Working for a charity- thought they’d be nice!

[Peterbear]

Started a job recently for a charity where most people are on basic min wage. I didn’t get a contract for a few weeks and realise they don’t pay occ sick pay just stat sick pay from day 4. I think this is so crap for people already being paid peanuts. I bought this up with a couple of managers today - I.e any plans to introduce this ? This was very definitely not what they wanted to hear and suddenly they’re basically wanting me out (after 6 weeks) due to ‘performance issues’- I.e enquiring about basic workers rights. Anyone got any experience of working for a charity? Is it always this backwards and horrible?

It’s illegal for them to make you leave for wanting to enforce rights given to you by law. I don’t know if this is a statutory right? If so, you could raise it with them, but they’ll likely sack you anyway and you’d have to go to a tribunal

It's shit but contractual sick pay isn't a statutory right. If they want you out, tbh, I'd start looking for a new job. It doesn't sound like you'd be giving much up.

Have they specified what the supposed performance issues are? Your rights aren't extensive after such a short period of time, unfortunately. I'd suggest speaking to ACAS for advice.

Re your last question... yes. I've been in similar situations twice now.

Statutory sick pay is all anyone has to pay you if companies offer more it is a perk of the job. Not many NMW jobs come with such perks.

In every sector there are good employers and bad employers.

Ah I'm sorry to hear this. My last employer was a charity, paid well above national living wage and also paid up to 6months full pay on sick after 1 years service.

I currently am now employed by another charity who pay full pay up to 3 months after 6 months probation and then up to 5 months after 1 years service. They also pay well above NLW nearly double.

You were expecting a charity employer to essentially treat its staff like its charitable cause? Is that what you mean by your title?

They are meeting basic workers' rights - you were asking them to go beyond that.

Charity sector is not renowned for its remuneration.

There's a time to bring up employee benefits, and it's not six weeks in. I agree that the statutory provision is too low, but you've marked yourself out as a trouble maker and that's not going to endear you to your bosses.

If you don't think that salary and benefits are fair you shouldn't have accepted the offer. Quite odd to be demanding a better benefits package right after you started. However I doubt anyone would be trying to manage out a member of staff after one odd question which is simple enough to answer.

So, what are your objectives and how is your performance? Do you like your job? Are you hand on heart effective at what you do?

Thanks for the kind and sensitive replies. To the hard faced ones please remember to be kind.

If by be kind you mean sugar coat things and tell you only what you want to hear I think you might be in the wrong place

What performance issues have they raised?

@Peterbear

Thanks for the kind and sensitive replies. To the hard faced ones please remember to be kind.

Please stop trying to silence women by trotting out hashtags.

I’ve worked in the charity sector for 15 years. No it’s not ‘horrible and backwards’ - as with any workplace that’s dependent on the culture and the people. As regards sick pay, statutory is very normal and any perks or work benefits can be few and far between. Generally you work in the sector accepting that will be the case, the money is used elsewhere as it really should be within reason.

@Peterbear

Thanks for the kind and sensitive replies. To the hard faced ones please remember to be kind.

Well if that's how you respond to people genuinely questioning what you have said it then no wonder you're not doing well at work.

Btw it is normal for companies to not.offer occ health pay. I work in a college and they don't do it, I'm not surprised a charity doesn't

Presumably not giving staff enhanced benefit packages means they have more funds to put towards the charitable cause?

I think you’ve been a bit naive rather than your employer being notably “horrible”.

A lot of charities are very short on funds. They can't necessarily afford occupational sick pay.

I very much doubt that the performance issues have been raised because you asked about sick pay. Did you also assume that they would be "nice" if there were issues with your performance?

Yes - I work in a charity above minimum wage - I think two weeks full pay then SSP.

”enquiring about basic workers rights.”

You weren’t enquiring about basic rights, you were asking whether they plan to introduce a new benefit. Asking about why they don’t offer extra sick pay when you’ve been there five minutes isn’t going to be sensible.

I bought this up with a couple of managers today

Out of interest, why did you bring it to more than one manger today? If I managed you, answered your question, and you went to another manger hoping to hear something different, I’d be

It wasn't the most sensible idea to ask about paid sick leave after six weeks- they may be thinking you are planning to skive off. Anyway you should always check these terms before taking the job surely

I am a volunteer in a charity, and have now twice turned down paid roles because the salary and terms and SO poor. Low hourly rates are just the tip of the iceberg, everything else is the bare minimum too.

You only need to pop onto a charity shop thread on AIBU to see why - there are so many members of the public who think charities should be paying nobody and everyone should be doing it for free, everyone who works for a charity is a fat cat with their snout in the trough, a grabby chancer who is diverting funds from the cause.

I've worked for a charity before and they were the worst. Expect you to work for next to nothing and dedicate your life to the cause (which is more often than not the cause to make them look holier than thou).