So depressed and it's gotten worse than i ever thought!!

[Shiraz]

My partner has been having probs with his employers for months now (since sept). He sent in a grievance last month to which a HR Manager for another business franchise of the whole group dealt with. She sided with dp's two directors (as she has been known to do before) and recieved a letter on xmas eve to say his grievance has failed and to appeal within 5 days...which we couldnt do as were away and the office was not open until 2nd jan (she didnt really even bother looking into it and said it was all about wages..which it wasnt) and it IS bad....acas and cab advised him he has a case for constructive dismissal.

Dp was told back in December that his notice period was 4 weeks (by the directors of the business franchise he works for).

He went into hand his notice today..they took away his company mobile and told him his notice requirement is now only one week! And his company car is due back on Tuesday but will not give him his money yet or even a date he will recieve it, and he is not to turn in for work over the next week either.

The person who dealt with his grievance has apparently said he is only entitled to a weeks notice (EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY)...which leaves us in the shite..as we needed the money to purchase a vehicle as we live in the middle of nowhere with no transport links...how can they be such arseholes. This is the reason dp handed in his 4 weeks notice as the money would atleast get us a vehicle so i could get a full time job to su[pport us until somethng comes up for him.

We've had to survive on £600 or less a month as they were slashing his wages for no reason...KNOBS!! We are 3 months behind on the rent, have had an electric meter fitted...our oil tank is leaking so we have no heating and cannot afford to fill it..i went out 2 weeks before xmas and got a xmas job which pays for the food but that ends in two weeks..not sure i can get there after this week though..it's such a mess.

And i cannot cope anymore..i'm trying not to cry infront of my little girl who was 2 yesterday. And i feel like such a failure...dp has worked bloody hard for them over the past 19 months (they poached him from a very stable job) and hard all his life to get where he is supposed to be...i feel so crap.....i keep shouting at him as i know it's not his fault.

But i think he should ring the head office and expalin to then what this franchise are doing...


Add a Message

[emmatom]

Shiraz, I've beenout of the workplace for too long now to offer any guidance down that route.

Just wanted to say things will get better - have a good cry and say, 6 months from now, when a lot of things are sorted, you'll be able to look back on this horrible time.

Hope others can give you some more practical advice, but be reassured things always change in life and you will get through it. Citizens advice and loads of other helplines can help you with immediate concerns I'm sure. Kind regards.

[alicatsg]

OK here's what I would do but I'm quite aggressive with employers these days having been shat on last year:

He should call head office and speak to the head of HR or as high up as he can get (ie chief exec, cfo). He needs to be very exact and clear about the points of dispute and very clear that he is unhappy and willing to take this to tribunal. Without threatening he needs to indicate that this wil bring the entire company name into disrepute for bullying etc - if he can he needs to use emotive words very very calmly. Then he needs to ask to meet a representative from head office asap at a neutral venue near you.

At the same time talk to union/CAB/Lawyer. If there are magazines/tv progs that the company would hate to get bad press in either get them and get numbers to call if things don't go your way (or CAT me details and I'll look up contacts for you as have the database).

Most important thing is to talk to a lawyer. If he has a contract with 4 weeks notice then I think they have to honour it?

good luck.

[muma3]

read through the contract check what rights you dp has regarding working notice etc
contact citizens advice bureaux they will have loads of info about getting financial help and legal advice if your require it .
ask family and friends for help ? dont feel bad about this i am sure you are the kind of person that would give your last penny if some one you knew needed it so take some help for now .
cry cry cry , your 2 year old needs to see that muumy has emotions, it will help her to understand feelings etc , explain money is sad and needs to cry then she may just take it in her stride.
thigs could be worse, really, i know hat sounds hard to believe but there are people out there who have nothing , you have a beautiful daughter and loving partner and time will rectify things , it wont be like this forever , and like emmaton said you will be looking back on this bad time and be glad its all over
for now give you partyner a hug and count your blessing , things like this are here to test us and you are strong enough to think rationally and problem solve, write a list of things you need or how much money you need to get by and ask- beg- borrow it can only get better

all my good wishes and hugs to you and your family
love me xx

[muma3]

should say explain mummy is sad and needs to cry