Girlfriends Employer
Discussion
advice please,
my g/f is currently marketing manager for a local vw/audi dealer. she controls both areas even though there should be someone looking after the audi side of things. The person who was doing this role left a year ago since when her company have insisted that they are looking to recruit someone else, the reality is that they have only advertised the role internally in the last couple of weeks and havent yet advertised externally. so for the last year my g/f has been running the 2 posts and had no financial bonus for doing essentially 2 jobs. This means that most days she starts at 7ish and finishes at 7ish and does this sometimes 6 days a week.
Because of the role she also does new car launches (Q7 this weekend) and numerous other events at places throughout south and west wales, this means working sat and sun for these weekends and doesnt get paid o/t and gets given time in leau. the problem with this is that there are no oppourtunities to take this as there are no assistants or helpers in the office to allow her to take this time off.
Today it reached a point where she broke down in tears on the phone to a supplier because of the workload thats she's struggling with.
I'm now concerned that it could affect her health and suggested that she needs to speak to her boss and ask for someone to be recruited for the audi post and to get some assistants in.
any thoughts on the best way forard?
(Sorry for the long post)
Matt
my g/f is currently marketing manager for a local vw/audi dealer. she controls both areas even though there should be someone looking after the audi side of things. The person who was doing this role left a year ago since when her company have insisted that they are looking to recruit someone else, the reality is that they have only advertised the role internally in the last couple of weeks and havent yet advertised externally. so for the last year my g/f has been running the 2 posts and had no financial bonus for doing essentially 2 jobs. This means that most days she starts at 7ish and finishes at 7ish and does this sometimes 6 days a week.
Because of the role she also does new car launches (Q7 this weekend) and numerous other events at places throughout south and west wales, this means working sat and sun for these weekends and doesnt get paid o/t and gets given time in leau. the problem with this is that there are no oppourtunities to take this as there are no assistants or helpers in the office to allow her to take this time off.
Today it reached a point where she broke down in tears on the phone to a supplier because of the workload thats she's struggling with.
I'm now concerned that it could affect her health and suggested that she needs to speak to her boss and ask for someone to be recruited for the audi post and to get some assistants in.
any thoughts on the best way forard?
(Sorry for the long post)
Matt
Truly aweful but very typical of the Audi/VW stable of working.
Bet if she resigns they would instantly advertise the 2 positions
They have made a massive saving in not employing a 2nd person....
The directors have been having a bloody laf for far to long
Resign and put them in the shite!!!!
Bet if she resigns they would instantly advertise the 2 positions
They have made a massive saving in not employing a 2nd person....
The directors have been having a bloody laf for far to long
Resign and put them in the shite!!!!
unfortunatly she isnt someone who would do that.
I did suggest going to her and explaining that she can just manage now but nothing is being done with 100% accuracy due to too much to do, and ask for help. there is someone who is interested in doing the job available, so I said ask to get them in to help out for a couple of weeks to see if they are suitable for the job.
However the G/f feels that as shes a woman working in a male enviroment? she has to prove that she can cope with the work load.
I did suggest going to her and explaining that she can just manage now but nothing is being done with 100% accuracy due to too much to do, and ask for help. there is someone who is interested in doing the job available, so I said ask to get them in to help out for a couple of weeks to see if they are suitable for the job.
However the G/f feels that as shes a woman working in a male enviroment? she has to prove that she can cope with the work load.
As someone whose previous position was as you described your girlfriends, except far worse, this kind of thing is totally unacceptable in my view. They are clearly simply saving money by taking her for a mug with no consideration for her short-term, or long-term, health.
In my opinion, she needs to raise it with senior management. Simply informing them that it is making her feel ill and if it goes on for much longer she is going to have to see the doctor about the stress she is under should get things moving quickly. If they still don't look after her, then she can either go to the doctor or go down the route of complaining again in writing before eventually quitting and going for constructive dismissal.
In my opinion, she needs to raise it with senior management. Simply informing them that it is making her feel ill and if it goes on for much longer she is going to have to see the doctor about the stress she is under should get things moving quickly. If they still don't look after her, then she can either go to the doctor or go down the route of complaining again in writing before eventually quitting and going for constructive dismissal.
Firstly... get her to go to a doctor and get it on file that she's suffering emotionally/any physical manifestations of that. If it all turns sour, having this as being documented well in advance will be "a bit" useful.
Secondly... as everyone else says, if they feel they can get away with this - i.e. if she's being successful in both roles, they will try to; makes them look good at keeping costs down. Hence she needs to discuss with management that it's affecting the quality of her work (make sure that she raises this first, rather than giving them the opportunity to down the line), has caused her to break down in tears, and is generally making her stressed and unwell.
