care jobs available right now that I doubt I’d have a hard time finding something better. AIBU to hand my notice in on Christmas Eve and enjoy my time off?

Do it and don’t look back. Apart acting in a way that seems illegal, they sound super shonky. You’ll absolutely find work and I have found the biggest way to flag to parents that it’s not all hearts and rainbows at a nursery is if they have a mass exodus of staff.

Don't go tomorrow, ensure noone else does either.

Let them sack you all on Monday, appeal it with your contractual rights and then put a Employment Tribunal to ACAS. They wont have a leg to stand on.

Don't go tomorrow. Blast socials with what they're doing and quit!

Yeah this. Call their bluff. Send them an email recording the fact that you won’t be attending the event on Saturday since it’s outside of your contracted hours, but it sounds like a lovely event and you wish them all the best with it.

Try to keep a record of everything. Join a Union. Bring a rep or witness to any meetings.

Nursery workers are like gold dust they have their pick of jobs round here.

These chain nurseries are absolutely SHOCKING and hear all the time it’s about the profit not children and staff.
Where I live you would get snapped up within about second from multiple places with your experience as such a shortage. Have a quick search to make sure there are jobs about and start applying.
I personally wouldn’t hand in my notice. Instead I would send a email apologies I can’t attend due to short notice as only heard on Tuesday and we already have plans. If they fire you pretty sure you would be able to sue for unfair dismissal for win thousands! Call ACAS for free advice and support but hoping will all work out in your favour!

I'd had it in now.

Partly in case of care numbers and the nice kids families, partly to finish sooner, and partly to make a stand about unpaid work.

Work Saturday unpaid? Here's my notice.

Don’t hand in your notice yet. I won’t go tomorrow and see what happens on Monday. If they try to sack you for not coming to work when it’s your contracted day off, let them go ahead, keep records because you’ll have a very good unfair dismissal claim. Start looking for a new job now.

Personally I’d not go and if they sack you claim for unfair dismissal.

As you said, fuck off and quit

Leave. Sign up with a temp nanny agency while you look for something new.

They wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Don't go, tell them you are unable to attend. Let them discipline you and then take them to the cleaners. Get some advice from ACAS.

Why don't you become a childminder?

Don’t go, let them sack you. Then go for unfair dismissal ☺️

Don't go in. Let them sack you. Take them to tribunal for unfair dismissal!

Another vote to take them to a tribunal. It could be constructive dismissal or unfair dismissal. Keep all written evidence that you have and make notes now about any verbal conversations you’ve had with them about this.
speak to Acas too.

I agree with your DH, just leave. Care should never be for profit and this is why. You'll get another job no problem. Caregivers are worth their weight in gold and you deserve better.

Have you tried talking to them about it

If you are going to quit anyway I would just not turn up tomorrow, allow the disciplinary and then contact Acas, a bit of trouble for them might make them reflect on how they treat future employees. Would the hours you are there for free tomorrow put you under minimum wage?

We all work Monday to Friday (that’s what our contracts say) and won’t be paid for our time tomorrow. Plus, it’s the last weekend before Christmas, so naturally, most of us have plans or are going away. They only told us on Tuesday that we were expected to attend. One of my colleagues only started 2 weeks ago (already had plans for the weekend), and while our manager let her off, she basically got a warning and was told not to let it happen again. Seriously? It’s her day off!

They sound batshit.

Be careful - they could be crazy enough to try and sack you after you give your resignation, which is possible. It would be illegal if they did that out of spite, but they might just do it anyway.

Your daughter deserves a medal.I know she didn’t do it for that but fucking well done to her x

Just dont go and let them deal with it.

Hand in your notice but remember you’ll need a reference from them for your next employer so be careful what you give for your reason for leaving and “politely” tell them that you already have plans for tomorrow.

So like others, I suggest that you don't quite call their bluff... and then if they do sack you, then you can go down the legal route for unfair dismissal. Email them first and let them know you won't be attending due to Saturday not being a contracted work day and then leave it there and then it's up to them and all the legal responsibility for well acting illegally.

And you won’t be working your notice due to them breaching your contract by expecting you to work outside of your contracted hours for no pay @icyblast

😂

Do not attend the event.

if they attempt to discipline you, contact ACAS, this is a free service and you don’t need to be a member of any union to use this service.

Keep anything sent to you in writing as evidence. Document any conversation had with you in an email.

Employers cannot hire and fire employees at will. You have all the cards here, do not be intimidated.

This - let them try to sack you all if none of you turn up.