Hourly rate / still no contract after a year despite asking

[Remmy123]

Hi all

So I got made redundant from a job in the city (well paid but v stressful)

I started a new job last September as a private / corporate (mostly private) PA for a HNW individual.

I work 20 hours per week currently from home.

My hourly rate is £15 an hour. I have no contract despite me asking several times. It's a family run, but well established company.

I work very hard and I do a good job but the hourly rate for a private PA role feels so low.

Plus the fact I do not have a contract and often use my car for errands which I do not get reimbursed for as I am not driving to an office that I ordinarily would be.

I feel like he is taking the p*ss. I'm not good at asking for pay rises etc, we get on very well and I get good feedback.

Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks so much

We pay our PA £30/hour, she's self employed though - has a few clients - if you are not happy to ask for a raise, it might be easier to move jobs.

@OrangeVelvetCushion I really need to ask for a raise I just hate asking.

Some days I feel rushed off my feet and think 'all that for £60' 😬

IIn an ideal world they’d pay you better or of course you’d ask - But why ask on here whether you should ask? You are not happy, you need to change things because they will not - so either ask or move jobs - do whatever feels right for you.

Presumably you were fine with the pay when you accepted the job so you don’t really get to complain about it, however you can of course ask for a raise. You’re coming up to a year, which is probably a good time to ask to have a meeting to discuss these things.

As this person is a HNW individual I imagine they are time poor and generally want to outsource as much as possible. I also assume they have a lawyer. Why don’t you say that you understand it is a legal requirement that you are provided with a contract or similar document setting out the terms of your employment, you are sure this is something the lawyer will be able to sort out very easily, and would boss like you to contact the lawyer and arrange it for them.

Thanks. Well I'm not asking anyone whether I should ask more feel like I am being taken advantage of.

He also expects me to be available outside my core hours.

I took the job as there was literally nothing else out there flexible.. this all happened last year when work opportunities were dire.

When you are organising test drives for a car of 100k and holidays worth thousands it does make me begrudge it.

Is it a legal requirement to have a contract in place? Before I ask - thanks

Yes, the law is that you should be given a contract prior to your first day.

@Remmy123

Thanks. Well I'm not asking anyone whether I should ask more feel like I am being taken advantage of.

He also expects me to be available outside my core hours.

I took the job as there was literally nothing else out there flexible.. this all happened last year when work opportunities were dire.

When you are organising test drives for a car of 100k and holidays worth thousands it does make me begrudge it.

Is it a legal requirement to have a contract in place? Before I ask - thanks

Try not to feel resentful - you took the job, you must have been glad of it at the time - you don't have to stay there - find something else and move on to a more positive feeling.

@Remmy123

Thanks. Well I'm not asking anyone whether I should ask more feel like I am being taken advantage of.

He also expects me to be available outside my core hours.

I took the job as there was literally nothing else out there flexible.. this all happened last year when work opportunities were dire.

When you are organising test drives for a car of 100k and holidays worth thousands it does make me begrudge it.

Is it a legal requirement to have a contract in place? Before I ask - thanks

Don’t make the mistake of being resentful about your employers wealth and assuming it is relevant to your pay. It’s not. Your pay should be based on things like the level of responsibility, nature of tasks, hours, performance and market rates. Research an appropriate market rate, and put forward a business case to your employer.

With regards to a contract, you are entitled to a written statement of particulars of employment, ie written details of some of the basic terms of your employment. This usually comes in the form of a contract but actually could be a letter or other statement, as long as it contains all the requirements. The list of information required is quite long.

As I said, I really suggest you offer to get it sorted yourself through your employers lawyer. If all they have to do is sign something that is put under their nose, it’s far more likely to actually happen.