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1. Anng Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   I think it would be difficult to name companies and accuse them of law-breaking unless you’re prepared to back it up, in court if necessary. But sometimes someone has to be brave enough to do it.

2. Mark11 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   As somebody who worked for one of the ‘top five’ supermarkets for a long time i can say that for the hourly paid shop staff things are much better then they used to be. In my experience breaks are given correctly and the minimum wage has helped control correct pay to staff. The most recent employment laws were definetly to staffs benefits. The area i would say is abused is when they deal with ‘middle’management and ‘supervisors’. They are quick to assume that these grades should work loads more then their contracted hours for no benefits at all. They are told that they should expect to work more then their contracted hours and this is abused.The last time i apllied for a position i was told i would have to work over 70 hours per week even though my contact would have been 45.

3. Seasider Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   I have worked in the travel business, and the ‘practices’ involved in putting people where you want them to fill accommodation to it’s optimum are unbelievable. Similarly my ex-wife worked at a bakery with similar ‘rules’, the likes of which would put you off shop bought baked products for life!

4. Freedoddy Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   Not all companies are the same. If someone treats you like c* or asks you to do something illegal, you should probably look elsewhere.

   I work for a company which is globally, number one in its field of expertise. I think its an excellent company that has its heart and ideas in the right place. Colleagues tell me that even as recently as a year or two ago, it was a very different story.

   On the subject of company naughtiness though, there are certain times where "bending" of the rules goes on. We aren’t alone though, even official and governmental agencies we deal with don’t do everything to the letter.

   Life would be boring and trivial if we were bound to contracts by the letter.

   As for treatment by superiors, i have to say that my boss is fantastic. He’s helpful, enthusiastic, knowledgable and knows how to speak to people with respect and also can take constructive critiscism and ideas without getting upset. I guess i’m lucky in that sense.

5. Eebahgum Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   I work in retail and I’m not enjoying it at the moment. There seems to be more and more paperwork, legislation etc etc. You can’t even so much as fart in the warehouse without a report having to be filled in.

   There’s a growing emphasis on customer service which is all well and good if you see the customers. I’m stuck in the office for most of my working day ticking off checklists.

   I get paid for 39 hours but usually do over 50 or more at least.

   Who thought it was a good idea to scrap being paid unsociable hours for working weekends?

   The stress is unbelievable and the environment is strict.

   I keep saying to myself, ‘It’s only a shop… it’s only a shop’, to try and keep myself sane.

6. mimi Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   Please tell us and name the company i work in retail in a large supermarket some on was verbally abused and threatened by another member of staff on the shop floor in front of people and nothing was done this was because the manager fancied her this is true and can be backed up with proof.

   |I have emptied freezers where stuff has been defrosted and told to put the products back out when they are fixed on loads of occasions.

   I am not a manager but i know what you mean about paperwork and customer service yeah you wanna go in a supermarket and be helped by the staff and to be honest i like to help people but they take customer serice a step to far.

   Please tell us we could all share stories about our corrupt workplace

7. Chromosome23 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   I work for a large and well known company, one which publicly prides itself on its attitude to staff. Unfortunately the reality does not meet the corporate idea that the company has of itself. When I started there, staff were frequently pushed into taking actions in direct contravention to health and safety laws (climbing on stacks of pallets, for example). Seems to me that allowing firms increased latitude to organise ‘staff committees’ (usually chaired by a manager) has resulted in less staff protection than used to be the case when a trade union had a right to recognition.

8. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   The laws are good but how often do they make a difference and are actually followed.

   I can’t remember the facts right now but there is a European law stating something like you only have to work 36 hours a week.

   Well in my old job if you wanted contracted hours it was 50 no exceptions. You had to stay back every day to tidy with no extra pay sometimes up to an hour. And then stock take would come along. Once I worked from 7am till 3am 3 days in a row for no extra pay, on the understanding that if stock take targets were met you would receive £150 bonus. I’m still owed this today they will not pay me it because I left the month after.

