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Post by Sabeine on Oct 7, 2002 2:03:07 GMT -5
What should I do?
As some of you may know the story since I posted it on the old message board. I am fast anställd full time at Lindex. I have been working there for nearly a year. In August I started taking Swedish classes on Tues, Thurs during the daytime (the night courses were full) My boss was supportive of this at first, but somewhere along the line turned on me. She has made this really difficult making me feel guilty for studying and working. Nearly everytime I work she has asked me how my class is going, and if it is hard, and am I passing my tests. It feels like she wants me to admit that I am a failure, and drop out. She has also sliced my hours, from fulltime to 20.5 hours per week. My contract says fulltime. Although I do go to school, I offered to work all day the days that I can work, M,W,F 9am-7pm and Sat 9am-4pm. I worked like this for 2 weeks then she said no. She said that she had to take away hours from other people, which is a lie. I have asked the others and not one of them is losing hours. One girl even felt like she was working more! I mentioned this to my boss and she is totally unwilling to work with me. She told me if I didn't like it I should call the union. So I did. 7 times! They haven't even started to help me. I am up to my eyeballs in frustration. I am only working 20.5 hours now, and cannot afford anything on this. I have a right to take Swedish classes, and yet it feels like my boss is trying to get me to drop out of school, or quit my job. I don't know when her attitude changed. 2 months ago she told me that she was glad that I worked there! Now I am so confused I don't know what to do. I am such a wuss too. Yesterday I worked at another Lindex store to make some extra money (Sundays are 100% overtime all day) because my hours have been so slashed at my work. I was supposed to work today, but yesterday I started getting really shakey, I felt slightly dizzy, and threw up a couple times during the night. I woke up this morning with a stomach ache, and feeling awful. I called in sick. Luckily my boss was off today (didn't know this actually) so I spoke with our assistant manager who was not pleased that I was sick. Is it possible that this whole situation is making me sick? I feel nervous and uncertain just thinking about my work. The union says they will help, but they haven't done a damn thing now in almost 2 months. How much longer is this supposed to go on? Any advice?
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Dawn
Junior Member
Original Member
Hej & Hello, Dawn here!
Posts: 49
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Post by Dawn on Oct 7, 2002 2:26:43 GMT -5
It is very possible that the emotional stress is making you physically sick!  I would try to get a specific person to talk to at the union...a name and a phone number, so that you have one specific person to keep bugging. Then they will be accountable. Do you have a union rep at work? Have you thought of going over your boss's head to someone else at Lindex? I am sure that Lindex would not appreciate it if their discriminating boss got in the paper or on TV!! You are right in this situation, and you need to be strong and fight for your rights.  I am so sorry you are in this situation. I would suggest looking for another job while you try to resolve this. Good luck, and keep us posted! |
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Post by LadyDuff on Oct 7, 2002 4:38:57 GMT -5
I agree to everything Dawn said! I think it is very good if you write to the newspapers and tell them how this is making you feel and also, get someone that you can call, find a name because when you have a name to call often, they will start caring for you!
Best of luck and let us know what happens!
Im so sorry you ended up in this mess!!
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Post by Sabeine on Oct 7, 2002 6:37:27 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses! I have a lady at the union that I am talking with as of the last 3 phone calls. I now ask for her when I call. She is understanding of my problem, but it seems she is gone a lot. Off from work, or sick, or at a meeting. It's hard to get a hold of her. I wonder if she's so busy, if she has started with my case? I've asked her, and she says that she's working on it. I plan to start studying fulltime this January. So switching to a new job right now wouldn't be a good idea. I really only have to deal with this stuff for a couple more months. I am going to take a leave of absense from work when I start studying, which I can do here by law. It basically guarantees that I have a job to come back to, if I want. Even though it is a couple of months, it feels like a really long time when I'm only working 20.5 hours per week, and now scraping to get by. We recently moved to a bigger place, and the rent is more, so this could not have come at a worse time. Once I start studying I will get financial assistance, student loan etc... but until then it's tough. It's even more annoying when I know that my boss has no right to do what she is doing! Everyone has told me this, including the union. Getting them to make her stop, is another story.  |
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Post by LadyDuff on Oct 7, 2002 7:38:04 GMT -5
I know what you mean Sabeine, it takes for ever to get a hold of people and it seems like they are always away, but Im happy to hear you have already talked to her three times!
