Would you just leave? (job)

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Ahrena

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I am completely and utterly fed up with my job and need some advice.

Some details may be a bit vague because I don't want it to get back to them..

I'm a working pupil, I've been here since February with my own horse. At first, things are great, I was the only WP with two other grooms and had lots of lessons (like two official ones a week then anytime I was in the school when boss was in there he would help as well). I worked really hard, 6 days a week for £50 and my horse's livery, no accommodation included or offered.

It all changed when those grooms left and they hired two other WPs, back in May. Since then I'm lucky if I have one shared lesson often with him on another horse. One of the WPs is in the same boat as me, the other is the favourite and gets so much more; 2 or 3 lessons a week on his own, goes xc schooling on 2 or 3 horses a pop, is terrible around the yard but they just don't seem to care (we've tried talking to them).

I've tried to leave a couple of times, the first time back in August as I was offered a riding job nearer home where i could compete the horses. I only didn't take it in the end as some research showed the guy running that place was not a nice person and it was a horrid place to be, so I stayed. When I did speak to current boss at the time, he was very nasty about me leaving - in a guilt tripping way, saying things like they bent over backwards to accommodate me, letting me have days off to compete as much as pos ect and leaving would put a huge strain on his pregnant wife ect.

Then I handed my notice again on the 1st of September as my landlord gave me mine (I live in a garage conversion attached to his grans house, who sadly has been diagnoses with dementia). They went behind my back to my landlord and asked him to let me stay for another month til the end of the season. I ended up agreeing as want to leave on good terms and they said then they wouldn't need to hire anyone else as two would be enough over the winter.

Two days later, the other WP (who is in the same boat as me), handed her notice in to leave on the 1st October which they were fine about and didn't really give her any grief. Now they've told me they aren't hiring anyone else and I can't have a day off in the last 2 weeks before I leave.

The big thing though, is they'e suddenly gone mad with giving us stuff to do. There's 30 stabled horses and when there's 2 of us, we struggle to get three ridden each a day. In the last couple of days, we've been having 4 or 5 horses to do each, plus loads of jobs. This has ended up with me barely having time to ride my own horse, no time for a break and major stress. I also asked if I could have a bit of extra help with my own horse as I have 2 regional finals coming up plus Aldon three day which they said wasfine, but havn't had any help this week at all. When I do ride my horse, he goes badly because I'm riding badly through stress and being upset about it all.

I'm leaving the day before Aldon three day but they'e trying to make me groom at the three day through guilt tripping which i really don't want to do as my mum is paying for me to go, it's a lot of money and I moved away from home for this job so I really feel i ought to spend time with her there rather than work especially as I'm meant to have left.

To top it all off, I've got the flu so feel absolutely terrible, they won't put the heating on in the staff room, plus for example I managed to get all my horses done before lunch today so have lots of time, I asked if I could have a little longer for lunch (I normally get half an hour, which is all in an 11 hour day) so I could get home and get changed as it's pouring with rain so I'm extremely wet and cold (and have the flu!) but I'm not allowed even though I have time...

Oh and another thing on the favouritism, when I had a few days off, I had to work 7 day weeks for the week before and after, and not got paid holiday, but then the other guy whomthey love, he's got this current weekend off (Friday to Monday) but he also had this tuesday off.

Basically I just want to leave as I feel like a complete slave, my horse is going badly and indon't want to screw these competitions up because of it. I feel I'd be much better off going home and actually be able to give him the work he needs and pay for some lessons so I can hopefully qualify for the finals. But then I also don't really want to leave on bad terms, its only 3 and a half weeks until I go officially but I really don't feel I can take it anymore.
 
I'm afraid I'm going to recommend hanging on in there and working your notice. You may need a reference in the future. If you are really unwell there is nothing wrong with taking a sick day or two though.

Paula
 
I don't really know what to advise, I guess my gut feeling is that you should leave before you break down and then you wont be able to do anything with your own horse, but it is only a few weeks so it may be as well to stick it out and maybe take a small break after. Dont let him guilt trip you about his pregnant wife, I am given to understand there is no shortage of working pupils in the horse industry.
 
Can you not get your parents involved, as you are young. It's not on that working pupils get treated unfairly, and it sounds like you are being overworked and under-trained. I did as many horses, if not more when I was a WP - but I got a huge amount of training too, so it didn't seem like such a chore. I'm a bit horrified about your working hours too. It is not on for you to be working 7 days without a break.

Have PMd you about something else on your posts!!
 
Do you have a contract. Its illegal not to have at least a statement of terms and conditions.

Dont leave early but work to contract. If that is 8 hours a day then only work 8. 11 hours a day 7 days a week I think is in breach of the working time directive anyway.

And nothing wrong with a few sickies in these circumstances.
 
You have to talk to them - in any job half the skill is managing your manager (in this case the owner).

You sound very rational from the sound of your message, so try to keep that approach.

Ask for a meeting (ie a little bit more formal than a chat!), write down your issues (in such a way that you can leave it with them) - and use it as an 'Agenda' for your chat.

They are well out of order in what that are asking from you, but it would be a pity to ruin all your hard work for a last minute tantrum.

To be honest, they may ignore everything (they sound a bit of an ostrich organisation) but don't forget, in the future they may want a reference from you, so its in their interest to keep in with you! Remember, you didn't go to work for the local man as his reputation was bad, if he had treated people well, he would have found getting staff a whole lot easier!
 