   I worked there for 5 long years and if anything it made me less likely to suffer the same again. More to come.

9. eger Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

   You should try COMET in george st..!!!!

   Animals are the managment there so "Cut Throught"

10. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    This female manager I had first made a 7ft tall male employee cry. That’s because they would chip away at you day after day, little by little stealing your dignity.

11. Michael49 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    There are some large companies in Hull where management really do bully their staff. Somewhere that absolutely denies it does this has staff continually on sick leave because of the bullying, and then they have to pay them off. They are the most incompetent company ever. It really ought to be ashamed of itself and the HR department there wants shooting.

12. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    One day I was off sick with super flu when I was really young, I gave work a ring and they ripped into me and said I would have to work my day off to make up from it. I was too ill to argue and so just put the phone down. My mother over heard what was said and rang them up after I had collapsed back into bed. She said something about me not working a day off and in return was told by the area manager “Watch what you say, I’m his boss it’s up to me if he has a job or not!”

    I went to work the next day really ill to kick off and everyone was nice as pie to me. The area manager wasn’t in and I don’t think I saw him till the following month.

13. MarkLindsay Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I work at a retail store and the manager there uses what we call bullying tactics. Bad and mean behaviour towards the staff constantly telling them that what they are doing is just not good enough! so they do a better job. The thing is they are never happy and always want more as to give them good bonuses. Treat your staff with more respect and praises and maybe you would get a better result

14. Freedoddy Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I think the european ruling states something along the lines of working above your limit (48 hours I think). My previous job required us to regularly work more than 48 hours per week and we had to sign a form to "opt out" of such agreement. We were paid for the hours we worked though, no complaints there. The real facts are there in pages discussing employment law but its too late to be googling a link, sorry.

    Abusing staff will always be there no matter what the law states, some people are just bad apples by nature.

15. MikeCovell Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I worked in Retail Management for 7 years and after being treated like "dirt" by the higher management I had to take it from the public. I have operated shops on Holderness Road and Hessle Road and the vast majority of times everyone was great, but then you have the "Toerags" that spoil it. On top of that stress you have "Head office" telling you to do more, whilst cutting hours, to cut costs!!

16. smky57 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    i use to work for a well know finance company, i was full time with a company car, my contract hours were 40hrs, but to keep on top of targets i was sometimes working upto 70hrs wk for no extra pay, I did it because I enjoyed my job, but looking back I wish me and other managers i worked with had the courage to complaine to top management regarding the extra hours we had to put in week in and week out.

17. HarryDownes Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I went to well-known electical wholesaler and was appalled by the way the manager treated the young staff under him. They were’nt allowed to do their jobs without some interference by this ‘do as i say’ Control Freak. I was in to buy a Flat Screen Tv and the young salesman did a good job of explaining the plus points of that particular model.However when I asked for further details he said-"Wait a minute,i’ll go and ask the manager" Whilst I was waiting I noticed other sales staff had to go to the manager for a decision keeping their customers waiting.All of them looked stressed out with this manager. I overheard him threatening the staff to sell warranties with the goods or else. The young lad returned and told me there was two models in stock. When he tried to sell me the extended warranty I declined. The lad told me he would have to see the manager again. When he returned he said "I double checked and there is no models in stock, but the manager said he can offer you the demonstration model for £50 off the buying price!" I was so angry I singled out the Manager and dressed him down in front of his staff. Turning round to the young staff i said-"Don’t worry, i’ll contect the head office and see if I can get you a decent manager to work with!" My complaint worked-he was transferred to another branch against his wishes within a month

    Ps sorry for this long-winded rant! but I feel better now!

18. theagitator Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    People working in excess of their contracted hours without payment. They are their own worst enemies. Tell the employer NO & if they sack you go to a tribunal.Play them at their game & engineer constructive dismissal. Remember nobody on their deathbed ever wished they had spent more time in the office.

19. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    In my old job if you were part-time you wouldn’t be guaranteed any hours. So refusing to work the unpaid extra or just upsetting the manager would cost you hours. Not a lot of staff feel like they can risk taking it further and some are just too afraid. Wrong I know but this is fact.

