I try not to rant and rave too much, and to use this forum as a constructive space to learn a bit more about the clothes and culture we all know and love.
But fuck me I'm at my limit today....
I've worked in the same pub for over a year on a zero hours contract which usually guarantees me up to 5 shifts (30ish hours) a week. This isn't an ideal situation, but it offers me a bit of flexibility and to be honest bar a few lean weeks here and there I've been able to get by okay. However, I got in for a shift last night and was told "dont worry about coming in this week, your hours have been dropped." No notice, no warning. The reason? They've got someone who's willing to work longer shifts, more of them and without statutory breaks etc. Despite being with the company for longer than any other member of staff, being willing to cover last minute shifts, work late, and actually give a fuck about my conduct in the workplace I'm being slowly shifted out the door in favour of a French kid who doesn't know the first thing about a decent pint, or cellar management, or even having a chat with the regulars, purely because he'll work ridiculous hours without asking for e break he's legally entitled to. It probably doesn't help that I'm on the old wage bracket, so he'll also be doing the job for less than I was being paid.
I know there'll be some who'll say I should try and be more 'competitive' but its a fucking joke to treat staff like this. I'm now in a state of limbo that means I'm still employed by the pub, can still be asked to take on shifts, but have lost any guarantee of set shifts and am relying on the holiday pay I've accumulated over the past year to get by until I find something else. I'm lucky that my wife earns a decent crust and I get a stipend to study, but I've no idea how some of my colleagues are going to get by as their hours are cut.
I work for Spoons, i'm on a zero hour contract but currently at uni. The management at our pub are class to be fair and if i wanted 50 a week i'd get it. Shit situation for you though mate.
Sounds shit Jack, I hope you get sorted and it all smoothes out for you, unfortunately I think it's Britain in it's most disgusting form. I love Britain, but we get fucked over left right and centre, talking of pubs and shit staff on obviously low wages the last time I was in Brum Broad Street (not my choice believe me) we were in the Lloyds bar and we had to literally point to the barmaid for what we wanted because she couldn't understand us, it's all about making as much money as possible in the quickest time possible while putting out as least as possible.
We have found certain manufacturing now in Britain with our label but it's been so hard finding the right people for the right job who want to work with you, we've found places that we would want to use and explained that we are a new British label and we can't buy in large quantities and then they ask you for 500 pieces minimum order, there aren't many out there who are willing to help, in general in Britain no matter what field it is I get the impression that they would step over you to get where they want.
Shit world, you just have to make sure they don't make you bitter Jack, keep on keeping on.
Quote: sauzee88 wrote in post #1I try not to rant and rave too much, and to use this forum as a constructive space to learn a bit more about the clothes and culture we all know and love.
But fuck me I'm at my limit today....
I've worked in the same pub for over a year on a zero hours contract which usually guarantees me up to 5 shifts (30ish hours) a week. This isn't an ideal situation, but it offers me a bit of flexibility and to be honest bar a few lean weeks here and there I've been able to get by okay. However, I got in for a shift last night and was told "dont worry about coming in this week, your hours have been dropped." No notice, no warning. The reason? They've got someone who's willing to work longer shifts, more of them and without statutory breaks etc. Despite being with the company for longer than any other member of staff, being willing to cover last minute shifts, work late, and actually give a fuck about my conduct in the workplace I'm being slowly shifted out the door in favour of a French kid who doesn't know the first thing about a decent pint, or cellar management, or even having a chat with the regulars, purely because he'll work ridiculous hours without asking for e break he's legally entitled to. It probably doesn't help that I'm on the old wage bracket, so he'll also be doing the job for less than I was being paid.
I know there'll be some who'll say I should try and be more 'competitive' but its a fucking joke to treat staff like this. I'm now in a state of limbo that means I'm still employed by the pub, can still be asked to take on shifts, but have lost any guarantee of set shifts and am relying on the holiday pay I've accumulated over the past year to get by until I find something else. I'm lucky that my wife earns a decent crust and I get a stipend to study, but I've no idea how some of my colleagues are going to get by as their hours are cut.
Rant over.
Dont ever sell yourself short mate by trying to compete. Use the Skills that you have (must be a bit of managment involved) and move on. Labour say "oh we are going to get rid of this and that, zero contracts ete" but its them thats caused this mess. Thank god for the coalition.
Cheers for the kind words lads. I'm more pissed off at the situation in general than my own. For me this is a stop gap until I finish my thesis, but there are people with families who rely on jobs which are being undercut.
I work in food manufacturing (HR and Finance are part of my remit), although the industry has a bad reputation most businesses in our industry are staying clear of these contracts as the supermarkets we supply are terrified of the rightly crap press around these contracts. Actually think these could well become a big issue at the next election as there really is no need for them, efficient planning and contingency (properly trained contracted temps) should mean there is no place for them.
Be careful what you dream of it may come up and surprise you.
Quote: sauzee88 wrote in post #1I try not to rant and rave too much, and to use this forum as a constructive space to learn a bit more about the clothes and culture we all know and love.
But fuck me I'm at my limit today....
I've worked in the same pub for over a year on a zero hours contract which usually guarantees me up to 5 shifts (30ish hours) a week. This isn't an ideal situation, but it offers me a bit of flexibility and to be honest bar a few lean weeks here and there I've been able to get by okay. However, I got in for a shift last night and was told "dont worry about coming in this week, your hours have been dropped." No notice, no warning. The reason? They've got someone who's willing to work longer shifts, more of them and without statutory breaks etc. Despite being with the company for longer than any other member of staff, being willing to cover last minute shifts, work late, and actually give a fuck about my conduct in the workplace I'm being slowly shifted out the door in favour of a French kid who doesn't know the first thing about a decent pint, or cellar management, or even having a chat with the regulars, purely because he'll work ridiculous hours without asking for e break he's legally entitled to. It probably doesn't help that I'm on the old wage bracket, so he'll also be doing the job for less than I was being paid.
I know there'll be some who'll say I should try and be more 'competitive' but its a fucking joke to treat staff like this. I'm now in a state of limbo that means I'm still employed by the pub, can still be asked to take on shifts, but have lost any guarantee of set shifts and am relying on the holiday pay I've accumulated over the past year to get by until I find something else. I'm lucky that my wife earns a decent crust and I get a stipend to study, but I've no idea how some of my colleagues are going to get by as their hours are cut.
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Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:24 pm
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