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?

I've worked for the charity sector since 2002. I'm on my third Charity now. It's small. The first 2 were bigger.

They offered an enhanced sick pay but it was based on length of service. I never questioned it as it was in the contract for me to see before signing.

Both charities were health charities though so inclined to do well in a health related area.

Maternity was only statutory pay. Charities have to make sure that any financial spend aligns with laws and their charitable objectives.

I think having a conversation about these things with your manager in a 1:1 or support and supervision meeting (whatever term you use) is fair enough...but only once you've passed probation and proved yourself!

The charities I've worked for were happy to hear suggestions to improve terms and conditions but there's a time and a place to do that!

I doubt your question about sick pay has led to their decision perhaps it's more the performance issues, which you should ask for feedback on and guidance about how to improve if you wish to keep the job.

I'm sure some charities are better employers than others - after all, being a good employer isn't just about pay. However, charities in general pay lower salaries than other employers. They want to put as much money as possible towards their cause rather than to staff salaries and they hope to employ people who are committed to the cause and therefore willing to accept lower salaries.

The idea that being paid more than SSP is "basic workers rights" is simply wrong. Your only right is to be paid SSP. Anything beyond that is a bonus. It is true that most employers give more than SSP to sick employees, but a substantial number of employers don't and there is no requirement for them to do so.

Raising this when you've only been there a few weeks is unlikely to be sensible at any employer. It suggests you are going to be a problem employee, especially if you describe things as "basic rights" when they are anything but. I'm not surprised by their reaction.

Perfectly normal millions of jobs to not get paid first 3 days then only SSP around £80 a week. I’ve never had a job that pays you full pay for for day 1-months at a time. It’s sort perk you get higher up wage level you are on.

They were not on not giving you contract before you agreed to start but they can sack you for any reason in the first 2y for no reason at all. Even if it’s just “you are not a good fit”. Put it down to experience and move on. Although it’s unlikely you will find amazing job with full pay if you are on entry level mim wage jobs. But the only way is up

I can understand your perspectives op, although with a charity , I'd expect the basic packages so that the funds can be used towards the goals of the charity ? and if they offered a more enhanced package, then I'd consider it a bonus.

I work for a charity and get 4 months full, 4 months half sick pay. It's a bit of a generalisation to say most don't.

Judging by the OPs tone on this thread, there is a lot more to this than stated...

Unfortunately, I think some people have very unrealistic expectations of what working for a charity might be like.

I have had employees who are surprised that we expect them to arrive at work on time, even in client facing roles, because we are a charity and they expected us to be "nice". And others who have been outraged at us raising concerns about their performance because we are supposed to be warm and fluffy and flexible. Actually, we're incredibly flexible about most things, but the one thing that we can't afford to be flexible about is your ability to do the job that you're paid for.

Some people seem to struggle to understand the difference between working for a charity and volunteering. Maybe this accounts for why some people believe that charity staff shouldn't be paid. Some, especially those who are new to the sector, seem genuinely surprised to find that they will be held to account for the quality of their work. I don't understand it tbh. Surely, when we're spending money that has been given to us for charitable purposes, we should be more accountable for our actions, not less.

I gave feedback to an interview candidate recently. I explained that we really liked his personality and his people skills, but he had failed to demonstrate the technical knowledge required for the role. He responded to say that our organisation wouldn't be a good fit for him culturally because we seemed more focused on getting the job done than making people feel good about themselves. Well, I absolutely do want to make people feel good about themselves and I work really hard to achieve that, but funnily enough, we are paid to get the job done!! What was he expecting?!

You want a charity to bestow its kindness on you rather than acting like an employer? You sound a bit daft. Rather like the people that complain when charities are paying their staff more than basic pay and then complain that they are not going to support that charity as they want the money to go towards the people they are supposed to be helping rather than paying the staff extortionate salaries and perks. You want a perk .... charities cant win!!!!

@treesandweeds

You want a charity to bestow its kindness on you rather than acting like an employer? You sound a bit daft. Rather like the people that complain when charities are paying their staff more than basic pay and then complain that they are not going to support that charity as they want the money to go towards the people they are supposed to be helping rather than paying the staff extortionate salaries and perks. You want a perk .... charities cant win!!!!

Wow. Harsh.You have literally no idea what I am going through. Ofcourse I want an employer to be kind - why would I not? Is that unreasonable these days?

@Akire

Perfectly normal millions of jobs to not get paid first 3 days then only SSP around £80 a week. I’ve never had a job that pays you full pay for for day 1-months at a time. It’s sort perk you get higher up wage level you are on.

They were not on not giving you contract before you agreed to start but they can sack you for any reason in the first 2y for no reason at all. Even if it’s just “you are not a good fit”. Put it down to experience and move on. Although it’s unlikely you will find amazing job with full pay if you are on entry level mim wage jobs. But the only way is up

Thanks for your comment. I'm going back to the public sector I think. And yes I hope the only way is up. I think workers rights are going backwards in this country. Makes me sad.