20. Chromosome23 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    At my place of work, staff are expected to assist in ‘lockdown’ at midnight. In other words, as we finish at midnight, then we are expected to work outside of our contracted hours. I won’t do it, and yet I come under pressure to ‘take my turn’ from other members of staff who have succumbed. The way I look at it is this, if they are daft enough to do it, then let them carry on. It’s a very large company, which could quite easily absorb the cost of a security guard to assist in the lock up; while members of staff save them the cost and do the extra time for nothing, then the company will be quite happy to let them do so. Sometimes working people are their own worst enemy.

21. MikeCovell Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I have had pressure put on me to sell "Insurance", "Loyalty Cards" and even to collect customers emails!!

    I was asked to attend an interview once with one of the outspoken Area Managers, and after the interview he told everyone "He his big headed, all he talked about was himself"!!! It was an interview, what am I supposed to talk about!!

22. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I once turned up to work expecting to leave at 3 so I could go and have a bbq and watch a World Cup England match. Other staff said we all have to stay till 4 because the manager said so. The manager never came to me and “asked” so I just left at 3 no questions asked. But everyone else was too scared. That day made me so angry and I lost a lot of respect for others that stayed.

23. Chromosome23 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Did you not think of joining a trade union John? Even if your employer wouldn’t recognise the union, it’s still worthwhile. Most trade unions have excellent legal departments who will help in any legal cases against dodgy employers.

24. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Yes i did but i was to poor and lazy to join.

    I always meant to but my work made excuses sacking people if they found out if you were in one.

25. Saturn5 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Everything that the trade unions have worked for over the past 50 years, in trying to raise the standards of the labour force have been dashed to the ground by the present and past government. Hence the relative lowering of wages and the lack of rights for workers, culminating in the present influx of east europeans who are in fact the new slaves of the business class.

26. Chromosome23 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Can they actually sack you if you are a member of a trade union? I’m still a member of a union, even though my current employer doesn’t recognise it. However, my union has an exceptional legal department which would not hesitate to take my employer to court if it was necessary.

27. Saturn5 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    You will find that standards have changed, large companies spend millions on corporate lawyers who will use every trick in the book to short change you. Employers care nothing for their staff these days, Hence your current employer not even recognising your union.

28. Chromosome23 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    No doubt, but the fact remains that should I have a case against my employer, my union will take the case to court on my behalf. And as for my employer not recognising my union, it’s not that surprising, as my union is the CWU which has no connection with my current employer.

29. JohnnyNoah Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Does an employer not recognising a union really make a difference, if they are breaking the law what diff does it make? hick up

30. Saturn5 Submitted 3 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Depends on the size of the company that is employing you. Corporate lawyers can soon despatch union lawyers due to their huge financial assets.

31. JohnnyNoah Submitted 2 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    What about retail law I haven’t yet touched on that.

    What are the legal open hours for a shop on a bank holiday? My old work place was always open one extra hour and still does this including on Sundays. Now I noticed last bank holiday one shop was open it’s normal trading hours oh a Monday. Is this allowed?

32. Chromosome23 Submitted 2 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Doesn’t it have something to do with whether the Bank Holiday is a religious one or not? And I think that the size of the shop has something to do with it as well.

33. JohnnyNoah Submitted 2 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    Corner shops are allowed, but if all other shop like Asda are closed and the shop I used to work for, which would do any think to stay open, then something must be wrong.

    The shop I once worked for had a system were if the a shop got caught being open at the wrong time the area manager got a bonus for taking the risk.

34. workingmum Submitted 2 months ago Unsuitable Content? Report it!

    I worked for two large restaurant chains and they both use tips which customers leave on credit cards to make your wages upto minimum wage, as the pay roughly £1 below the minimum wage (although if you do not make enough tips to cover this cost they do make it up). I am sure if costomers knew this they would not leave the tips on the credit card. Apparently this is all above board and legal.

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