Contract Renegotiation. Again

[awkward_as_heck]

Comments

[awkward_as_heck]

In terms of per hour rate, part time is actually better than full time which in my opinion is part of the problem. They've put themselves in a position where part time is the better path for staff like me; the pay cut I'm taking is less than 10% and I'll be contracted for 30% less hours.

But yeah, I think they're annoyed that they're losing their 40 hour work horse and that I have the audacity to hold my ground on it. I think a healthy dose of sexism and personal dislike are probably in there as well.

[theidolhands]

I think a healthy dose of sexism and personal dislike are probably in there as well.

You know, I didn't want to assume, but when I've seen a company put that level of pressure instead of buckling...it's often a lady they're doing it to. Meanwhile, I've seen my male colleagues on occasion act like arrogant bastards who demand all the prime cuts with little of the work and have the bosses act like, "Hey, gotta respect that, drives a hard bargain!" sort of an attitude.

While the rest of us are, "WTF?"

But yeah, I think they're annoyed that they're losing their 40 hour work horse and that I have the audacity to hold my ground on it.

As a person who stood up for many a workhorse, I back this theory. Why they treat the good workers shitty and the shitty workers like gods, I can only attribute to The Dilbert Principle and it has not surprised me that they majority of new entrepreneurs have been women, who specifically cited a lack of fairness at work as a reason why they started one.

[awkward_as_heck]

I didn't want to call sexism at first but then I thought it's not like I've been unreasonable or evasive through this process. Plus my overall record- timeliness, organisation, following procedure, etc, is much better than quite a few of the other staff, one in particular who is often late and forgetful yet who got the days he wanted and even amended his contract a few weeks later with not very much fuss at all.

I've talked to BossLady who they did something similar to earlier this year the amount that stacks up with her story is high. She thought of all the staff they could pull this on I would have been one of the last. Basically, it comes down to me standing my ground and them not liking it.

I just looked up The Dilbert Principle and it doesn't surprise me. I always give due diligence and to have it thrown in my face is immensely disheartening.

hmm

[hedstrom]

How many renegotiations will happen next? ;p

Re: hmm

[awkward_as_heck]

However many until they get what they want.

[classics_lover]

That sounds like the way retail has been going in Ireland the last couple of years. One of my former colleagues was on the top wage rung but had to leave to go to England with her fiance. The relationship subsequently broke down and she returned to the Company. She went from Permanent Full Time at €14 an hour (or thereabouts) to zero-hours temporary contract at €9 an hour, despite the fact that she had a huge amount of experience (within the Company and elsewhere) and was known as a hard worker. A lot of employers just want to pay peanuts for a huge workload and it's really skeevy.

Your employer is definitely devaluing you, and I suspect trying very hard to put you onto an even lower pay grade if it can be managed. The fact that you are standing up for yourself is throwing a wrench in their plans.

Honestly it sounds like a toxic environment, and I hope you can get something much better.

[awkward_as_heck]

I can't even fathom why people do that.

I hope it works out for your friend.

[classics_lover]

She left after her contract was terminated so I'm not sure what she's up to now :/

[theflyers]

What horrid assholes, this is all a game of getting a skilled worker at a lower rate. If they make it sound like you're on thin ice, then you'll be more willing to bend to their whims!

I hate the "we'll give you a choice!" and then it comes down to "But really we want you to work THIS SCHEDULE and do it for a low wage, ha ha ha!"

My friend had that exact issue awhile back. An employer told her she could pick her own schedule. So she did. One that would work well with her kid's schedules and was looking forward to everything...

Oops, no well you can't /really/ pick your schedule it turns out. So she quit, thankfully she was able to. I know so many employers bank on you not being able to quit and therefore they can bully you into their shit.

[theidolhands]

Yup, and I'm suspicious about WHY they put such pressure on her. This whole thing was incredibly strategic so that they had FULL advantage -- as if they were afraid she'd lawyer up or something: catching her fully off guard, putting in a request she was unlikely to fulfill to cast a bad light from the get go, tag team and two against one, and making her feel like she should practically beg to keep her job.

I tell you what, if she actually sucked that badly, I seriously doubt they would have bothered with all that shit. I have NEVER seen that level of strategy used on a piece of poop worker -- they either fire them or don't give a damn & keep them on with hardly a quick lecture.

This was some bunch of pressure tactics, I tell you. Desperate attempt to avoid paying unemployment or what?

I know so many employers bank on you not being able to quit and therefore they can bully you into their shit.THIS, which is why it can be sweet revenge to find another job and give them a short 2 week notice (to which they'll balk because

[awkward_as_heck]

The tag-team approach bothered me too.

This is the part I don't get, I didn't have a reason to leave the job, I was putting together stuff for new things. Why were they so intent on driving me into a corner?

I should get some redundancy if nothing else. Plus I've already had four bites from other companies so hopefully I'll have at least some part-time work to tide me over for now.

[theidolhands]

They saw you as too loyal (or a friend of) Boss Lady, they just didn't want you around -- unless you were willing to do double duty, or essentially be humilated, in which case if they could get extra work for no extra money...then you could stay, but they'd have the bonus of chuckling about how overworked and/or isoalted from their clique you were (which means you don't get promotions, etc).

God only knows how long that would've lasted, usually it lasts at least a year, often a few if they ever stop treating a person who committed no sin as a criminal for being buddies with the "wrong" person (usually a person with sense or reason); it's a tactic to put you in your place. To let you know THEY are in charge.

From my personal (repeated) experience, that is my best guess. As a woman (in some cases that is enough, in others it can be other differences) you're a threat to their paradigm -- who they want to favor -- how they want to run things -- your input is not welcome & are to be made to know it.

I should get some redundancy if