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suzyscottdotcomThe air around work has been growing into an almost unbearable state of tension. It’s something that should not be overlooked, but management just steamroller our feelings (i.e. we don’t care if you’ve not been paid by us and have no money, that’s not our problem, get into work). As I said earlier in the week, new management will quite often be hard as nails for a short time after a reshuffle. This explains all the forms I’ve had to sign recently – not just me – over things that you’d not normally have any grounds for complaint – like why you were four minutes late from break etc. Why do I say “not normally”? Well, if management are nice to you, you are nice to them. That is how it should be – it’s productive for any working environment. It’s a long since forgotten concept at my place, though. It’s sad, but we are expected to bend and flex in every direction. Yes, I got my new shifts approved – but the same manager has since lost my trust and appreciation for what happened last week, let alone this week’s gubbings.
So, anyway, this is the one day this week, where I end up with less breaks, because I am only working for 9.5 hours (not 10). It’s legal, but just. I’m not whining, it’s my choice. Otherwise, four 10-hour shifts would be paid 38 – and I’m only contracted for 37.5, and that’s all they can authorize.
You may well be wondering why I am saying all this now? Well, a lot happened last week, that’s for sure. What happened today almost breeds on breach of contract, although I’m not claiming any legal knowledge here.
Picture the scene if you will, I’m on a call, and have just placed a customer on hold, so I can test their line. The manager who didn’t process a timesheet for me (claiming it was lost) thirteen days ago, which lead to me not getting any pay six days ago, comes up to me and tells me that he had my timesheet to process – I gave him another timesheet, so he could process this one, and pay me a week late. Well, guess what? He was going to hand it into the agency on Monday, but then forgot he wasn’t actually in the building on Monday, being a bank holiday. He didn’t come back from last Friday until yesterday, so I won’t be getting paid the money I should have had six days ago, until a week on Tuesday.
As he said this, I pulled back from my desk, so I could look at him face-on. He then said how it was ok, because he was being honest and admitting it.
I personally am trying to avoid getting upset, and he’s taking the credit for it.
On reflection, I could have sworn, said something bitter, did something violent, or walked out the door. I didn’t. I did question exactly how what I was supposed to do in the meantime, and I was reminded that “I’m just being honest with you”.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t help me now, does it?” I ask, trying to remain tactful while not wanting to be upset. I then remember I’ve got a customer waiting, so I finish off testing the line, and promise to come back and see him. Once the call is over, I walked a bit madly to his desk. “It’s ok, because [big boss, the one who ended up with my complaint letter] is going to see you about it anyway”.
When we’d finished, [big boss] was with another manager, so I head for the agency, to clarify exactly where I stood here. One manager now does all the timesheets for the remaining agency staff on the campaign – and has been this way for a few months, instead of each individual team coach doing it. The agency had not been made aware of this change in procedure. The agency person also assumed that all my issues had been resolved last Friday – once again, far from true. During my meeting, [big boss] comes down stairs to see the agency with reference to my case.
OK, so they now agree that they will process a same day payment for me for Friday – and they don’t mind paying for it. This is after seven days of my heartache, and at the same time, [big boss] is praising the other boss for his honesty “when he came and told me yesterday…:”
At this point, I am fighting back the tears, but this clicked with me.
“Yesterday?”
It appears the boss who sat on my timesheet realized this yesterday, but only told me today – more than 24 hours later.
Now, I’m really feeling like s*it.
[big boss] leaves to head back to his desk, and I finish off explaining to the agency about the way I was treated last Friday. I’m getting more upset by it all, but I manage to compose myself in the end, and head upstairs.
Next thing I know, I’m at the top of the stairs, and have been found by my own boss, and current admin manager, and I’m REALLY upset. I try to explain that I can’t trust them to pay me, especially as they’ve managed to keep it all to happen on a day that I not only won’t be in the building, but not even in the city.
We ended up with a bit of an impromptu discussion, before I was allowed a bit of time outside to get my head back together. After I got back to my desk, I was very tired, but still took on a very complicated callback for my own boss.
The trust I’ve built up with them over the last four years, seven months, and three days, is all but gone. At the moment, I am hoping against hell that history does not repeat itself two Fridays running – and I can’t see it happening this time, to be honest.
I’m only repeating what happened. It makes me feel really small and unimportant. Thankfully, I’ve got a nice weekend away, 422 miles away from the useless teapots.
