unfair employer... please advise

[curls33]

I had tendered resgination. My manager has been overseas and will be back in a few days. I have informed him and the agency by email and called my agency. The agent was reluctant and says he will wait for the manager to confirm my last day. He shrugged off and did not give me a confirmation even though he is the person representing me. My manager called shortly and asked me to stay longer etc. however I was firm. He found an excuse and said he prefer to talk to me face-to-face when he is back and persistently asked me to stay, saying he will try to "back date" in the event I still insist on leaving. However in the history of this company, they have been practising unfair employment and does target people and sack staffs unfairly to save on compensation to their advantage. Now, I am afraid that they will delay my notice period even though I am firm on my decision.

What else can I do? I have no one else in the organisation I can tell as I am a contract worker and only reports to him so far.

Originally Posted by curls33

I had tendered resgination. My manager has been overseas and will be back in a few days. I have informed him and the agency by email and called my agency. The agent was reluctant and says he will wait for the manager to confirm my last day. He shrugged off and did not give me a confirmation even though he is the person representing me. My manager called shortly and asked me to stay longer etc. however I was firm. He found an excuse and said he prefer to talk to me face-to-face when he is back and persistently asked me to stay, saying he will try to "back date" in the event I still insist on leaving. However in the history of this company, they have been practising unfair employment and does target people and sack staffs unfairly to save on compensation to their advantage. Now, I am afraid that they will delay my notice period even though I am firm on my decision.

What else can I do? I have no one else in the organisation I can tell as I am a contract worker and only reports to him so far.

I am experienced in this. I ever encounter this before.

I was a contract staff and after 2 weeks, i was offered perm. But another company came with better prospect (around same pay), I decided to tender.

My notice period is 1 mth with agency (who arranged contract with existing company). So I told my boss I wanted to quit and leave 2 weeks earlier if possible because new job I have to start in 2 weeks time.

Boss not happy say I should fulfil contract with 1 mth notice. The conversation became fury and I told boss flat, I work 2 weeks and I pay 2 weeks to go earlier. (you only need to compensate in salary if you leave early).

In the end I worked 2 weeks (surf internet go long meal breaks and go long smoke breaks) and then the 2 weeks salary is used to compensate the 2 weeks early release.

Dont be shy to talk to HR in your company and if need be, speak to MoM. Be very sure that you wont go back to your existing company if you go my route. This burns bridges but I have not looked back since and am happy that I decided that way. It has been like 5 years since! wow time flies.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by curls33

I had tendered resgination. My manager has been overseas and will be back in a few days. I have informed him and the agency by email and called my agency. The agent was reluctant and says he will wait for the manager to confirm my last day. He shrugged off and did not give me a confirmation even though he is the person representing me. My manager called shortly and asked me to stay longer etc. however I was firm. He found an excuse and said he prefer to talk to me face-to-face when he is back and persistently asked me to stay, saying he will try to "back date" in the event I still insist on leaving. However in the history of this company, they have been practising unfair employment and does target people and sack staffs unfairly to save on compensation to their advantage. Now, I am afraid that they will delay my notice period even though I am firm on my decision.

What else can I do? I have no one else in the organisation I can tell as I am a contract worker and only reports to him so far.

send an email to him and company hr to inform them that you are giving notice and state clearly your last day of work. also print a formal resignation letter (google for templates), print and sign, and attach a scanned copy to that email.

if it turns sour, threaten to take action against them - inform board of directors, MOM, IRAS, ACRA, your lawyers (even if you don't have one), small claims tribunal, your MP, your GRC's minister, etc. tell them you will dedicate your life's mission to see to it legally that they are punished by the law for unfair practices. and warn them that you have collected evidence over the years.

[curls33]

I have prepared the letter (indicative on last day and signed) and attached it to my email.... my boss seen the email and did not give any responses.

On that day, I followed up a second email to him and the agency that I was firm in my decision AFTER his call which he persistently ask me to wait. Neither the agency nor him responded to any of my emails which is worrying that nobody bothers and it was a one way email correspondence. The manager continues to reply via email on other matters!

On the agency, their motto and attitude has been very terrible. They claimed when we signed the contract that if we have ANY issues with the employer we can approach them to sort things out.