I was really naive when I started working on the charity sector and thought that they'd be benevolent to staff/not break employment law (which happened in my second job - they saw it as an assessed risk which would be cheaper long term to do, even if they ended up being sued by employees) etc. It took two different roles and being sacked for attempt to whistleblow for it to sink in that I had rose tinted expectations.

@chocolatesweets

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).

It's really surprised me.I've been in the public sector for 25 years- charity sector is cut throat! And being a charity seems to be a free pass to treat staff like shite!

@SpittinKitten

I was really naive when I started working on the charity sector and thought that they'd be benevolent to staff/not break employment law (which happened in my second job - they saw it as an assessed risk which would be cheaper long term to do, even if they ended up being sued by employees) etc. It took two different roles and being sacked for attempt to whistleblow for it to sink in that I had rose tinted expectations.

Yes I'm also feeling rather naive here! Not much benevolence going on.hope you found something better suited to you.

@HunterHearstHelmsley

I work for a charity and get 4 months full, 4 months half sick pay. It's a bit of a generalisation to say most don't.

Judging by the OPs tone on this thread, there is a lot more to this than stated...

Thanks for that you sound really empathetic!

I've worked in multiple charities and never been treated like shit. You are expected to be professional, though, which seems to be a surprise to those who are expecting a fluffy benevolent environment where anything goes.

@AlexaShutUp

I've worked in multiple charities and never been treated like shit. You are expected to be professional, though, which seems to be a surprise to those who are expecting a fluffy benevolent environment where anything goes.

I find that very patronising. I've worked in the public sector for 25 years. I'm very clear about professional standards. Have a lovely evening.

Charity's can't win. If they pay good wages, people complain about donating because its going to fat cats who are only interested in fleecing donors. If they pay poorly, people criticise them for both being bad employers and also that if they're uncaring about their staff, it's unlikely they're caring about the cause.

I've worked for a charity and it can be harsh. They are reliant in donations so if someone complains about a member of staff, they jump through hoops to show how valued the donor is over the employee. And to look good if there are any newspaper stories. Ive seen employee's destroyed over something a private company wouldnt even notice. I'd not want to work for a charity again - it's much better to volunteer.

@Peterbear I ended up having a breakdown/severe mental health relapse shortly after and became a service user - which usually involved being referred to the charity I'd been sacked from, and having to ask for a different provider...

Then my physical health problems seriousness kicked in as well; I've not been well enough to work since then.

*seriously, not seriousness

I’ve done public sector and charity work.

Honestly, a lot of public sector employers are absolute pushovers. People last years with poor performance. Charities (and profit making businesses) have to justify their monies spent in a way that the public sector doesn’t - and that means a different approach to things like sick pay is inevitable.

And “kind” - no, frankly, I don’t think that is a reasonable expectation of an employer. “Fair” - absolutely.

Having said that, I have heard more than one horror story of charities treating their staff poorly, it’s certainly not a sector with an unblemished reputation.

Many public sector employees seem to struggle with work in other sectors. Some charities are good employers, some not. However there is no reason they will be better or worse than any other employer

I have worked for 4 charities all of which have been exemplary employers with regards to treating people well, flexible working, wellbeing considerations, respect, training etc. All paid well although not lavishly and had good annual leave etc. All paid enhanced occupational sick pay up to 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay.

On the downside all had dreadful job security due to challenging funding/fundraising and all had fairly rubbish pensions and maternity pay.

But you have basic workers rights.

That is the SSP.

I work for a charity. Most of our Ts & Cs are statutory minimum. The pay is relatively low. This month people are being made redundant because their project funding is ending and we haven't been able to win more to keep them in post.

It's amazing how many people apply for jobs with us because they naively assume we are 'kind' and 'nice to work for' just because we're a charity. When they get the job they are shocked to find as an employee the charity is professional and fair but anything but generous or kind or nice to work for

I’ve worked in the charity sector for 20 years. Okr salaries are benchmarked against the industry and we pay in line with charities our size. We offer enhanced but not brilliant benefits but again in line with other charities our size. All our staff have monthly one to ones, clear objectives and appraisals every 6 months. We are a professional organisation as are all the charities I have worked for.

Peterbear I gained my original qualifications working in the public sector, at the time there was no other way to do it. Since then I have also worked in the private sector corporate and for charities.

At the charities I was employed in senior roles, my remuneration and conditions of employment were much better than I would have received in the public sector. The charities I worked at had a two, or even three tier system of pay and conditions. The whole system in the charities I worked for made me uncomfortable. For those at the top like me we earned far more than we would have done in the public sector, whereas at the bottom workers were treated poorly.

Although I think that it was premature to discuss pay & conditions so soon into your employment, I understand why you would have done this, as private sector employers generally would not penalise you for speaking up.

My best advice is to look for other jobs and quickly. As you are earning NMW now another role earning the same should not be hard to come by. Chalk this one up to experience and best of luck finding something else.