Bully Boss Strikes Again

Hi there

I was put on a three day week starting in august and my employer told me this would be reviewed in October 4 weeks away. I was called into my employers office again last week and she told me i was now being cut from 17e an hour to 13e an hour (as well as working on three days a week) I dont have a contract of employment, ive forms here from months ago to make a complaint to NERA about this as ive asked my boss continueously for a contract of employment.

I was told by a friend that i dont have to accept this further pay cut. and being on reduced working days/hours after a certain period i should be offered redundancy. If i go into the office now on friday morning and tell my boss im sorry but im not willing to take a further cut to my wage what am i letting myself in for? ... My boss is a bully .. a very good one at that.

When she put me on a three day week she told me i would have to be on call for the other two days incase she needed to change me about but i told her with a 2 year old son this was impossible and her reply was if i couldnt be on call she would have to find someone else.... when things like this are said all i think about is my mortgage payment.. but i cant take it anymore working here im exhausted trying to meet unreasonable targets and im fed up being a punching bag for everything that has gone wrong wiht her business.. i cant even sit and type a letter after 16 years working in an area i love and never once having a complaint she has me broken but if im as bad as she makes out why hasnt she sacked me ...

Im going in to tell her im not willing to take a further cut im just wondering whats ahead?

Thanks so much for any help u can give.

m

After working in a place continously for 2 years and 1 day you're entitled to redundancy.Drop down to your local citizens advice centre and get some more information.Following this I'd make a formal complaint to the dept of enterprise trade and employment. If you're there 16 years then I certainly wouldn't leave this go easily. If she's not paying you for your days off to be on call, you have no reason to be on call. Turn off your phone.

God help you. I hate bullies. Have you every considered that she is making things aquard for herself? Constructive dismissal springs to mind. Does she have a boss she reports to? Have you gone above her head. Have you a trade union in your place of employement. Have you written evidence of asking for your written contract. You are entitled by law to a written contract. Sorry I don't have time to go further but you should take a case for harrisment and bullying in the workplace against her and the company for allowing it happen. Get a good soliciter who understands labour law! If proven against her..............well who knows. ( Posted by Dezen's father. I was just browsing when I read your question)

I was just reading this thread and hopefully this information will help you. You are entitled to a contract of employment. You can make a complaint under the Terms of Information (Employment) Act about this. This can be made to the Employment Appeals Tribunal (have a look at their website). Yes you are entitled to redundancy after 2 years of employment but that does not necessarily mean you will get it. Redundancy only comes into effect if your role is gone and by reading your mail, it is not yet. You have to be advised that you are being made redundant by your employer, it is not something that you can throw out there for her to consider. Redundancy is usually the last means that an employer will take hence the reduction in your hours and pay.

If you are willing to take this further, I'd suggest you speak to an employment lawyer but just a little bit of advice, this incurs time and money for you and more importantly you have to be willing to fight it. Think about it because these issues do not get resolved in weeks, usually it's months or a year or two so you have to be willing to stick it out. A good lawyer makes all the difference with the end result and choose someone who practices in employment law if you go down that road.

Good luck and all the best.

Contact the HSA about bullying in the workplace as well.

i would not rush in to anything untill you know your rights. Your boss could be looking for you to leave so she can hire someone else for less than 13 euro

Record all future conversations.
Dont even tell he you are recording them.
Just have them in case you need them in future.

minion said:

Record all future conversations.
Dont even tell he you are recording them.
Just have them in case you need them in future.

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That's not practical advice.

You should, however, keep dated notes. Keep them away from the office.

minion said:

Record all future conversations.
Dont even tell he you are recording them.
Just have them in case you need them in future.

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This becomes inadmissible evidence and can be used against OP who by recording is in fact committing an offence.

Keep a detailed diary record of all incidents, almost like minutes of a meeting, make the record as soon as possible after the incident.

Even with the added pressures of recession there is no excuse for a bully.

Sconhome said:

This becomes inadmissible evidence and can be used against OP who by recording is in fact committing an offence.

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What offence?

Complainer said:

What offence?

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You are not supposed to record someone against their will, this is why when you are talking to a big company they will tell you they are recording your call.

Unless it is in a public place.

Just because you don’t have a written contract it doesn’t mean that you don’t have rights.
You are employed on €17 per hour for a 5 day week. This can only be changed with you consent.
Your employer cannot reduce your hourly rate or your hours without your written consent. Arguably you have agreed to a reduction in you working week to 3 days on a temporary basis but that’s it.

You need to stand your ground. You have taken a 40% reduction in hours and are now being asked to take a 23% reduction in hourly pay. Your gross pay will be about half what you started on. I don’t see how anyone could see that as reasonable.

Complainer said:

What offence?

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I dont want ot go off point, as SLF says you can record someone if you tell them they are being recorded AND you have their permission. If you 'bug' a conversation and retain the recording a court will not allow it to be used unless a legal warrant has been given for it (hence the changes in the law last year, powers of surveillance etc for the Gardai Vs gangs). It is an offence, which you can be charged with, I don't know off hand the title.

Sconhome said:

I dont want ot go off point, as SLF says you can record someone if you tell them they are being recorded AND you have their permission. If you 'bug' a conversation and retain the recording a court will not allow it to be used unless a legal warrant has been given for it (hence the changes in the law last year, powers of surveillance etc for the Gardai Vs gangs). It is an offence, which you can be charged with, I don't know off hand the title.

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To say that a recording can't be used as evidence is one thing, but you said that making the recording was in itself illegal - is this still your view, i.e. that it is illegal to make a recording without informing the other party?

Complainer said:

To say that a recording can't be used as evidence is one thing, but you said that making the recording was in itself illegal - is this still your view, i.e. that it is illegal to make a recording without informing the other party?

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It is an interesting one but as far as I know it is true you can't record someone without their permission unless you are on public property.

S.L.F said:

It is an interesting one but as far as I know it is true you can't record someone without their permission unless you are on public property.

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You can record phone conversations on your own phone.

A person is perfectly entitled to keep records of converstaions and events to which thaty are involved without getting pemission of the other parties. If we could not then we would not have any historical events documented.

vfillafan said:

A person is perfectly entitled to keep records of converstaions and events to which thaty are involved without getting pemission of the other parties. If we could not then we would not have any historical events documented.

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That is true but not recorded electronically.

I recall down the country a girl had pics were taken of her against her will the Garda went to the various people and made them delete stuff from their phones (don't ask for a link because I wouldn't know where to start) this would be the same.

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This has gone off topic the thread was about a bully boss.

I suggest the mods delete some of the previous posts or move them to a different forum.

Last off topic post about recording. If you record a conversation between 2 parties and both do not know its being recorded, its an offence (covert), however if one party is aware the conversation is being recorded then it is not an offence. Therefore if you are party to a recorded conversation that you are recording, then its not an offence.

As regards bullying, there are plenty of ways other than recording events, just a formal complaint should get the ball rolling. Although bullies tend to value exerting power rather than protecting their own reputations. Its weird but true. If you make a formal complaint chances are the bullying will increase but more subtly. But the fact that you have a complaint in already will assist you with any constructive dismissal case. Treat it as a game between you and the bully, it will help you maintain your sanity

roro123 said:

Last off topic post about recording. If you record a conversation between 2 parties and both do not know its being recorded, its an offence (covert), however if one party is aware the conversation is being recorded then it is not an offence. Therefore if you are party to a recorded conversation that you are recording, then its not an offence.

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Do you have a source in legisltion or elsewhere for this? I honestly believe there is a lot of nonsense on this thread about the law around recording.