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Work/volunteering

Unreasonable Boss

(5 Posts)
bigmama1960 Mon 04-Nov-24 21:13:04

I love my job.
The owner of the company however makes up the rules as he goes along, has a ridiculous website which looks unprofessional. he is forever changing the work parameters and performance indicators.
The industry in which I work is quite competitive and it seems if I was to look elsewhere privately it would be picked up on.
To top all this he speaks to some of his staff in a very rude, dismissing fashion, shouts and says we are useless and we do not feel at all valued.
I wonder whether its because 3 of us work from home so arent part of the office dynamic.
I needed a payrise to take me to the National Wage, so he put my wages up, then 3 days later decided I was having a review (Unscheduled) where he reduced my days from 3 to 2 a week.
Is this normal? Reasonable?
He monitors our emails too.
What are peoples views on working like this?

chocolatepeanuts Mon 04-Nov-24 21:49:56

That sounds like a horrible work environment. I have been in one such environment and it's really soul destroying.

I could be normal that they reduce your hours, with appropriate notice, if that is what the company requires, but there are ways of handling that nicely too.

I've often worked with the assumption that my emails can be accessed but with the understanding they wouldn't be without just cause (like if a complaint was raised by an outside party, or other valid concerns that needed to be investigated). Otherwise I had my privacy and trust.

Normal? I hope not! Reasonable. No.

welbeck Mon 04-Nov-24 21:56:18

Work emails of course can be accessed by management.
That is normal and seems perfectly reasonable to me.
As for other issues regarding employment law perhaps you could look at ACAS website.
I presume you are not in a union.

Coronation Tue 05-Nov-24 06:28:43

It's very difficult when you're working for a small company as the owner is more personally invested with no experience of managing a company.

But this sounds like their personality. They seem quite insecure and controlling. I had a manager like yours and it was soul destroying, effected my morale and I had to leave.

For the website you can only pass on customer comments , but ultimately its his choice what to do. He can monitor emails, it seems an inefficient use of his time though.

Working from home doesn't mean he can speak to you in a bad way,

I'm not sure about changing hours as your contract is changing. I'd speak to Acas about that as if you've been there for more than 2 years I think you have rights, but check this.

But do you want to work for someone like this

Marydoll Tue 05-Nov-24 06:44:45

If you are talking about business emails, your boss has the right to view them, because they are business ones.
They should only be for business use anyway, so there should be nothing untoward on them.

I had All staff access to everything, when I was IT Co-ordinator in my school. Even the HT didn't have that access. However, I would never have dreamt of going into anyone's account, without their permission.