Agree 100% with auslanders post. As a wp I worked hard, but boss was fair & I got the training. At one point I did 15 horses myself for a fortnight, with 8/9 ridden a day. Difference was boss had an accident & pt help already on booked holiday. And he was eternally grateful & made it up to me. Doing the same for your boss would leave me full of resentment. If I were you, I'd also ask for a fab written reference now, & say you are forwarding it with applications. Because even if you work your notice, he sounds the type to write a less than truthful reference out of spite. Plus, if he's awful chances are that locally he'll be known as a crap boss & potential new employers will have heard it from the grooms. My old boss once employed someone with no references from their first wp position because he knew the ex boss & said he was impressed by the work ethic of anyone who stuck it for 6mnths without committing murder or walking!
 
I'd be gone. It sounds like they are using you rather badly, and don't seem too worried about the other wp going, but are about you. Have you opted out of the work time directive? If not they are breaking the law by making you work more than 48 hours a week. I understand that most people who work with horses work substantially more, but that actually doesn't change how you need to be treated. You are also on so far below the minimum wage its not even funny.
If someone came to me with for a job, not having references wouldn't be an issue, especially in your situation. I think I have only been asked for them once or twice in all my years of riding!
 
Thanks guys, getting it all off my chest has made me feel a lot better. To be honest I think i'll stick it out, I've managed 8 months, i can do one more. Luckily he's already provided me with a great (verbal) reference, though will definitely ask for a written one.

Unfortunately I'm not under contract, my own fault, I know, but I read the one of the grooms had and it did say hours and days were variable so don't think it would help my case.

Little legs - I think you hit he nail on the head. I have no problem with working hard, I expected it and knew it was part of it, but I have so little to show for it. I'm still competing at the same level, I'm getting better results but when I tried to move up to novice it all went tits up and I literially had no help despite falling off and getting eliminated in the 2 out of 3 novice runs I did before moving back down (over a period of 6 weeks), which was a huge kick in the teeth. There's never a well done or a thank you, even when it's a competition day and I startmat 4am and finish at 10pm.

I don't think anyone tends to stay here for much more than 6 months or so, I've seen 2 grooms leave and one start who is leaving before I do, so I don't think it's just me.
 
Ahh how I remember the life of being a WP! Wouldn't go back for all the tea in China! Lol. Hang in there, I did it for 2 years! At least it shows you can work hard for future employers as well, just don't let them keep on guilt tripping you, just get out!
 
If you haven't got a contract, which you really should have, then you can literally leave when you want. Tbh I would probably be tempted to tell them your leaving next weekend. You can always say that you have got a new job that starts next Monday. As you havent got any agreed notice period they can't do much
 
i would stick it out til leaving day. however if you are ill phone in sick (make sure you call early am) have a couple of days off stay in bed try to eat well and go back to work when better. Working with horses is always hard but should be fun, always make sure you have a change of clothes with you at work nothing worse than being in cold wet clothes all day. Also remember the horse industry is really quite a small place, so best work your notice as best you can. Good luck
 
You can self certificate yourself as sick, I can't remember how many days it covers, you for but you could 'google' it to find out.

Additionally Slavery was abolished in this country in 1833, possibly your employers haven't heard about this yet.
 
To be honest I would give him a weeks notice and go. Have a look through this site and see what rights you have
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/index.htm

This person is not giving you what you went there for - working pupil is a two way thing - you work he pays you in tuition. Currently you are working for nothing! He is not fulfilling his side of the deal.

Arrange with your mum to collect your horse and you at the end of the weeks notice. Have all your stuff ready so that you can load up and go. Don't leave anything behind to pick up later.

I wouldn't even be concerned about a reference from him anyway. Find yourself a genuine caring person to work for - sus the potential employer out before hand.

Get a contract - don't ever let yourself fall into that trap again. Contract in your hand before you start at the job. A job regardless of situations should have core hours, set times off and set wage per hour of work. I've worked with horses for decades and you rarely ever needed to work beyond the set hours unless there was an emergency - or we had been to an event.

Not letting you get changed into dry clothes is just downright unreasonable.
 
I only got as far as the bit telling you you can't have days off in the last two weeks. Just leave they're taking the mickey big time and since they're being nasty you're unlikely to get a reference from them now anyway. For those wages I'd walk right now and not even stay until payday. Cut your losses and move on. Make sure you get minimum wage next time. Tell your landlord you're leaving end of month as planned and that he had no right negotiating otherwise with your employers. Shops will be recruiting for Christmas now, go find something else where you're treated like a human being.
 
Your boss is acting illegally , you need to look at the eu working time directive.

I personally would take dry clothes in and if you can get your hand on a fan heater then I would take it into the staff room and put it on.

You are also entitled to an hours break, ensure you take it because if you have an accident your employer could be taken to court due to health and safety laws that they are clearly flouting.

Regardless of you being a wp do not allow them to value your life any less than a groom :mad:
 
You do not have to be given an hour for lunch. If the op is working 11 hours a day she is probably entitled to half an hour in the morning, and half an hour for lunch.

I work in the building trade where these kind of hours are standard. You don't get an hours lunch. However if you search on the internet, it will bring up what the actual law is.
 
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