Deserately unhappy - work related :(

he he nice one!!!! Think I might get the CD and play it in the background when them from Head Office come over!!!

 

I have read through this thread a couple of times, but not replied before because I get angry with bullies. That is what your employers are, or at the very least some of the staff are. I tend to lose my sense of humour when bullies start making life unpleasant for no reason other than thier own selfish agendas or egos.

First thing to do is check your employment contract. Does it mention you having to supply your own transport for business use? If so, is there any mention of your employers paying or contributing to your insurance, MOT, RFL, servicing and fuel costs? If there is no mention of any of that in your original contract they cannot make you foot the bill for an insurance extension that you do not need if you did not work for them. If your employers are trying to change the practice and want you to sign a new contract, DO NOT sign it until you have had chance to read it carefully. If in any doubt contact ACAS, the Citizens Advice Bureau or an emplyment specialist solicitor. You can probably get a fixed fee or even free first appointment.

Next thing is to check your insurance policy. What exactly does it cover you for? If it is Social, Domestic and Pleasure, plus commuting, then you are not covered to drive to a meeting on company business. With motor insurance ALWAYS check, as insurance companies are the spawn of the devil. If your policy does not cover you to drive your own car to meetings on company business then get them to supply a written quote for the cost of the extra cover.

Do you have a personnel manager or Human Resources department? If so, get them to clarify what exactly you are being told you have to do. Get it in writing. Do you belong to a union? If so contact your shop steward immediately and get the union involved.

Once you have done these things, you have all the hard facts. Make a note of who has given you these instructions and when. Tell your emplyers that you refuse to pay for insurance cover for YOUR car to attend THIER business meeting. If they want you at that meeting, then they will have to pay for your transport. If they get stroppy tell them that you are going to consult ACAS and a solicitor and sue them for constructive dismissal.

Think about it Honeybee, since when do employees subsidise thier employers transport costs. Paying to get to your place of work is a completely different matter. Everybody has to fund thier own transport to get to work.

If your employer gives you any kind of warning, suspends you, deducts any money from your pay or even sacks you, or if you are verbally abused. Take them straight to an Industrial Tribunal, no second chances, no negotiations, just go straight for the jugular. You do have rights and one of them is that you have the right to be treated with respect and courtesy. Your employers are falling very short on that score.

Good luck sorting it out.

Chopper.

 

This sounds aweful and its not something I have a problem with as I'm a gardener and so am doing something I love for a living - remind me I said that next winter ! - Get yourself signed off with depression and then the miserable jobsworths will have to pay u for doing nothing while u sort yourself out a change of career .
Really my lovely , I was very unhappy at work and it suddenly dawned on me that life is too short to be unhappy especially when other people are making it their business to obstruct u with their pettiness - get the hell out of Dodge sweety , u r on a hiding to nothing - Keep telling yourself - lifes too short ! Be happy my lovely : )

 

5 miles and back isn't very far to walk.

 

Most employers are like that - they will pay you as little as possible to do as much as possible and then sack you as quickly as possible, so you have to be one step ahead and prove you're worth keeping. In all the jobs I've had I've never been paid a penny in expenses, and regularly walk the same distance as this in exactly the sort of weather you describe. But, I'm sure you're right.

 

Are you a postman or a fitness fanatic Simon because you have to be one or the other to walk a ten mile round trip for your employers.

 

I am a fitness fanatic who prefers to walk for health and environmental reasons, and cannot afford the extortionate fares for public transport, but who also admits he is currently learning to drive.

I do empathise with anyone who is unhappy at work. I have been in that position and know what it is like.

 

I think it's time you shopped around for your car insurance and withdrew your loyalty from this rip-off company.

I have to have business use as I'm a teacher and a couple of times a year attend courses or meetings on other sites. Insurance companies class this as business use. It doesn't seem worth refusing to have it as I don't want any potential claims invalidated. But in any case, I make sure I don't pay extra for it by shopping around.

If you have stuck with the same insurance company for more than a year you will probably be paying way over the odds, because that's the way they operate - by fleecing the loyal customer and offering big discounts to pull in new customers. You will need to phone up at least 5 insurance providers, (or do it online) and I think you will be surprised/horrified at the discrepancies between quotes. A thoroughly tedious business, but sadly, necessary - every year. If you must, go back to your original company and give them the chance to beat your best quote - not that they deserve the opportunity.

If you can avoid paying the £40 extra, presumably there will be no need to quarrel with your employer? And they would have no need to bully you into compliance?

 

Simon, just because you don`t mind a sycophantic ten mile walk doesn`t mean other people do, or should. I like walking, but I doubt if I`d walk that far without it counting as part of my working day.

 

Not sycophantic just realistic. I did explain my reasons for walking - health, environmental and financial mainly. Of course there is nothing wrong with driving now and again, I've just never expected to be recompensed for anything because unless you're on an extremely high salary or on benefits, that just isn't how the real world works.