S
sonicyouth
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 £50 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?
I earn £50 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?
but I'm sure with the working time regs there are a couple of flaws. 1. You can opt out and 2. The 48hrs per week is for a rolling 17 week period, you really have to be putting in some hours to fall into that bracket, although it certainly sounds like he maybe doing that. All saying that the OP certainly has a case for unsafe working practices etc regarding the asbestos and there is no doubting his boss is a knob. Good luck with whatever decision you decide on. PS Give Archy his name 
