Hi Everyone! I hope you are all well. I am back to let you know that we signed a COT3 last month. It had been dragging on for too long and each time a date was set for ET my ex employer had a reason for why they could not attend and the ET seemed to have endless patience with them. It's not quite what I wanted to do but I have had a lot going on and it was the easiest thing to do. I will never forget the help and support that you all provided and I appreciate it so, so much! Thank you very much x

Hi Andrew,Congratulations on the new job and on gaining your diploma.Sounds like you have managed to come through your bad experience and are now able to start again which is great!The diary idea is a good one and I will do the same thing if I ever get another job!Is it a personal injury claim that is going on now?

Glad to hear that things are ok with you and that you are still here.I will always keep you people updated, I couldn't have got this far without the help of you all.You and Rachel can come and sort him out, as long as I can watch!!Sorry about my posts tonight, I am unable to paragraph for some reason!

It is soooo frustrating! Not to worry, we'll get there when he decides he can be bothered!I am still here, HB and I am fine apart from still being jobless! How are you?Jx

Hi Everyone.We are no further forward as yet with our case. Got a letter a few days ago advising that ET was set for 3 days in August....This has now been cancelled due to ER Solicitor failing to inform ET of dates that their witness people are not available.Can anyone tell me how long the ET will tolerate this stalling technique? Hope you are all doing well!Jx

Hey Elpulpo! I'm good thanks. How are you doing? Good to see you back here! Thanks for the info. I couldn't remember the bit to quote. Letter is now on it's way! Thanks again. Jx

Hi Everyone, I am looking for some advice for a family member. They started a new job at the end of last year and each month they have always followed the same procedure and their wages have been correct. Their last wage at the end of March was short by £300. Trying to sort it out has been a nightmare. They are really dragging it out and now trying to say that a certain bit of paperwork is each employees own responsibility and this is why it's not been paid. That is fair enough BUT someone else always fills out the paperwork and sends it off and nobody has ever said that this is not the way it should be done! Manager was not interested, ignoring emails etc about this underpayment. So contact was made with someone higher up who was abusive. Result is that resignation is being given due but some help about how to get the underpayment would be much appreciated. Many thanks as always.

I am in agreement, SarEl. It is very unfair to the OP's and also to yourself. Both yourself and the other people who post on this forum are doing so by giving up your own time to offer genuine, valuable, useful and valid advice and nobody should be on the receiving end of offensive posts just because someone has taken a dislike to something/someone. I do hope that you continue to contribute to this site, I am sure that I am not the only one who enjoys reading your posts and also learns from them!

Thank you, Elpulpo!

Meekmeek, I find your replies to SarEl pretty offensive. You got lots of very valid, valuable advice on your own thread but you did not like many of the replies given to you and you were downright rude a number of times in your replies. From my own personal experience, I required advice as to the actual situation that I was in and what legal rights I had. Had people replied with "hypothetical" or "thinking outside the box" suggestions then I would have found that to be pretty unhelpful and it would have confused matters. I would have thought that most people who have a problem and post on a site like this want advice that is specific to their problem and advice that can set them on the right path. You know yourself, that becoming involved in an employment dispute/issue of any kind can become quite distressing and can have a detrimental impact on your health and wellbeing. What would be the point in adding to that stress by giving an OP various "hypotheticals" to worry about? I would say that SarEl, along with everyone else on these forums is fabulous for giving up their time to assist people who are in need of some help and advice. I find this forum very interesting and I have gained so much from reading the various replies given by people. As you said, there may be more to employment than just law but when it boils down to it, if you have a problem with your employment, you may just have to exercise your legal rights and it does pay to know what they are. I don't think that it is constructive to use someones thread to insult other people and referring to advice given as "narrowminded" and "stupid" just because you don't agree with it. Also, I don't think that it is useful to tell people not to reply if they are going to correct things that you have said. If people are being given wrong information, surely there is nothing wrong with correcting this as it could have the potential to be damaging. I have never found anyone on this site to use "fancy" words, most people give advice based on the knowledge that they have and deliver it in a way that on the whole, is understandable to the reader. TUPE has been mentioned in this thread as it is valid term, not a fancy word to confuse or impress! I enjoy reading the posts on here but it is becoming uncomfortable, I don't really want to read insults directed at another cagger and I think it would be a shame if SarEl or anyone else got fed up with it too and decided to stop offering help on here. It may also put off people who have stumbled upon the site in their serch for help!

True, I didn't think about that! Thanks very much for the advice.

Thank you, SarEl. It is rather like a book now so I am not surpised that you have not read through it all! The evidence backs up what we have said in relation to the consultant being brought in to get rid of us and also this person is able to back up many of the points I raised in relation to the earnings arrestment situation as this person is aware of similar situations within their branch. This person feels unable to continue working there due to a variety of reasons, the final straw was not being paid an agreed, enhanced rate over the festive period. The MD said that he had ben too busy to deal with it so just didn't bother to pay the extra 30 odd hours. They are leaving on reasonable terms, although they have raised a grievence due to the wage problem. There are no disciplinary issues or anything of that nature with this person.

Hey Elpulpo! I am good thanks. How are you doing? I have been sneaking around for the past month or so reading the posts. I have noticed SarEl and enjoy reading her advice and I won't argue! So the fishing forums have gained and CAG has lost out! Get back here, you and HB were a lifesaver for me in my time of need and I will be eternally grateful!

Hi everyone. My case is no further forward as yet but I have a question and would be grateful for any information. I have been informed that the MD spoke to another senior member of staff about "getting rid" of my manager and myself. The conversation took place at the time that the "consultant" was employed. This employee has said that they would be willing to be a witness at ET if required. The problem is that they probably will not be in employment with this company by the time it gets to ET. This will not really help our case will it? I have a feeling it may just be seen as an ex-employee with a grudge? Any help much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi meekmeek. I read both of your threads last night and my initial thought was that there is possibly more to the story than you know....Your ex-employers may have been alerted by others to the behaviour of this individual since your departure and they may possibly be using you as a pawn in their game if they have decided to get rid of this person. They might be trying to build a case against him and using you to help them. I do find it very strange that they approached you and spoke about constructive dismissal etc and from what I can gather this was done when you were still within the time limits to take it to ET. Perhaps someone realised this and in a bid to try and protect themselves they decided to contact you and say that they were investigating, mention a settlement and then proceed to drag it out untill it was too late for you to submit to ET. I could be completely off track here but I think it is worth considering that their motives are in covering themselves. I hope that this is not the case but I would seriously think hard about continuing to converse with them. It sounds as though you have had a pretty tough time and it is not worth the heartache sometimes. You must put your health and future first.