Now, if they don't offer to let her take the time in lieu (step 2 should have involved a bit of hinting at this!), then she really needs initiate something herself - whether it's resign (loses out on any level of payback/compensation she could have achieved), taking time off, or getting staff of her own to manage, etc. (Or simply a marketing manager for the other half of the dealership)
Just bear in mind that if her manager cares that little about the stress she's under, s/he'll probably care far less if she appears to be a "troublemaker", and is quite likely to lay the blame at her feet. Make sure she's on the front foot with this (step 1), whatever way you take it!
Woman in a man's world? Maybe. But it's not big, clever, manly, or right to suffer it. Life's too short.
Secondly... as everyone else says, if they feel they can get away with this - i.e. if she's being successful in both roles, they will try to; makes them look good at keeping costs down. Hence she needs to discuss with management that it's affecting the quality of her work (make sure that she raises this first, rather than giving them the opportunity to down the line), has caused her to break down in tears, and is generally making her stressed and unwell.
Now, if they don't offer to let her take the time in lieu (step 2 should have involved a bit of hinting at this!), then she really needs initiate something herself - whether it's resign (loses out on any level of payback/compensation she could have achieved), taking time off, or getting staff of her own to manage, etc. (Or simply a marketing manager for the other half of the dealership)
Just bear in mind that if her manager cares that little about the stress she's under, s/he'll probably care far less if she appears to be a "troublemaker", and is quite likely to lay the blame at her feet. Make sure she's on the front foot with this (step 1), whatever way you take it!
Woman in a man's world? Maybe. But it's not big, clever, manly, or right to suffer it. Life's too short.
Your girlfriend is covered by teh European Working Time Directive and I belive her employer is required to keep rcords to show that she has averaged no more than the required hours over a 17 week average period. She cannot be forced to work extra hours and action taken against her by her emploer for asserting her rights is automtically unfair at law. The defense that she sets her own hours only works if she can take time off without permission and she clearly needs a sabattical
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
Best thing to do - stop carrying them and work th ehours , when the job starts to suffer explain that it is because there is too much to do and that extra help is needed - if she carries on doing two people's work - they'll let her!!
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
Best thing to do - stop carrying them and work th ehours , when the job starts to suffer explain that it is because there is too much to do and that extra help is needed - if she carries on doing two people's work - they'll let her!!
Jasper Gilder said:
if she carries on doing two people's work - they'll let her!!
Jasper Gilder said:
Your girlfriend is covered by teh European Working Time Directive and I belive her employer is required to keep rcords to show that she has averaged no more than the required hours over a 17 week average period. She cannot be forced to work extra hours and action taken against her by her emploer for asserting her rights is automtically unfair at law. The defense that she sets her own hours only works if she can take time off without permission and she clearly needs a sabattical
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
Most employment contracts I've seen in the last few years have clauses explicitly opting out of the Working Time Directive, though.
Well worth checking the small print, however.J_S_G said:
Jasper Gilder said:
if she carries on doing two people's work - they'll let her!!
Jasper Gilder said:
Your girlfriend is covered by teh European Working Time Directive and I belive her employer is required to keep rcords to show that she has averaged no more than the required hours over a 17 week average period. She cannot be forced to work extra hours and action taken against her by her emploer for asserting her rights is automtically unfair at law. The defense that she sets her own hours only works if she can take time off without permission and she clearly needs a sabattical
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
She may not want to resign, but if that is the onbly course she feels is available she may be able to claim that she has been unfairly constructively dismissed - this won't be easy as th eemployers would try a number of defences which might have legs.
Most employment contracts I've seen in the last few years have clauses explicitly opting out of the Working Time Directive, though.
Well worth checking the small print, however.IIRC there was talk that Opting out was no longer a legal option?
The more positive option, would be simply to look for a better job elsewhere... ie she can demonstarte doing 2 jobs, for two 'relatively' prestigous dealerships. under pressure/short staff, etc... A decent competitor would probably snap her up, maybe at a more senior role.. Don't mention too much work, just say want a bigger chalenge, ie get the equivalent of her current bosses job somewhere else, for more money less 'work' (ie more in control)...
DON't go down the constructive dismisall route, Don't go down sickness route, DON't complain any more(just come back as she is a probalem employee). DO take control. DOn't burn any bridges...
Just get a beter job elsewhere on all the good experience she's got.
DON't be tempted to stay if they offer/more money,sort things out. (too late for that, and do you trust them)
Move on and up.
B
DON't go down the constructive dismisall route, Don't go down sickness route, DON't complain any more(just come back as she is a probalem employee). DO take control. DOn't burn any bridges...
Just get a beter job elsewhere on all the good experience she's got.
DON't be tempted to stay if they offer/more money,sort things out. (too late for that, and do you trust them)
Move on and up.
B
Opting out is still currently a legal option, but an employee cannot be forced to opt out contractually. If their contract states they are opted out they merely have to write to their employer indicating they wish to opt in and the employer is legally prevented from taking any action against them which might constitute a detriment.
So check the small print and pen a line..... ( best wear some body armour as well!!!!)
So check the small print and pen a line..... ( best wear some body armour as well!!!!)
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