My feedback on the agency as follows: Previously they gave me very terrible support on my contract issues regarding payslip and annual leave questions. The agency staff initially said I will receive the payslip by email and then for 1+ months I did not so I asked them. The same staff then inform me several days later she arrange an online payslip login for me. It didn't work and we waited another week before I could try and I could see my payslip!

Also, there is no way I can check my leave balance, so the staff told me I can call them up ANYTIME to check. I have started work in mid month so I wonder how they calculate leave. I called the agency up and emailed them with still no response. The staff said she will get back as she will just need to check her database and when I chase her the next day (since it is a simple thing) she pass me on to another of her senior colleague. The senior colleague spoke to me however he did not "check" any database. One month later I emailed and called the same staff to check my leave balance and she wanted to "check" her database again and said she will get back to me which she didn't and then I tendered.

This is the worst agency I know and their service is terribly lousy per say!

Which agency is that? Give some hints.

[curryrice]

That's the problem with being a CONTRACT worker. I have been one for 2 years. I was never treated fairly. Credits were given to others for whatever I did. When somebody else made a mistake, I have to cover their asses. Training are only given to permanent staffs. Bonuses are fixed. So they are basically telling me how much the company makes is none of my business. New-Citizen Manager (from an Asian country rule by the military) thinks I'm an idiot 'cos I willing to put up with all these for the HOPE of being converted to permanent staff. And there are more....

I decided to leave after my contract is up. I am a native Singaporean. I am born and raised here. Why should I put up with so much crap?

How is this topic related with your or your manager's citizenship?

Originally Posted by curls33

I have prepared the letter (indicative on last day and signed) and attached it to my email.... my boss seen the email and did not give any responses.

On that day, I followed up a second email to him and the agency that I was firm in my decision AFTER his call which he persistently ask me to wait. Neither the agency nor him responded to any of my emails which is worrying that nobody bothers and it was a one way email correspondence. The manager continues to reply via email on other matters!

On the agency, their motto and attitude has been very terrible. They claimed when we signed the contract that if we have ANY issues with the employer we can approach them to sort things out.

My feedback on the agency as follows: Previously they gave me very terrible support on my contract issues regarding payslip and annual leave questions. The agency staff initially said I will receive the payslip by email and then for 1+ months I did not so I asked them. The same staff then inform me several days later she arrange an online payslip login for me. It didn't work and we waited another week before I could try and I could see my payslip!

Also, there is no way I can check my leave balance, so the staff told me I can call them up ANYTIME to check. I have started work in mid month so I wonder how they calculate leave. I called the agency up and emailed them with still no response. The staff said she will get back as she will just need to check her database and when I chase her the next day (since it is a simple thing) she pass me on to another of her senior colleague. The senior colleague spoke to me however he did not "check" any database. One month later I emailed and called the same staff to check my leave balance and she wanted to "check" her database again and said she will get back to me which she didn't and then I tendered.

This is the worst agency I know and their service is terribly lousy per say!

Legally, once your email resignation reached your boss's email (try to copy HR), you have already tendered. Whether they accept or not, it is irrelevant. Pls print out the sent email with your boss email address, date and time and keep it.

So you can count your notice period from that date the email was sent. All leave in lieu has to be compensated (pls check with HR or agency). If you have no response, read your contract carefully to see if it says anything, otherwise you should regard your notice period as (1 mth - leave in lieu).

If you decide to leave earlier than the notice period, pls email your boss too (keep email also) and then HR will calculate how much you need to compensate them based on your salary. 1 week earlier, you pay them 1 week of your wage.

This is clearcut, in Singapore, all labour laws apply fairly to both party (employer and employee). And if any clause apply favourably to only one party, if this is going to be a court case, the court will most likely make it applicable to both, or strike off the unfavourable part to any party to make it equitable.

I am not a lawyer, but I have studied business law so I am sharing my 2 cents worth so pls dont quote me! of course, pls seek help from MoM if needed - that is where your official channel will be. Or if there is any lawyers here willing to offer some advice.

[curls33]

Everybody.. the lousiest agency starts with "R" and they HAVE NOT and DID NOT get back to me on my annual leave................ ALSO NOTHING HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. What I did is to obtain my boss's confirmation.