Work Law

[chrisuk013]

tonight I have received a text message from my manager at work saying 'do not attend work tonight, tomorrow or Sunday'. I have asked my manager for the reason behind standing me down and he has refused to give me an answer;

So, my questions are;

1, Is my manager able to suspend/stand me down from work without me having signed a contract of employment?

2, Is my manager able to refuse to give me a reason for standing me down/suspending me?

3, Would the above have to go through HR in order to be approved ie suspension/standing down?

[Canary42]

Why no contract?. He is probably within his rights but refusing the reason seems a bit OTT. I expect one of our experts will be along shortly (or tomorrow) for a more accurate answer.

[chrisuk013]

the company I work for are very poor.

I am supposed to be working in a 'high secure' building, however I have been wondering about working in it for the past 3/4 weeks without showing any credentials to anyone.

I have not been given a contract of employment, even though I should have one.

[Maydup]

Indeed it would need to go through HR if the company have an HR person.

If security has been an issue perhaps they have lost the contract, or maybe the high secure unit has closed? Hopefully you will receive more information today, but these are extraordinary times and proper procedures are getting overlooked by some firms.

[Maydup]

You mention being stood down or suspended. What makes you think either of those to be the outcomes? So far he has just asked you not to come in for the weekend shifts.

[chrisuk013]

The manager would seem to 'have it in for me' and no other reason. He is one those middle tear manages who has never progressed within the company and shouts rather loudly at people in the anticipation people will jump to his command.

No one from HR has been in touch with to speak with me regarding any possible stand down or suspension but their is no other reasoning for him ask me not to come in over the weekend, as other colleagues have been in work and are scheduled to work this weekend.

[fiction-factory]

Are you still being paid? Has no-one been furloughed or let go at your company?

[Zacs-Master]

How long have you worked there?

[chrisuk013]

I have no idea if I am still being paid or not, as I mentioned earlier he is refusing to tell me the reason behind why I have been asked not to come into work. It has nothing to do with furlough, we are key workers and no one has been let go, we are actually looking for more staff to keep up with demand.

I have been with the company 6-8 months.

[fiction-factory]

If they were normal working days and they haven't said it's unpaid you should get paid, but it depends on your contractual terms (and yes you do have a contract- there must have been somethings that were said to you when you were offered and you accepted the job)

[Zacs-Master]

I’d phone someone in HR. It’s not quite true that you don’t have a contract. most employment contracts are in writing, but they can also be verbal. Oral contracts have the same legal authority but can be much harder to prove.

[TonyV]

IMO if you have no contract, and if you have worked there less than 2 years (is it a UK company?) you have no employment rights. Or a limited hours contract.

[Peter Pedant]

I think the answer is yes yes and yes

remember that he is your employer and not you - him

[Peter Pedant]

make sure you keep records - and save or photo the text messages - just in case there is a fight and they 'lose' them

they may not have a disciplinary code
but if they do they have to give you a copy or tell you where one is.

and wait and see

[fiction-factory]

Any developments chris?