Urgent advice needed please

[aries123]

Hiya im at my wits end!! Since leaving school i have never been unemployed (i am 46) until now, through no fault of my own!! I was rushed into hospital last year unexpectedly and had to have 2 discs taken out my back. Consequently i was off work for 7 months on sick leave. For the last 3 months of that time they got someone in to help do my job (im a secretary) she is the sister of my working colleague! It was only until i came back full time, which i did in Feb of this year, but not in my old role. Anyway to cut a long story short, they have kept the person on doing my job and i was just general dog's body for want of a better word. And my manager was very hostile towards me, and told me to "just get on with it", you have got a job. I stuck it out and put up with everything until last week when everything came to a head and it was just unbearable working, it was making me ill, and i resigned. Consequently, i now have nothing coming in at all and ive still got my mortgage bills to pay etc. and i cannot claim anything because i resigned. I have spoken to ACAS and they say i have a good case but that it's not very often an employee wins a large company for constructive dismissal. I have further found out they are not replacing me, so that just proves there was not enough work for three people yet i was the one who was forced out. I just dont know where to turn. Ive registered with temping agencies and sent off for jobs, but in this climate doesn't look promising.

Has anyone ever been in the same situation as i truly am seriously worried (well that's an understatement). I have no partner or children or income.

[Chris]

:welcome: to Cable Forum aries. Sounds like you've had some serious bother. We have a few people with experience of employment matters on here, I'm sure one of them will be able to suggest some things you can do.

In the meantime I've moved the discussion to a more appropriate area of the forum.

[aries123]

thank you where do i find where u have moved it to please? I never used a forum before thanks

[joglynne]

Hi aries, as Chris says welcome to the forum.

I'm not up to date on this part of employment law but I do think you need to contact your mortgage lender as soon as possible. Depending on how your mortgage was set up you may be able to take a payment holiday for a specific period and if nothing like this is built in to your mortgage then you will need to see if there is any leeway in the amount you have to pay.

I do know that keeping the lender informed is very important.

[aries123]

thanks Jo i just been in touch with them and ive taken a 6 month holiday, i still gotta find this month's tho and rest of my bills. I just bust into tears lol i am seriously at my wits end

[LondonRoad]

From the brief outline you've given, it does look like you have a case for constructive dismissal. If you want to go down that route you would have to speak to somebody. I assume you're not a member of a Trade union or they'd be first to contact. Otherwise your local CAB can offer advise (it varies from office to office how much expertise is available in any area). Many lawyers offer the first consultation free, others offer a no win no fee basis.
e.g. http://www.nowinnofeesolicitors.co.uk/no-win-no-fee-employment-01.php

Take the lawyers advice and think long and hard if you want to proceed. Often any gains you could be rewarded don't outweigh the stress you've had to go through. I hope you get some temping meantime. Good luck.

[STONEISLAND]

thanks Jo i just been in touch with them and ive taken a 6 month holiday, i still gotta find this month's tho and rest of my bills. I just bust into tears lol i am seriously at my wits end

I really feel for people like yourself. I can only say hang in there and hopefully a job will come along and it will all be for the better. ;)

Good luck.

[lauzjp]

If you really want to find work, you've got to literally get out there and bug people. At least once a week! I hassled my old boss for months before he caved in and gave me a job. Take CV's with you, and ask the person who you speak to if they know of anyone else who might be hiring.

With regard to your situation, I would advise you to also register (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/register.html) and post (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=76) on moneysavingexpert.com, and to also contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau (http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) asap - do not put this off as it can take weeks to get an appointment!

Good Luck :)

[aries123]

Thank you everyone for your support (as u can see its 4.30 a.m. lol, can't sleep). Well i registered with 2 agencies yesterday and felt a bit better coz they said there might be some work on the horizon, and once i get "my foot in the door" i should be OK, and I've sent off my CV aswell for few jobs. Ialso had a phone call from the solicitor and says i have a good case, but it's very stressful. I've had enough stress in the last 12 months so my instinct is to just put it all behind me and hopefully move on to better and happier things, but there again why should they get away with it!!

It's just the constant worry about my financial situation i literally have nothing until i can find work. God what a mess, lol. (well i have to smile don't i else i'd cry), something im getting used to these days!!

[Russ]

Well i registered with 2 agencies yesterday and felt a bit better coz they said there might be some work on the horizon,

Not wishing to burst your bubble but agencies 'have' to say that. Going on the current economic climate there are very few jobs around. Agencies work to targets and need to have x amount of people registered with them at any one time. It's pretty common for them to place adverts for jobs that simply don't exist in order to get more people signed up and therefore meet their targets. Officially to do so is illegal but there loopholes they exploit to get around it.

