Hello again, if any of you have read my last thread you’ll know I’ve been unhappy in work for the past couple of weeks, most of which I think is down to my employer. There’ve been a few occasions (as stated in the last thread) I think I’ve been taken advantage of and subject to general underhanded-ness. Anyway here’s what happened last night and the straw that broke the camels back.
I’d agreed to stay out Tuesday night on the way down to Alresford to deliver some new machines to the salad plant down there. I don’t mind staying out the odd night if I’m needed and I know in advance. Before heading off I’d been told ‘Ring me when your empty and I’ll find you a load to bring back home’ which I thought was fair enough. I rang the office back after I’d been tipped at 9am yesterday morning and was told ‘Theres a load up here in lutterworth here are the details…’ which was no problem. I’d go pick the load up on the way back and run it into the yard.
After a complete balls up at the logistics company handling Harveys furniture in Magna park (which wasn’t the fault of my gaffer and I had kept him informed) I hadn’t finished being loaded until 4:15pm. They hadn’t given me any paperwork with the load so I’d rang the boss to ask if i needed any and this is where it got interesting.
Me: Do we need paperwork for this load? I haven’t been given any
Him: No it’ll be ok, you know where it’s going don’t you?
Me: Back to the yard?
Him: No you’re taking it down to Croyden
Me: I’m taking it down to Croyden?
Him: Yes, head there now
Me: Ok then give me the address
As he started to reel off the address I thought ■■■■ it, if I start doing unplanned nights out at the drop of a hat there’s going to be no end it it. I’m employed as a day driver, last week I did two nights now he wants me to do atleast another two week. How long before he’s got me tramping 4 nights?
Me: Hang on a minute, when did you know I’d be taking it to Croyden and staying out again tonight?
Him: Since 9 o’clock this morning
Me: And you didn’t think to tell me all day?
Him: What difference does it make?
Me: I’ve got plans, I’ve got no supplies with me, If you’d have let me know I could stopped at a shop. You’ve given me zero notice. You said I’d be home today
Him: That’s the job
Me: That’s not the job, I’m a day driver
At this point I’d completely had it. He’d dropped this on me at this time of the day because he thought I wouldn’t be able to say no, whereas if he’d have told me in the morning when he knew (and failing to mention it the other 3 times I’d spoken to him during the day) I’d have said no.
Me: Infact I’m not taking it. I’m heading back to the yard
Him: I’ll see that as you failing to carry out a basic instruction and not doing your job
Me: My jobs not doing nights out at your disposal with zero notice. Still no
Him: If you do that, that’s it
Me: Ok, that’s fine
Him: You’re going to cost me money. If you do that then this is the end
Me: Yeah like it say, that’s fine. I’m sure I won’t struggle to find employment elsewhere
Him: All the best
Me: Gotta go, need to get this load back. hung up
Anyway, I drove back to the yard as I always do, didn’t do anything stupid or rash and decided to leave with some dignity. Unloaded all of my belongings and said bye to some of the lads. I headed into the office where said employer was sat and he didn’t say a word to me while I did my paperwork. Just before I was ready to leave I told him what I thought, I wasn’t malicious, I didn’t swear or shout and all he had to say was ‘You knew there’d be some unplanned nights out when you got stuck’ I replied with ‘I wasn’t stuck out of hours today, you planned it since this morning and assumed I’d just do it’. The last thing he said to me was ‘I didn’t get the impression you’d be here that long anyway. If you’re such a great driver I’m sure you’ll get a better job elsewhere’ and I thought that just about summed him up. I’d given him 7 months good service, never had a sick day, did the job to the best of my ability until the end and that’s all he had to say. It shows what sort of a person he is.
I’m sure I could contest it if I wanted. I have no contract but I’m fairly sure I should’ve been given one after 3 months service. I had no verbal warning, no written warning, just an ultimatum. I’m just glad to be out of there it had been building up for a while. If anybodies considering working for a firm in Wellington, Telford that pulls curtainsiders I’d reconsider.