Stepdad being treated unfairly at work.

[AdamD]

I don't really get on that well with my stepdad, but I want some feedback on a situation which has been going on for sometime.

My step dad has dyslexia (sp) and works as a mechanical engineer at a local private company, which specialises in producing parts for various things like tanks, guns, medical equipment etc.

He's currently the foreman of the company (supervisor) and oversees the running of the factory for the most part

Now, he's on a salary, as are everyone else

I believe his boss is taking advantage of the fact he has dyslexia and is treating him REAL unfair
He's increased his hours substantially and makes him work like a dog, because my stepdad believes he wouldn't be able to get a job with the same pay because he has no qualifications, just experience
He works from 6AM to 7PM at night, 5 days a week
He also works Saturday from 6am to 1/2pm and sometimes on Sundays as well.
His wage hasn't gone up, infact, it went down when the boss decided to "cut back" and only cut his wage, no one elses.
Any thoughts?
I feel sorry for him and wish I could help, but he isn't the kinda guy who likes people getting involved, he'd rather do the long hours knowing he can pay the bills every month, rather than cause a fuss.

[driver_problems]

Originally Posted by AdamD

I don't really get on that well with my stepdad, but I want some feedback on a situation which has been going on for sometime.

My step dad has dyslexia (sp) and works as a mechanical engineer at a local private company, which specialises in producing parts for various things like tanks, guns, medical equipment etc.

He's currently the foreman of the company (supervisor) and oversees the running of the factory for the most part

Now, he's on a salary, as are everyone else

I believe his boss is taking advantage of the fact he has dyslexia and is treating him REAL unfair
He's increased his hours substantially and makes him work like a dog, because my stepdad believes he wouldn't be able to get a job with the same pay because he has no qualifications, just experience
He works from 6AM to 7PM at night, 5 days a week
He also works Saturday from 6am to 1/2pm and sometimes on Sundays as well.
His wage hasn't gone up, infact, it went down when the boss decided to "cut back" and only cut his wage, no one elses.
Any thoughts?
I feel sorry for him and wish I could help, but he isn't the kinda guy who likes people getting involved, he'd rather do the long hours knowing he can pay the bills every month, rather than cause a fuss.

first thing i would do is go straight round the doctors and get him to sign me on the sick due to the intense stress this issue was putting me under

[etccarmageddon]

as far as I know you can not reduce someone's salary without permission. he needs to get expert opinion from citizens advice asap and also get whatever support he can re his dyselexia.

[AdamD]

Yea his health is suffering as a result
he has carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists and is having issues with his back now (quite severe pain from what I can tell)
He's had one wrist operated on and is waiting for the next op for the other

[driver_problems]

Originally Posted by AdamD

Yea his health is suffering as a result
he has carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists and is having issues with his back now (quite severe pain from what I can tell)
He's had one wrist operated on and is waiting for the next op for the other

just tell him to go to the GP and ask his advice

[Xaccers]

This may be of help http://www.employeeclaim.com/

http://www.employeeclaim.com/bp/nhpage.asp?pcat=wages

[Hom3r]

What has happened to him could be illegal

If I remeber my working time regs (I'll dig them out) a work must have at least one day of in every 14, he must have a break of 11 hours between shifts.

---------- Post added at 20:54 ---------- Previous post was at 20:52 ----------

read throuth this with him.

http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/work_time_regs/wtr0.htm

[Chris W]

firstly, did he register the dyslexia as a disability when he started working at the company? If so there may be a case for disability discrimination

Secondly, how long has he worked for the company?

Thirdly, has he signed a working time directive waiver? If not, he is not allowed to work more than a 48 hour week. If he has signed he can withraw by giving IIRC 3 months notice to the company.

[Hom3r]

SECTION 2: WORKING TIME LIMITS

• Workers cannot be forced to work for more than 48 hours a week on average.
  
• Young Workers may not ordinarily work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, although there are certain permitted exceptions (please see Special daily and weekly working time limits).
  
• Working time limits for doctors in training are being phased in gradually (please see Special daily and weekly working time limits)
  
• Working time includes travelling where it is part of the job, working lunches and job-related training.

• Working time does not include travelling between home and work, lunch breaks, evening classes or day-release courses.

• The average weekly working time is normally calculated over 17 weeks. This can be longer in certain situations (26 weeks) and it can be extended by agreement (up to 52 weeks [more]).

• Workers can agree to work longer than the 48-hour limit. An agreement must be in writing and signed by the worker. This is generally referred to as an opt-out. It can be for a specified period or a indefinite period. There is no opt-out available from the Young Workers limits.
  
• Workers can cancel the opt-out agreement whenever they want, although they must give their employer at least seven days’ notice, or longer (up to three months) if this has been agreed.

• The working time limits do not apply if workers can decide how long they work [more].

Employers must check:

• What counts as working time.
• How much time each worker spends working.
• If a worker is working more than an average of 48 hours a week, whether to reduce his or her hours or whether the worker wishes to sign an opt-out from the working time limit
• What records need to be kept [more].

More detailed information
If you are an employer, you must take all reasonable steps to ensure that workers you employ are not required to work more than an average of 48 hours a week, unless they have signed an opt-out agreement.
Special daily and weekly working time limits

<B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Young workers