A common trick is to place an advert saying something "IT Support workers urgently needed" which gives the impression there is a certain type of role just waiting to be filled when what actually mean is they urgently need a list of IT Support-qualified people to be on stand-by.

I wish you well in your jobsearch but remember employment agencies' priority is to serve their clients and offer themselves to companies. Finding you work comes a distant second.

[superbiatch]

Not wishing to burst your bubble but agencies 'have' to say that. Going on the current economic climate there are very few jobs around. Agencies work to targets and need to have x amount of people registered with them at any one time. It's pretty common for them to place adverts for jobs that simply don't exist in order to get more people signed up and therefore meet their targets. Officially to do so is illegal but there loopholes they exploit to get around it.

I agree with what Russ said above. You're quite lucky that you can probably turn your hand to many admin type roles i.e. secretarial, customer services, PA, Receptionist etc) and there are always short term contracts available - depending where you live? Are you located near a large city? Are you flexible in what hours you can work etc?

I'd push the transferable skills and get your foot in the door anywhere you can, this can only lead to doors opening up which may not have been otherwise available to you.

It does sound as though you have a good case for constructive dismissal, but I do wonder sometimes if its worth the stress involved. You would only generally get loss of earnings back and a bit more IIRC and in this case you've lost nothing? You chose to give your job up which I know sounds harsh, but I think a court would rip it to pieces.

Personally I'd put all my efforts into find (any) employment just to get the money coming in and forget about the scumbag employer you've had previously.

Good luck :tu:

[aries123]

yea thanks that's what ive decided to do im puttin it all behind me i'm not gonna pursue it, ive had enough stress these last 12 months, and I already got some work from the Agency only 1 day after i registered!! I start tomorrow, it mayb only for a week or so, but i can at least get my foot in the door. And I also have an interview next Monday at Rotherham Hospital (I'm in Doncaster) so i gotta get some tips on interview techniques, i ant had an interview in all these years, bit scary lol

[homealone]

yea thanks that's what ive decided to do im puttin it all behind me i'm not gonna pursue it, ive had enough stress these last 12 months, and I already got some work from the Agency only 1 day after i registered!! I start tomorrow, it mayb only for a week or so, but i can at least get my foot in the door. And I also have an interview next Monday at Rotherham Hospital (I'm in Doncaster) so i gotta get some tips on interview techniques, i ant had an interview in all these years, bit scary lol

One thing I found useful when I was made redundant last year was that the agency I signed up with offered a service that put me through a mock interview.

As I had been in the same job for 14 years & hadn't had a job interview in all that time, I found the advice given really useful.

- it may be worth asking if one of your agencies offers a similar service ??

In the end the job I got was from an advert in the paper, but I felt the interview practice, including the objective criticism of my CV from the agency really helped me...

Good luck :tu:

[Joxer]

Also worth bearing in mind is that if you try to sign on it is the last job that counts so if you find temporary work, when that ends you can then sign on as the reason you left your last job is because the contract ended. Signing on is not the best option I know but is better than nothing.

This is the latest information have and may be out of date, check with your jobcentre or Citizens Advice Bureau or other organisation.

[AndyCambs]

Also worth bearing in mind is that if you try to sign on it is the last job that counts so if you find temporary work, when that ends you can then sign on as the reason you left your last job is because the contract ended. Signing on is not the best option I know but is better than nothing.

This is the latest information have and may be out of date, check with your jobcentre or Citizens Advice Bureau or other organisation.

Another point - signing on does then protect your NI contributions for pension purposes.
When I was laid off, I wouldn't have got any benefit until about four months after being made redundant (due to pay in lieu of notice, and additional payments), so it wasn't worth it - but it's something you need to be aware of and people at the benefits centre were quite helpful.

[redhand]

The company I work for offers a legal service with specialised lawyers.

https://lawangel.secureclient.co.uk/lawangel/?

if you want to have a look.

[superbiatch]

And I also have an interview next Monday at Rotherham Hospital (I'm in Doncaster) so i gotta get some tips on interview techniques, i ant had an interview in all these years, bit scary lol

Ooh sounds interesting, what's the job title? I'm very often on panels at job interviews and work in the NHS so I might just be able to help you out. If you want to PM me, i'd be more than happy to help where I can.