22nd October 2008, 07:17 PM
It would help if everybody knew where they stood in contractual terms.
Out of interest I 've dug up all the contracts I've ever been handed (some of which were only given to me weeks after starting a job after constant pestering). The practice of not having contracts ready to sign on the first day of work is still pretty wide spread, even in units well established enough to know better. Luckily though I only got badly burnt once when the pay on the paper was nothing like what was discussed. Needless to say I didn't stay long.
On a few occassions I was taken on for a specific project and later was either moved or retained after that project, but no new contract issued. Does this still go on? If one was working on away site A on the contract and the goes on to work in the office for six months and then is sent to away sit B, but still on the same contract, where does this put you?
Even recently I have asked for written notification of pay increases and my requests were shrugged off with a, "It'll be on your payslip." But that's not the point, a pay increase is a contractual issue! If units don't keep on top of the paperwork then we diggers will have trouble presenting a case to the taxman.
Out of interest I 've dug up all the contracts I've ever been handed (some of which were only given to me weeks after starting a job after constant pestering). The practice of not having contracts ready to sign on the first day of work is still pretty wide spread, even in units well established enough to know better. Luckily though I only got badly burnt once when the pay on the paper was nothing like what was discussed. Needless to say I didn't stay long.
On a few occassions I was taken on for a specific project and later was either moved or retained after that project, but no new contract issued. Does this still go on? If one was working on away site A on the contract and the goes on to work in the office for six months and then is sent to away sit B, but still on the same contract, where does this put you?
Even recently I have asked for written notification of pay increases and my requests were shrugged off with a, "It'll be on your payslip." But that's not the point, a pay increase is a contractual issue! If units don't keep on top of the paperwork then we diggers will have trouble presenting a case to the taxman.