Points here –
1. I complained, and it happened again.
2. One week of my heartache is equal to twenty five pounds to the company.
3. The company I do the job for is changing policies and procedures, without reference to our legal employers.
4. If we did something wrong we’d be told not to do it again. If we then claimed to be a hero for doing it again, we’d be on a warning – not being praised by [big boss].
5. [big boss] and the agency have both admitted that my suggestion is already “the way things should be done anyway”.
6. No-one has still found the other two timesheets I submitted for the week in question.
So, anyway, this is the one day this week, where I end up with less breaks, because I am only working for 9.5 hours (not 10). It’s legal, but just. I’m not whining, it’s my choice. Otherwise, four 10-hour shifts would be paid 38 – and I’m only contracted for 37.5, and that’s all they can authorize.
You may well be wondering why I am saying all this now? Well, a lot happened last week, that’s for sure. What happened today almost breeds on breach of contract, although I’m not claiming any legal knowledge here.
Picture the scene if you will, I’m on a call, and have just placed a customer on hold, so I can test their line. The manager who didn’t process a timesheet for me (claiming it was lost) thirteen days ago, which lead to me not getting any pay six days ago, comes up to me and tells me that he had my timesheet to process – I gave him another timesheet, so he could process this one, and pay me a week late. Well, guess what? He was going to hand it into the agency on Monday, but then forgot he wasn’t actually in the building on Monday, being a bank holiday. He didn’t come back from last Friday until yesterday, so I won’t be getting paid the money I should have had six days ago, until a week on Tuesday.
As he said this, I pulled back from my desk, so I could look at him face-on. He then said how it was ok, because he was being honest and admitting it.
I personally am trying to avoid getting upset, and he’s taking the credit for it.
On reflection, I could have sworn, said something bitter, did something violent, or walked out the door. I didn’t. I did question exactly how what I was supposed to do in the meantime, and I was reminded that “I’m just being honest with you”.
“Yeah, but that doesn’t help me now, does it?” I ask, trying to remain tactful while not wanting to be upset. I then remember I’ve got a customer waiting, so I finish off testing the line, and promise to come back and see him. Once the call is over, I walked a bit madly to his desk. “It’s ok, because [big boss, the one who ended up with my complaint letter] is going to see you about it anyway”.
When we’d finished, [big boss] was with another manager, so I head for the agency, to clarify exactly where I stood here. One manager now does all the timesheets for the remaining agency staff on the campaign – and has been this way for a few months, instead of each individual team coach doing it. The agency had not been made aware of this change in procedure. The agency person also assumed that all my issues had been resolved last Friday – once again, far from true. During my meeting, [big boss] comes down stairs to see the agency with reference to my case.
OK, so they now agree that they will process a same day payment for me for Friday – and they don’t mind paying for it. This is after seven days of my heartache, and at the same time, [big boss] is praising the other boss for his honesty “when he came and told me yesterday…:”
At this point, I am fighting back the tears, but this clicked with me.
“Yesterday?”
It appears the boss who sat on my timesheet realized this yesterday, but only told me today – more than 24 hours later.
Now, I’m really feeling like s*it.
[big boss] leaves to head back to his desk, and I finish off explaining to the agency about the way I was treated last Friday. I’m getting more upset by it all, but I manage to compose myself in the end, and head upstairs.
Next thing I know, I’m at the top of the stairs, and have been found by my own boss, and current admin manager, and I’m REALLY upset. I try to explain that I can’t trust them to pay me, especially as they’ve managed to keep it all to happen on a day that I not only won’t be in the building, but not even in the city.
We ended up with a bit of an impromptu discussion, before I was allowed a bit of time outside to get my head back together. After I got back to my desk, I was very tired, but still took on a very complicated callback for my own boss.
The trust I’ve built up with them over the last four years, seven months, and three days, is all but gone. At the moment, I am hoping against hell that history does not repeat itself two Fridays running – and I can’t see it happening this time, to be honest.
I’m only repeating what happened. It makes me feel really small and unimportant. Thankfully, I’ve got a nice weekend away, 422 miles away from the useless teapots.
Points here –
1. I complained, and it happened again.
2. One week of my heartache is equal to twenty five pounds to the company.
3. The company I do the job for is changing policies and procedures, without reference to our legal employers.
4. If we did something wrong we’d be told not to do it again. If we then claimed to be a hero for doing it again, we’d be on a warning – not being praised by [big boss].
5. [big boss] and the agency have both admitted that my suggestion is already “the way things should be done anyway”.
6. No-one has still found the other two timesheets I submitted for the week in question.
