Is my boss reasonable? | on ElectriciansForums

Discuss Is my boss reasonable? in the Business Related area at ElectriciansForums.net

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Hello folks, rookie spark still at night school here, took me a while to find a full time job in it but I did in November. I love the work, I do not love how my boss treats us though, maybe its me being soft or expecting too much?
I earn ÂŁ50 a day, my working day supposed to be 9-5. however typically our boss turns up after sleeping most of the day at around 4pm and expects us to stay till sometimes 8-9pm unpaid, usually to achieve nothing. He expects unpaid overtime as part of the huge favour he has done us by employing us, this is how he sees it. I understand and would obviously work late or extra should it be an emergency or simply if the job is almost finished, usually though he makes us stay out of being a control freak.
If you ever moan or question him, his answer is "well if you dont like it f*ck off plenty of people want this job"
I also have been roped into using my own car a lot recently, last week I did almost 200 miles in it, and he wouldnt give me a penny for it.
My other responsability is also now to type up and complete inspection reports and emails in my own time, as well as fire alarm inspection reports weekly in my own time.
One day a week we test a large number of premises fire alarms, every month we are expected to complete more and more premises, for no extra money and in the same time, this means starting sometimes at 7:30am and not finishing till 6pm, and the list grows.
I am paid through BACS and recieve payslips for the majority of my wage, so it is my understanding as an employee I have an implied contract after X amount of months.
I am in no position to argue or make demands as I struggled to find anyone who would take me on as a trainee, however the costs involved in working for this guy are mounting up, and its frustrating not knowing what time I will be home, for no other reason than laziness and poor organisation.
Oh, another major gripe is my continued exposure to asbestos, which he basically laughs of, I have drilled AIB numerous times without being informed of its existence on site, and last week was working semi-directly on high grade ancient flaking damaged exposed pipe joint asbestos. We have no PPE or training and when I complain he says get over it!???
Do any experienced sparks or managers think Im being unreasonable and should be grateful? Or do others think as I do that it isnt the 1920s anymore?
 
Hello folks, rookie spark still at night school here, took me a while to find a full time job in it but I did in November. I love the work, I do not love how my boss treats us though, maybe its me being soft or expecting too much?
I earn ÂŁ50 a day, my working day supposed to be 9-5. however typically our boss turns up after sleeping most of the day at around 4pm and expects us to stay till sometimes 8-9pm unpaid, usually to achieve nothing. He expects unpaid overtime as part of the huge favour he has done us by employing us, this is how he sees it. I understand and would obviously work late or extra should it be an emergency or simply if the job is almost finished, usually though he makes us stay out of being a control freak.
If you ever moan or question him, his answer is "well if you dont like it f*ck off plenty of people want this job"
I also have been roped into using my own car a lot recently, last week I did almost 200 miles in it, and he wouldnt give me a penny for it.
My other responsability is also now to type up and complete inspection reports and emails in my own time, as well as fire alarm inspection reports weekly in my own time.
One day a week we test a large number of premises fire alarms, every month we are expected to complete more and more premises, for no extra money and in the same time, this means starting sometimes at 7:30am and not finishing till 6pm, and the list grows.
I am paid through BACS and recieve payslips for the majority of my wage, so it is my understanding as an employee I have an implied contract after X amount of months.
I am in no position to argue or make demands as I struggled to find anyone who would take me on as a trainee, however the costs involved in working for this guy are mounting up, and its frustrating not knowing what time I will be home, for no other reason than laziness and poor organisation.
Oh, another major gripe is my continued exposure to asbestos, which he basically laughs of, I have drilled AIB numerous times without being informed of its existence on site, and last week was working semi-directly on high grade ancient flaking damaged exposed pipe joint asbestos. We have no PPE or training and when I complain he says get over it!???
Do any experienced sparks or managers think Im being unreasonable and should be grateful? Or do others think as I do that it isnt the 1920s anymore?

regarding the asbestos, I would phone the H&E executive and let them visit site, that will sort it all out, as for the way you are treated, then yes I agree it's bad treatment and you are right to be concerned, I will let the guys here also comment and not say any more at this stage.
 
This has got to be a wind up right ?

ÂŁ50 a day and expected unpaid overtime, including no money for mileage ? What do you get for your christmas bonus, and kick in the ******** and a crap sandwich ?

I think you know you should be looking for another job as soon as possible. If all this is true, your boss is taking the proverbial in a way I have never heard of.
 
this guy needs reporting not only for your health but for the safety of others then tell him to jog on, jeez I can't believe what you wrote.
 
I send a CV off every other day to electricians! As I said its hard finding something.
Im glad of the experience, thats where it ends. Id love to tell him to **** off tomorrow, sadly I have bills to pay like most. I complete my level 3 soon, and will be furthering my qualifications after that.
My christmas bonus was a ÂŁ4 meal in a greasy spoon cafe!
Well anyone in Manchester area wants to hire me, im here.....!
On the subject what advice would you guys give in covering letters and how to approach established sparks for jobs etc?
Ta
 
if you was applying to me, I would send what you wrote here.

one little tip, if you going to drill asbestos at least for your own sake put ppe on, and use some PVA over the drill hole to prevent the fibres becoming airborne.
 
if you was applying to me, I would send what you wrote here.

one little tip, if you going to drill asbestos at least for your own sake put ppe on, and use some PVA over the drill hole to prevent the fibres becoming airborne.

I'd highly recommend not drilling aib under any circumstance as the fibre release is massive. Asbestos cement and textured coatings are the only asbestos you can drill by doing one of those pants 1 day awareness courses.
 
I think in your position I'd be having a talk to the rest of the guys you work with to find their opinions. If you all act as one and refuse to do the extra what's he going to do, sack you all? He needs you lot just as much (if not more) than you all need the crap he is feeding you.
As far as the unpaid mileage goes you can claim for the difference in what he pays you (nowt at present) and 45p per mile from HMRC. I think I'd be throwing a spanner in the works, when he's told you to drive to X tomorrow go in to the office/workshop (whatever) and tell him your car wouldn't start/got stolen last night/had to go for an MOT. Anything at all to make him realise that he can't just screw you around.
The asbestos thing is a joke, he's breaking the law and as one of the guys says above the HSE would take a very dim view of this. Does he have employer's liability insurance? If he has such a cavalier attitude to your health and safety I wonder what other rules he thinks don't apply to him.
 
Sorry to seem harsh with you but you guys working all the hours under the sun for a pittance are helping your scummy boss undercut good honest guys who would pay you a fair wage, you will get qualified in the end and join an industry that has rock bottom prices because of yourselves. Trev was correct in what he said you boys need to stick together and sort this or keep getting your ÂŁ4.10 an hour minus tax and fuel etc etc. On another note if you lived in Dorset I would employ you as I understand how much you want to be a spark.
 
I also have been roped into using my own car a lot recently, last week I did almost 200 miles in it, and he wouldnt give me a penny for it.

Be careful about this. If your car insurance is not for using your car for work and you have a crash and you tell them you were using it for work then you are buggered....

If this post is real then I feel for you. You need the money to pay for the bills so you need the job, but as long as you lie back while your boss walks over you then he will carry on doing so. If anything, the more you go along with it the more he will take advantage of you all.
I wouldn't put it past him that if you all took a stand against him he might sack you all and just employ new people. Taking someone like this to court for 'wrongful dismissal' is nothing to these people. My missus old boss had 12 people trying to do this... He just make excuses and the court dates were changed....
 

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