Employer not Communicating

[ProbablyAnotherNCFail]

DP's workplace (part of a multinational) has 'temporarily closed' due to some sort of investigation of a small number of employees. The first DP knew of it was when he turned up to work and was told it was shutting down briefly and nobody is to communicate with colleagues under any circumstances.

Since then (June) he has heard nothing other than a no reply email saying 'we'll let you know' and all other means of contacting them (email, staff intranet, phone) has been strictly prohibited.

He has no idea if he's being paid, no way of viewing payslips, no way of putting somebody down for a reference to apply for other jobs, no way of applying for JSA as he can't prove he is either out of work or not or that if he is, that it's not a dismissal.

He tends to bury his head in the sand about anything and everything, but surely it's not an appropriate or legal way in which to operate, as it prevents staff from doing anything to gain alternative employment at a time when there is absolutely no way of knowing if or what he may or may not be paid at the end of each month?

My thoughts were to contact ACAS (but I'm considerably more belligerent than he is I fucking have to be with Mr Oh, I Don't Want To Get Into Trouble here ) - but perhaps there is a legal requirement to keep employees informed or something else that could be done?

Help!

If it's part of a multi National then he will still be paid surely.

Sounds strange though. Just need to sit tight I guess! Surely HR can help?!

If it’s part of a multi national then surely he can contact that multi national hr and ask for info. Plus use the original firms hr dept for a reference - if he did go the route of looking for other work.
Seems very odd.

@rjacksmiss

If it's part of a multi National then he will still be paid surely.

Sounds strange though. Just need to sit tight I guess! Surely HR can help?!

He (and the rest of the team) were told that under no circumstances were they to contact anybody at all and when he tried contacting the area manager, as per the original 'we're closing temporarily, don't speak to anyone about this, but feel free to call me', he got bollocked for calling and hung up on.

or that's what he tells me

The place is definitely closed, though.

I agree with you op. Acas seems like a good place if we he firm or multinational parent will not engage.

Union?

@Bargebill19

Union?

Place doesn't recognise unions, so he decided against joining one off his own bat ignored my advice to do so because he knew better

Yes, I'm frustrated. I'm paying the bills, not knowing whether he's going to be putting his share in at the end of the month and he's not applying for things because there's no way of getting a reference when he's not allowed to contact them - and it's a pretty lame thing to put down on applications under Reason For Leaving 'my massive multinational employer ghosted the entire office'.

I'd think it was bollocks if it wasn't for knowing he's telling the truth.

Not sure I would put that down as a reason either. Maybe wanted further professional development might be more apt?!
If he won’t do something to discover what’s happening regarding pay and a return to work or acas, then I think you are stuck.
If I were him I would be wanting answers yesterday and I guess you are the same. If I didn’t get them, I would be looking at, and finding another job.
If he has nothing to lose whatsoever, I suppose there is the Twitter route and ask the questions publicly. But that is a nuclear route to go down.
But you can’t force him to do anything or do it on his behalf. Very frustrating for you. (And intriguing).

Just a random thought. Does he have any form of legal cover with an insurance policy? They might give some advice.

I'm surprised work have not issued regular communications to staff to let them know what's going on - like letting them know they will be paid, how long they may be at home for etc.

If it's a multinational with an HR department I would expect staff will be paid (or risk claims for unlawful deduction of wages etc). But I'm surprised they've provided so little info to staff tbh.

@Bargebill19

Not sure I would put that down as a reason either. Maybe wanted further professional development might be more apt?! If he won’t do something to discover what’s happening regarding pay and a return to work or acas, then I think you are stuck. If I were him I would be wanting answers yesterday and I guess you are the same. If I didn’t get them, I would be looking at, and finding another job. If he has nothing to lose whatsoever, I suppose there is the Twitter route and ask the questions publicly. But that is a nuclear route to go down. But you can’t force him to do anything or do it on his behalf. Very frustrating for you. (And intriguing).

Yeah, I know - I am being slightly sarcastic/flippant (and had already made suggestions of that ilk when bringing up the idea that he looked for something else whilst they're potentially still paying him), but I'm rather fond of keeping a roof over my head and his paralysis is less a rabbit caught in headlights than it is a leveret in a scrape as the combine's rattling down the field.

I've sent him a link to ACAS's advice line as somebody on the internet agreeing with me is always encouraging(!). Hopefully, he won't interpret contacting them as provoking the parent company HR Department. But who knows? They've certainly done a number on him.

Looks like this is going to be yet another shit summer, potentially followed by a skint September. [Sigh]

Fingers crossed he does get some advice from acas that will prompt his company or the parent firm into engaging with the employees. He needs to know and I would have entitled to know that he is getting laid or not. If he his getting paid - then things might not be so dire? If he’s not getting paid then legal action as per pp for unlawful deduction and look for another job.
I can totally see you frustration. It the total limbo they’ve created plus his inability to do anything positive.
I’m sure contacting acas and saying basically what been said here, isn’t discussing whatever is happening and can’t possible cause more hassle (or harvested leverets).

Would have thought.
Paid not to the l word.
Sorry. But maybe it made you smile.

Can't he contact his usual HR manager and ask for an update?

When in June did this happen? Was he paid at the end of June?

If he wasn’t paid at then end of June he really needs to take some action.

This is really unusual and unreasonable behaviour from a multinational company. I would definitely contact ACAS on Monday and ask their advice.

It sound like they have closed the business and do not want to pay redundancy.

I have worked in multinationals for three decades and that is the most bizarre thing I have ever read. Multinationals are usually pretty on the ball about employment rights and how to go about things.

So I find this implausible to be honest and cannot help but wonder if your husband is being honest. Could he have had his employment terminated or be suspended? It is not unknown for men in particular, to hide this.

I work for a multinational and if this happened and an area manager (we call the divisional manager) bollocked me for contacting them, I'd be professionally telling them to get fucked and also telling them that I was also going to be contacting HR to know the position with being paid.

Another multi-national corporate employee here saying that this sounds, to say the least , highly unusual.

If he is so laid back, is it possible he has missed an email ? Has he checked his spam filters? What contact did he give to HR, try checking that email.

There must be some official communication around, exactly because without official communications the rumour mill goes into overdrive.

I'd encourage him to keep trying to get in touch with ever more senior people. It's not as if it's a single family firm. Their legal department will be briefing, it's just not possible that they have not provided any information after say, three days.

Are you sure he hasn't been fired and he isn't spinning you a tale?

Is he one of the people being investigated?

if he was paid for june then he must know the wages situation

I used to work in HR for a multinational and agree this sounds hugely suspect. Have you read anything directly @ProbablyAnotherNCFail?

I’d put bets on you not having the whole story.

This is very strange! Is it possible he is one of the people being investigated?

Never heard anything like this at all. If it's a multi-national they'll have an HR team - I would contact them.

Are you sure he's telling you the truth? Is he under investigation but doesn't want to tell you?

@Aprilx

I have worked in multinationals for three decades and that is the most bizarre thing I have ever read. Multinationals are usually pretty on the ball about employment rights and how to go about things.

So I find this implausible to be honest and cannot help but wonder if your husband is being honest. Could he have had his employment terminated or be suspended? It is not unknown for men in particular, to hide this.

My thoughts too, and my experience of working for a multinational of three decades.

IME, regular communication is absolutely key.