I love my job but....

[SoDesperate]

I feel as if any 'rights' I had are slowly being eroded and my boss is just making it up as he goes along.

I was asked to take a qualification, I didnt need to, but a certain number of employees need to have this so I agreed, and qualified for a generous increase in salary of 3p per hour. I qualified in July last year and I still have not got my increase and it 'isnt possible' for it to be backdated. Really?

I have to use my car in the course of my work and am not given any petrol allowance yet I have been asked to produce my Insurance Certificate and now my MOT certificate. I feel this is just an invasion of my privacy. Why would they want or need these?

I have also been told that I cannot change my 'hours of availability' for twelve months, yet, if I do not pick up extra work outside of my hours of availability, my bonus is cut. Surely it isnt legal for them to not allow me to change my hours, I understand a certain amount of notice should be given, but twelve months? Surely this isnt legal?

There is more :( Most of the employees moral is at an all time low. I am very happy doing my job it is very rewarding but I think I may as well try to find a better employer :(

To address your issues in turn, was your salary increase promised in writing? Have others who took the qualification received the increase?

In terms of seeing your insurance and MOT this is perfectly fine as far as I'm concerned. It's right and responsible for an employer to want to check that vehicles being used in the course of its business are properly insured and roadworthy, and I can't imagine most people would have a problem with it. I expect your view of it is clouded by your other concerns.

The petrol issue is separate to that. You have no legal right to be reimbursed for fuel used in the course of your job, although it is usual. Does your contract specify that you will get it?

In terms of changing your hours you have absolutely no legal right to insist on being allowed to change your own hours, no. Again this would be a contractual thing. If your contract says you are entitled to change as much or often as you like, or has a shorter notice period, then imposing this new rule might be something you can resist, but there's no automatic legal right to change your hours.

If your boss is 'making it up as he goes along' does that mean there is HR you can talk to? Are other departments/managers behaving differently?

Thanks for replying :)

No, it is only a small company so there is no one else to approach.

I guess I feel undervalued and unappreciated.

Regarding the increase, yes, some other members did get an increase. I am not taking it personally, but I do feel I shouldnt have to keep asking for it to be given to me.

The company do not pay petrol, it isnt in our contracts but, with the cost of petrol, I am feeling increasingly annoyed at being expected to carry out calls outside of my normal area, I just dont earn enough to be able to afford to pay more out for petrol. But I have to go.

Maybe legally I have no right to change my hours so it worries me that should circumstances change my employer would not be prepared to be flexible and I would have to resign.

I guess I will just have to put up with it for now....

Well if you are feeling undervalued and unappreciated, perhaps it is time to look around for a better employer. Have you actually spoken to your boss and explained how you are feeling?

You do need to bear in mind that the chances of you finding an employer who is happy to let you change your hours when you want to are fairly slim.

Have you upgraded your insurance to cover you using the car in the course of your work (in addition to driving to and from your place of work)? - important to do this or company will wriggle out if you do happen to have an accident while using car for work.