Im glad to hear you are going to start studying fulltime, I wish you the best! I know what it is like to live on student loans, but I know it is possible to do so!
Oh, yes I understand, it is very irritating when people are behaving in ways that arent nice!
Like I said, I hope you have a good time in school and Good Luck with everything!!!
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Post by Carolyn on Oct 7, 2002 8:43:53 GMT -5
Well, if worse comes to worse, you could also go on sjukskrivning (which is good for 80% of your income and if you're fast, that should be based on a 40 hour week) and then continue to fight it through the union.
Anders says just persevere. I know it's hard when you get physically ill through the stress, but the only other option is to lay down and go belly up and screw your rights, and that's not good at all.
Hang in there, girl, and keep calling that union rep. Add on to what you've told her that you're also getting sick now!!! And maybe once she gets around to helping you, you can get back pay for all the hours you were supposed to work where they discriminated against you.
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Post by LadyDuff on Oct 7, 2002 9:19:27 GMT -5
Yes, Keep on going!!
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Post by Natooke on Oct 8, 2002 9:49:37 GMT -5
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Post by LadyDuff on Oct 8, 2002 10:01:28 GMT -5
On the topic of discriminatory behavoiur from bosses: When I was 18 I went to a library here in town and asked if I could get a job after school hours as an assistant, helping with putting hte books bacl in their right places on the shelves and such...
The manager of the library told me that he would think about it and talk to the staff and then call me back about it and let me know. So, I waited for three days and when he finally called me back he said that he had been talking to the staff and that someone there had told him that I talked too much and because of this I would not get the job.
I felt very insulted and sad about this and went about a few days feeling really low about myself! One day I was out shopping when I saw him walking across the mall to get to the library, I decided to tell him how I felt, I was going to write a letter but seeing him there made me want to tell him face to face....
So, I did! I walked up to him and I told him that I had been very hurt by that comment and that it was in my opinion a sign of him not being able to make decisions on his own since he didnt have the guts to try me and see how I was as a worker, since he had to go to someone else to get an opinion about me. Of course he did apologize but explained that I still could not have the job. I then told him that I did not want the job anymore, but that all I wanted was for him to know what I had felt and what I thought...
This seems to have made a deep impression on him since he would always say hello as soon as he saw me in the mall after that!
I felt good about myself for doing that because it showed him that I do not take non sense...
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Post by Carolyn on Nov 1, 2002 10:13:56 GMT -5
So what's been happening here? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Post by Sabeine on Nov 12, 2002 5:32:14 GMT -5
I have gotten no where with the union, and my boss is still the same as always. We also got a new store decorator who is like a twin to my boss. They are two peas in a pod. I just try to avoid them as much as possible, which isn't as possible as I would like.
The good news is that I am starting full time studies Jan 15th. I will get studiebidrag, as well as I will take out a small loan. I will continue to work but only a couple days a week for some extra money. I think it will work out okay.
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Post by LadyDuff on Nov 15, 2002 18:05:06 GMT -5
Oh well that is too bad But, Im glad to hear that you are going to start studying and that everything is going to work out for you!! I really hope so!! |
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Marie
Junior Member
Original Member
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Post by Marie on Nov 23, 2002 14:26:18 GMT -5
I got in this conversation a little late, but for future reference I've found that you have to pester the hell out of your union rep. to get any kind of action.
I fell at work and got pretty seriously injured. By law I was to have been given a paper by my boss stating that my injuries occurred on the job for insurance reasons. Four months after my fall my boss was still refusing to give me the paper and my union worker had still not done a thing. I ended up literally screaming at the top of my lungs over the phone at my rep. and demanding to know exactly when she would speak to my boss. Then I let her know I would call her on that date to see what was done. Within 2 weeks I had that paper!
I don't really recommend the screaming bit, but I would not hang up until you have specifics. What are they going to do for you and when are they going to do it, and hold them to it!
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