Back on the JobHunt :)

[Garry]

Well that didn't last long

As people probably know I had been employed earlier this year by a local prestige car dealer to help them shift some of their product, and well see how it all went. Well it didn't last long.

Funny thing, Just before Easter I am called in by the Sales Manager to have a little chat as he did this with all his staff (he actually did as well), so thought nothing of it until he started with the dreaded words 'well, time for your 3 month review' (it had been over that but hey, who counts). Conversation goes on, he tells me how well I was doing, asks me my thoughts etc etc and then goes on to mention that the business has lost money for the last 4 months and they had to let me go so were giving me a redundancy (his words) - great I thought.

So out I go thinking great, scrap heap again and all that after being told numerous times by these guys that my employment was secure etc etc and having been able to sell cars that the other staff had not, as well as being top salesman on the floor for 2 of the near 4 months. But ah well, I figured last in first out so packed up, went home and dropped everything, went back and gave them the keys to the company car and walked out.

But then a gut feel happened.

So I go for a drive past the business on the Wednesday which was the first working day after Easter and lo and behold I see a new staff member sitting at what had been but a few day before my very desk ............... hang on #1

So I get all clandestine and find out that they had re-employed a salesman who had previously worked there for 15 or so years but had left 15 months ago to pursue other goals. What made this all the more interesting is that I was aware that this same salesman had made contact with the General Manager a few weeks prior asking if there were any jobs available .............. hang on #2

Time goes on and I do the register with Centrelink stuff as one must do and I ask for a copy of my separation certificate as the business had refused to provide me with a copy. Then steam comes from the ears as I see the reason on the certificate is not shown as 'redundancy' but ir reasoning is not listed as redundancy but as 'failure to meet sales targets' .............. hang on #3

Now, I had never been given sales targets and was the leading salesman in MINI and had managed to sell some of their BMW's that they had not been able to shift, so by now the steam had manifested itself into a rather large storm front and it was off to see what I could do, the answer did not please me.

In short, under our new federal industrial relations laws I had no rights until I was employed for 6 months minimum, nor do I have rights under state laws or general law - basically they (and any) business can do whatever they please ................ funtime #1

So what do I do?

Well, I decided to contact a few 'valued' customers, some of which I had dragged to the business when they intended to go elsewhere, one customer even asking me to visit the dealership with him on a specific day to 'negotiate'. He did not buy, nor did 3 others I had been dealing with and another copied me on an email he forwarded the business - so far a probably loss of $400k in sales............... funtime#2

So what does this mean and why put it here?

Well I am peeved and venting, thus I put it here and I will never recommend that dealership to anyone at all.

Plus, I now have time on my hands and want to work so if anyone knows of something, feel free to drop it my way.

Oh yeah, now I need to ride.





Gaz

[wobbler]

Not good Gaz, they sound like arseholes.

Been through the same with Lisa and working for arsehole bosses. It seems they can what they want and get away with it.

You should ring today tonight or ACA ;D

[rats666]

that's pretty f#W%d Gaz, you should come with me to Melb Sat ;D

Would that "not met sales targets" be slander by any chance.... as it is a baseless claim, and unless there were annotated sells targets to meet, then you have them over a barrel I'd think... not to mention, ACA and general media love this stuff, Little guy gets screwed by big international corp company so mates can get a quick job and they screw your future prospects......

give them a call I say (http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/feedback.aspx)

Best o luck chasing a new buck mate

[steve2]

That sux Gaz.

Have only had four jobs in my life but two of the ends have been less than pleasant, one of which left me very dirty. Its a bitter pill to swallow but sometimes its best just to put it behind you and move on to better things.

Best of luck finding a new job mate, not likely I'll hear of anything down your way but what are your qualifications? I may come across something in my own hunting.

Oh and if you want to stay in the auto industry:-

www.motorstaff.com.au/
www.autorecruit.com.au/
www.automotivepersonnel.com.au/

I'm on all these guys books, havent found anything for me but talking to them about the market was good, admittedly I'm not really in the mainstream they deal with.

[stretch]

You did well to hold it in that long GAZ!!
Good luck with hunt. Back to Vacuums!!!

