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Original poster

Resigned today - am I mad?

20 replies

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 16:42

I only seem to post whingey posts on MN!!! How boring.
Wondered if anyone else has had difficulties doing PT work.
I resigned my PT job today in blazing row because they've treated me so poorly I can't believe it.
I've been made to do extra days on which I don't have childcare and was told by the boss I could invoice for them. When I invoiced for SOME extra days I was told they were 'unaware' of any extra days worked.
This is the latest in a long catalogue of insensitive behaviour on their part. To make it worse, my line manager is a mother of three!! She has a nanny though and doesn't seem to understand that you can't move nursery days around to suit your employers. And that every additional (UNPAID day) means persuading a family member to help out for ten hours.
I told them all to F* off today despite the fact that I am now a bit financially screwed. I was told I am 'high maintenance'??? Am I crazy or are these people awful?

OP posts:

AllIWantForXmasisPoo · 07/12/2004 16:44

You are wonderful multi-skilled mother. They are silly tossers who have just shot themselves in the foot.

colette · 07/12/2004 16:48

It sounds like you did the right thing if they are that unreasonable you will be constantly fighting a losing battle. Serve them right when the new legislation surrounding flexable working comes in.
I have just resigned as childcare for two cost most of my wages and it does feel a bit final .
Good Luck

cranberryjampot · 07/12/2004 17:01

I am verging on doing exactly the same Brozzer - little digs and jibes and putting in for business expenses is completely frowned upon, leaving me out of social do's, being told off and completely humiliated for ridiculous things at age 36 is becoming too much to bear. The only thing that keeps me in my job is the fact that I am one of the highest paid for a really crap lowly job and also the fact that I know my boss doesn't want me there - I feel eventually he will just make me redundant/find a reason to get rid of me and consequently will have to pay me off. Sounds like you did the right thing - arseholes

snowmeltsonthebeach · 07/12/2004 17:22

as one who has been told I am an inconveniance, I understand. You have a case though if you have documented the extra days that you have worked. I keep HR in the loop, which you might not have the benefit of if it is a small company, so they know exactly all the non-PC comments that get made to me.

Uwila · 07/12/2004 17:47

I think you are in the right to tell them to shove. Usually bad employers go on treating people like this because the people who work their need the job so bad they wouldn't dare stick up for themselves. So, I think you've done a fine thing.

My work is a huge American company who definitely cuts every benefit they can. But, I have never been treated here the way youdescribe. So, you've done well to stick up for yourself.

Original poster

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 17:52

Thank you for your support. It's a big, well-known company which appears unable to stomach first-time mothers who won't grovel and accept any working conditions whatsoever just for the honour of working there. Nasty people. I'm cheap labour to them and am supposed just to shut up and get on with it. The worst thing is that they tried to sell me the job as 'child-friendly' and I thought because my boss was a mum she would be a good person to work for and would respect my working hours. Can't believe I've been shouted at by another woman merely for being upset that I've been treated badly. What a bitch. She's now left me a message to call her and I don't want to. Horrid, horrid day.

OP posts:

bonymerryxmas · 07/12/2004 17:57

They have acted appallingly badly if you ask me - any employer with any sense would value a good employee and make working conditions as easy as possible. Their view is a short-sighted one as there are very many talented women who want/need part-time work because of childcare commitments. There are employers who recognise this - I am lucky to have one, so yer, you've done the right thing. I think more and more employers are coming to recognise the benefits of part-time workers and I'm sure you will be able to find something with a more sympathetic and forward-thinking organisation. Good luck - and keep telling yourself it's their loss

bonymerryxmas · 07/12/2004 17:58

oops - I mean yes, not yer (I'm not really a yob!! )

Original poster

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 18:14

BMX - thanks.
You're so right about working for a more sympathetic/forward-thinking organisation.
I will use your very words when I write to the head of the department to say why I've resigned.
I know there's a better job out there where I will be appreciated.
Bastards.
x

OP posts:

JoolsTide · 07/12/2004 18:19

Good for you! - does anyone know anyone who can actually 'manage' staff - most people I come across haven't got the first clue - please and thank you do not figure in their vocabularies - its not rocket science fgs!

