Leaving a job

franky212

social welfare payments
Hi I'm just wondering if anybody could help me on a query I have. I'm a 24 year old female in a part time college course,only 5-6 hours per week but in Sept 2012 it will become a full time course. I applied for job seekers back in December and was successful in recieving this. I work part time in a local store, between 9 and 13 hours weekly. I have worked there a year and a half and it has just become unbearable. Some days I dont get a hello from the employers given their mood which gets the work day off to a poor start. I work a 6 hour shift with no breaks not even for the toilet. We have no heating in the premises so I am forced to stand in the cold for hours. When I wear a jacket Im told to remove it as it looks woeful. Due to the temperature in the shop I have had to go to the doctor more over this winter than ever which resulted in me having to take time off from work sick, which in turn doesnt go down well with the employers. I am in college specific days of the week so I am unable to work these days but accomodate other days, but my employers insist on putting me down for these days and if I cannot do it they take work from me on the other days so some weeks I get nothing. I'm quite small in build and am being made carry 40kg bags of coal which physically I'm not able to do. My boss is a well built man and stands back as he watches me and the other women struggle to carry these bags, if there's a complaint made about this he laughs in our face telling us its not his problem. They also will not give their staff a contract as we are all still on trial a year and a half later which doesnt seem right. We dont know our rights as employees within their workplace and when they are asked about giving us contracts I have been told ' We pay the wages so we make the rules as we see fit. If you dont like it leave', I feel like they are trying to let staff go off there own accord rather than sacking them incase any money would have to paid to full time employees...there are no other jobs out there I have been looking for the last 6 months and have had no luck. Its gotten to the point where I'm coming home crying at night from work and am constantly stressed and I dont think this is right at all. I feel they are nothing but bullies and as they know jobs are scarce they can treat employees how they like. Im thinking of quitting this position but giving my situation I dont know if I would be entitled to any social welfare(at the minute my stamps for jobseekers has ran out so I'm waiting to be assessed again..my employers were given forms to fill out for me regarding social welfare and it has been a month now and no sign of the forms back!!) I have spoken to my local social welfare office but they refuse to give me a definite answer on the situation saying I could lose it all but going to work each time is really getting me down and I dont know where else to go with this. If anybody else has been in this situation or has any information it would be very much appricated I'm at my wits end !! Thanks.

wmpdd3

If you leave, you could have 9 weeks without any payment, you would then have to re apply and it could take you a while to get a payment as you'd be means tested. If you can argue you left for a good reason you may not use you claim at all.