* This is a long and angry post about my own personal work experience. If you are not the intended recipent or not interested, pls ignore this posting.*
Hi Winnie,
It's very distressing to have these conflicts with the company. I once encountered a very bad experience with a company - they withheld my salary and deducted $ from my pay for the value of missing products resulted from exhibition sales.
I wasn't even in charge of the products although I was present at the exhibition. The value of the goods were splited among all staff present at the exbibition and came up to be $800 per pax. I argued that I wasn't in the sales team and did not know even know that product. I was a new management exe. and they made me help at the exhibition to see how the company conduct sales during such events, and see if changes can be done to the admin and operational procedures.
I also discovered that they had withheld my salary for the past month while other staff has received it late. It was the last week of my 3-month probation so I served my immediate resignation. I held on with the negotiation with the company for my 2 months of salary and the unfair deductions made to me for more than a month after my resignation and refer my problem to the MOM. But cos the employment laws do not apply for executive positions, they cannot intervene for me unless I engage my own laywer. I find it so troublesome and somemore, the boss got these connections with the big lawyers lor, so I feel I'm at a losing end.....ultimately, still have to pay lawyer fees and go court and so stress.
The other staff (all sales) accepted the deductions - but I feel that they have no right to complain since they were well aware that they are liable to pay the cost for mising items under their charge as conveyed in their employment contract, whereas I did not know that company deems me a sales person for the event and that I also have the same liability when I was 'helping' out. The *#@# management says that someone has to pay for the loss, and the company must make money not suffer losses. So, they will deduct $ from us and say that we purchased the goods. Was supposed to get a receipt from them, but never came in the mail.
Finally, when my salary came, the amount did not tally. I asked the accounts manager and she told me that she base on the time card policy. Late 5 mins deduct $XXX, 10 mins late deduct $YYY and so forth. I argued that before I signed the contract, I had the agreement from the CEO that I will not be penalised for such lateness in reporting to work since as an management executive, I will be asked to do tasks that demand own management of time outside office hours and OT without pay as well. I need not clock in and out 'cos that's only for the sales and production staff (they have a different employment contract) but, need to clock in and out to show that I have reported for work. Besides, the fact that I have been working OT everyday since I came and leave the office 2 hours or more beyond the designated office hours showed on the time card.
Also, I was not paid for certain days that they asked me not to go to work when I helped with the packing until 11pm the previous day. I had noticed that they frequently ask the production pple not to come in the next day or come in later as today they worked very very long hours into the night (like from 9apm to 11pm). I thought It's so understanding and kind of company to give time off or compensate the long hours of unpaid OT. Only now then I know that the OT is not appreciated and the next day no work, means no pay.
I had another showdown again with them and I was psychologically attacked by them. The CEO turns into a mouse in the meeting and did not say a single word in front of the directors (who are his parents). All the promises he made to me were not realised and he did not even had the guts to admit his commitment to my employment contract.
Finally, I told them that I'll not pursue anymore as I'm so tired of it all. I'll just accept whatever they have paid out to me, whether it's right or wrong. Can only blame myself for joining the company ......and you know what the lady boss say? She says,"Now you know that you are too young and naive. You have a lot to learn about working. Not so easy one."
The company was plainly exploiting labour and manipulating with our weaknesses and limited rights! I never faced such issues with my previous company and was so angry and frustrated during that few months.
Hi Winnie,
It's very distressing to have these conflicts with the company. I once encountered a very bad experience with a company - they withheld my salary and deducted $ from my pay for the value of missing products resulted from exhibition sales.
I wasn't even in charge of the products although I was present at the exhibition. The value of the goods were splited among all staff present at the exbibition and came up to be $800 per pax. I argued that I wasn't in the sales team and did not know even know that product. I was a new management exe. and they made me help at the exhibition to see how the company conduct sales during such events, and see if changes can be done to the admin and operational procedures.
I also discovered that they had withheld my salary for the past month while other staff has received it late. It was the last week of my 3-month probation so I served my immediate resignation. I held on with the negotiation with the company for my 2 months of salary and the unfair deductions made to me for more than a month after my resignation and refer my problem to the MOM. But cos the employment laws do not apply for executive positions, they cannot intervene for me unless I engage my own laywer. I find it so troublesome and somemore, the boss got these connections with the big lawyers lor, so I feel I'm at a losing end.....ultimately, still have to pay lawyer fees and go court and so stress.
The other staff (all sales) accepted the deductions - but I feel that they have no right to complain since they were well aware that they are liable to pay the cost for mising items under their charge as conveyed in their employment contract, whereas I did not know that company deems me a sales person for the event and that I also have the same liability when I was 'helping' out. The *#@# management says that someone has to pay for the loss, and the company must make money not suffer losses. So, they will deduct $ from us and say that we purchased the goods. Was supposed to get a receipt from them, but never came in the mail.
Finally, when my salary came, the amount did not tally. I asked the accounts manager and she told me that she base on the time card policy. Late 5 mins deduct $XXX, 10 mins late deduct $YYY and so forth. I argued that before I signed the contract, I had the agreement from the CEO that I will not be penalised for such lateness in reporting to work since as an management executive, I will be asked to do tasks that demand own management of time outside office hours and OT without pay as well. I need not clock in and out 'cos that's only for the sales and production staff (they have a different employment contract) but, need to clock in and out to show that I have reported for work. Besides, the fact that I have been working OT everyday since I came and leave the office 2 hours or more beyond the designated office hours showed on the time card.
Also, I was not paid for certain days that they asked me not to go to work when I helped with the packing until 11pm the previous day. I had noticed that they frequently ask the production pple not to come in the next day or come in later as today they worked very very long hours into the night (like from 9apm to 11pm). I thought It's so understanding and kind of company to give time off or compensate the long hours of unpaid OT. Only now then I know that the OT is not appreciated and the next day no work, means no pay.
I had another showdown again with them and I was psychologically attacked by them. The CEO turns into a mouse in the meeting and did not say a single word in front of the directors (who are his parents). All the promises he made to me were not realised and he did not even had the guts to admit his commitment to my employment contract.
Finally, I told them that I'll not pursue anymore as I'm so tired of it all. I'll just accept whatever they have paid out to me, whether it's right or wrong. Can only blame myself for joining the company ......and you know what the lady boss say? She says,"Now you know that you are too young and naive. You have a lot to learn about working. Not so easy one."
The company was plainly exploiting labour and manipulating with our weaknesses and limited rights! I never faced such issues with my previous company and was so angry and frustrated during that few months.