I hope you find a more understanding employer very soon (if thats what you want to do) somebody who appreciates your efforts!

posyhairdresser · 07/12/2004 18:25

You did the right thing - who is the employer - name & shame!

lilsmum · 07/12/2004 18:33

brozzer, i did a similar thing a couple of weeks ago, dd 10mth was sick with a virus and very clingy to me because of this.. she also ran a temp of 39 and i didnt want to leave her so i phoned in sick, manageress was very understanding on the phone and i even offered to phone round workmates to get cover and she told me no need and not to worry, i went in the week after (worked 3days a wk) and she blanked me for 5.5 hrs!! didnt speak to me at all never mind to ask how my dd was!!when she came in i said hello and she just looked at me!!but was chatting away to other workmates!! so i never went back!!i cant really afford it but will look around for something else after xmas

oh and they wanted me to work xmas eve till 11pm and news yr eve till 11pm(yeah right) wasnt bothered so much about the new yr shift but i want to spend xmas eve with dd as its her 1st one!

Original poster

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 18:34

PHD - couldn't possibly name and shame!!!! Big media company. Awful. Clearly used to underpaying and treating staff shoddily cos there's always a million media graduates who want your job. (They're welcome to it). The bastards actually gave me a two-week contract at one point even though they knew I put my ds into nursery when I accepted the job offer. How can you work on a two-week contract when you're paying the earth for a nursery place? I just don't get it. Fools.

OP posts:

Original poster

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 18:36

Lilsmum - the scumsters!!!! That is shocking. Good for you.

OP posts:

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 07/12/2004 18:38

Emap by any chance

you should take them to tribunal or at the very least threaten to to get a pay off

call your house insurance and see if you have legal cover to cover it (you should have) so it won't cost you a penny

really .. do it .. if what you are saying is accurate you should get a payment out of it, an apology and make them think twice before doing it to another mother

pixiefish · 07/12/2004 18:39

Good on you Bozzer- I'm also onthe verge of doing this. Have been told off for taking time off when my mum was ill and couldn't look after dd (for 2 days only) Also suffering lots of little digs and things that 'the jobsharer' can't be allowed to do. Well done you

Original poster

Brozzer · 07/12/2004 18:45

Not Emap!!!!!
Stoppit.
Would like to cause trouble for them but I'd actually have to see them again/write letters/stay angry.
I simply want to go away.

OP posts:

wordsmith · 07/12/2004 19:02

brozzer - good for you! media companies are the worst in my view, they're so f*ing macho. i worked in adv/pr and went freelance as soon as i could, well before I had kids, cos i couldn't stand the testosterone (altho if any of my clients are reading this, you're the exception to the rule! .) and if my dh's experience is anything to go by, women bosses are the worst! (sorry sisters). they either hire nannies so don't have to worry about childcare emergencies or working late, or choose to remain child-free (fair enough, can't say i blame them!) but then despise employees of either sex who wamt to finish on time, not work weekends and so on to be with their family! my dh resigned this week after being strung along for 6 months by a female boss who promised him he could work part of the week from home (office is 35 miles down the M42/M40 - yuk!) and then 'discovered' that their database wasn't web-enabled so he wouldn't be able to access it for anywhere but the office!

Grrr! . He told her to stick it, and good for you for doing the same! Yes it's scary but you'll survive. British business will soon grind to a halt if it fails to realise that it has to become more family friendly.

Rant over.

mayfieldgurl · 08/12/2004 08:39

Good on you Boz !!!

I had a similar situ with a high street photo processing company that I worked for (the green & yellow one) as their Head Graphic Designer in the Marketing Dept - yes I was one of the people responsible for all those ads on the tube and bus stands/telephone boxes - sorry . I was based at their HQ in Hammersmith and when I found out I was pregnant I started dropping hints that I'd like to work from home after my maternity leave was done. There was no real reason why I couldn't I had a big powerful Mac, broadband a phone a fax and even an A0 board. But they just couldn't get their heads around it. I struggled with what to do for the first 3 months of my 'M' leave and decided that for me, it was best to stay at home with my new son.

A colleague who was about 7 or 8 months after me in her birth wanted to do the same thing only work P/T at HQ and they gave her a sh*tty time too, so she went to the DTi and got her legal position clarified and smacked them with it - she has now returned to work P/T 5 days a week and is enjoying it v.much. Only thing is she's finding she is working later and later and later it was initially meant to be 9 - 1 but now more like 9 - 3.

These comapnies really do not respect the family scenario at all and there should be some kind of law set up where they have to have a certain amount of flexible working parents.

Thankfully for me I came across a work from home business and that has been providing me with a great part time income for well over a year now so I now I don't need to go back to work for somebody else as I can earn great money from what I do and be with my wonderful son. Perhaps you should investigate this option for yourself - you never know it might be just what you're looking for.

Good luck

aloha · 08/12/2004 09:31

Even if you are resigning, make sure you are paid for the extra days you worked. Don't let them off the hook so easily!

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