contractor rights

[NotAllThere]

With any workplace bullying, whether you're a contractor or a permie, keep careful notes. Raise with management, or the toerag, explaining that you consider this kind of behaviour unacceptable, and that if (in the case of racial abuse or sexual harrassment) it continues, that you WILL go to the police and/or take other legal action. If the abuse continues, take that action.

Do not, however, expect to be working their much longer, no matter what evidence - admissible or otherwise - you have.

If you don't keep notes, don't push back as soon as you've established it isn't a one off, you've already lost, and might as well quit.

Yehudi has been notified about what's acceptable in the workplace and what isn't, and the suspiciously kk nature of the OP has been noted, though all other posts have been in the BN66 thread.

[Wanderer]

told us all that he would ruin our careers if we stepped out of line or applied for work elsewhere

You are now being threatened if you apply for work elsewhere. Can you see that the situation is one were you get abused and the abuser is trying to lock you in to the abusive situation. That's your wake up call.

Give notice, walk away. Don't look back. Contractor or permie, you don't need to tolerate nonsense like this. Life's too short. Staying put and slugging it out isn't going to win anything other than a pyrrhic victory at very best.

[Yehudi]

Yehudi has been notified about what's acceptable in the workplace and what isn't

Thanks for explaining what I should and should not find funny. I'll take your views on board the next time I'm tempted to laugh.

I'm puzzled though, why you deleted my post. I simply said that I find genitalia drawn on notepads amusing. If you disagree, then please say so, but don't pretend I didn't say it in the first place. After all, if you received an email at work whose contents you did not agree with, would you delete it? Would that be professional?

[SueEllen]

Thanks for explaining what I should and should not find funny. I'll take your views on board the next time I'm tempted to laugh.

I'm puzzled though, why you deleted my post. I simply said that I find genitalia drawn on notepads amusing. If you disagree, then please say so, but don't pretend I didn't say it in the first place. After all, if you received an email at work whose contents you did not agree with, would you delete it? Would that be professional?

If you draw genitalia on a notepad or sent something like that though the email system then you would find yourself walked from the building at most companies now.

I actually know men who have been sacked and walked for sending sexist jokes and pornographic images through client email.

Lots of sexist comments I've put up with it's not me whose been offended but other men as I give as good as I get when I can be bothered.

You forget that other men have mothers, wives, daughters etc and would not want them treated like that or subjected to work with people like you who think it's amusing.

You also mustn't forget that no company wants to be sued by it's female workers with them being able to prove a history of the company putting up with such behaviour, and have the company name dragged through the media as being a nasty place to work.

[SueEllen]

I've never fully understood why recording people saying things that are plainly illegal are 'not admissible' in court or for prosecution.

It depends on the circumstances and case.

I know people who have recorded voices, then transcribed what was said and use the statement from in civil court cases. The reason they got away with it was they explained the recording was so they could make notes later. The other parties objected but they never denied what was in the statement wasn't true.

If a guy down a high street on a friday night gets caught on CCTV committing violent acts how can that not be taken to be evidence that can be used against him,

It will be because CCTV cameras in High Streets and on buildings have large notices stating that they are there. I've actually sat in court and seen people get longer sentences due to their behaviour on CCTV.

if he spoke to his friend and told him that he was going to murder someone in graphic detail and give reasons for doing so how could that not be classified as 'not admissible' evidence for planned / conspiring to murder.

Criminal court cases have collapsed on that type of evidence. This alone is not strong enough evidence to convict someone beyond reasonable doubt of murder or attempted murder.

This country is protecting liars. This country is protecting those who are corrupt.

In this country unlike in the US you cannot entrap people or record them without there permission and expect to get away with it. Remember recordings can be tampered with to make something innocent look suspicious.

Oddly enough it's one of our freedoms otherwise the police and authorities would find any excuse to entrap and convict people just because they don't like the look of them. Also even though we have the most CCTV cameras in the world our crime rate hasn't decreased...

[cojak]

This is a polite reminder that if you want to discuss this kind of thing, please do so in General.

[Boo]

In this country ... you cannot ... record them without there permission

That's not correct, see here.

Boo

[psychocandy]

OP - Since you're leaving soon anyway are you planning to chin the other contractor on the last day? I would.

[lucozade]

thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read/reply.

The replies are nothing more than what I expected to be honest.

I have received a call from the agency this morning advising that I should take the matter further.

AWR regulations came into force in October 2011 which allow contractors rights just like a permanent member of staff.

To be clear 2 contractors were not bickering. 1 contractor was taking abuse and harrassment from another but couldn't say or do anything about it because of the others position within the industry.

But like all of these situation eventually you snap.

I did but not in a violent way. I chose to raise a complaint.

Having done so he raised a counter complaint with basically slandered my abilities and performance. Yet in the previous 18 months never once raised an issue.

The company refused me a meeting to discuss my complaint and instead issued 1 weeks notice.

Thus failing in their obligations to perm or contract staff.

I'm taking legal advice now so probably shouldn't discuss more on here.

[The Spartan]

OP - Since you're leaving soon anyway are you planning to chin the other contractor on the last day? I would.

WHS though wait till after work and wear a hoodie and kick the sh*t out of him, you'll feel much better afterwards and he won't