[Garry]

Thanks guys, and yep let's just say that I aint that impressed by this mob and I will certainly be telling anyone who wants to know and so far that has been a couple of people ;D



Wobbler/Rats - problem is that I actually have no legal standing for anything as 'technically' with regards to unfair dismissal the business did nothing wrong given the timeframe (ie. I had been employed for less than 6 months).

Rats - yep, the sales target one is interesting but again the 6 month situation comes into play, but lets just say that the old Sales Manager knows how I feel about the different reasons that I had been told.

Steve - mate, the motor trade can go forth and multiply as far as I am concerned at the moment but thanks anyway.

Stretch - yep, been dwelling on it for a bit but in a good way as I have only just felt that I 'needed' to look for work over the last 7 - 10 days (if that makes sense). Just put that down to it probably caused me more grief than I needed at the moment so all good


But Karma is grand as today I ran into the General Manager (the one whom I believe and have been hinted as being most responsible) and man it was funny. He saw me, looked to see where he could go, realised he could not escape so said g'day (as did I), and he then asked 'are you working' to which I replied, nah, still looking actually, to which he turned his back and walked.

The funniest part?

This was at the counter of a service station and he had not paid at that stage so the attendant ran out after him to stop him driving off.

I damn near peed myself laughing

[Whitey]

I had a similar experience back in the days when unfair dismissal and redundancy weren't legal terms. It came out of the blue after two years, and I was told it was because the company was struggling financially. I later found out that I was replaced within days by a long time mate of my boss. I vowed never to work for another privately owned company.

Take pleasure in the fact that you have buggered up their next month's sales figures. If that doesn't satisfy, I suggest a trench coat and shotgun.

[steve2]

May 27, 2011 22:19:02 GMT 10 Garry said:

Steve - mate, the motor trade can go forth and multiply as far as I am concerned at the moment but thanks anyway.

Smart man.

[brembo]

May 26, 2011 17:46:55 GMT 10 Garry said:

Time goes on and I do the register with Centrelink stuff as one must do and I ask for a copy of my separation certificate as the business had refused to provide me with a copy. Then steam comes from the ears as I see the reason on the certificate is not shown as 'redundancy' but ir reasoning is not listed as redundancy but as 'failure to meet sales targets' .............. hang on #3

Gaz

Came across a similar situation with a mate recently, was let go, told he was no longer needed, paid a "redundancy" package only to notice on all the paperwork no mention of redundancy, but other reasons. Another more legally clued in mate mentioned if they make someone redundant, the position they used to hold can no longer exist in the company. If they hire someone else for the same position after it leaves them open for legal actions I think they said.

Any way you look at it, it's a sh*t situation mate, hope the job hunt goes well and you get something more concrete

[Garry]

Jun 7, 2011 18:12:22 GMT 10 brembo said:

Came across a similar situation with a mate recently, was let go, told he was no longer needed, paid a "redundancy" package only to notice on all the paperwork no mention of redundancy, but other reasons. Another more legally clued in mate mentioned if they make someone redundant, the position they used to hold can no longer exist in the company. If they hire someone else for the same position after it leaves them open for legal actions I think they said.

Any way you look at it, it's a sh*t situation mate, hope the job hunt goes well and you get something more concrete

Yup Luke, from past experience to pay a redundancy then fill the position with 3 months is a 'non genuine redundancy' and is against the law and falls within the unfair dismissal category for employees who have been with the business for 6 months or more.

But the 'alternate' reason allows them to refill the position asap should they choose which is clearly what happened to me and your mate.

It sucks but I believe in karma







Gaz

[rats666]

how's the job hunting goin' mate?

[Garry]

Jul 5, 2011 19:46:49 GMT 10 rats666 said:

how's the job hunting goin' mate?

So far so good mate, I even have weekends free.

Actually, I have been contracting down your neck of the woods for the last 4 weeks at Tyco (Corner of Flinders & Albatross roads).

Contract is for a minimum 3 months then we will see as it is an IT position that is funded out of one of their businesses as they are trying to just get their hats in a row.

So who knows, you may see me about





Gaz