Your rights at work

I'm embarrassed to ask this but is there any way to educate myself about my rights at a workplace? I ask this because I continually end up getting screwed over.

For example I was at an office job as a student and I always got my work done on time. They were taking the piss getting me to do heavy lifting of goods deliveries but I tried to be obliging and played along. If some of the girls in the office needed something heavy (like reams of paper) brought up to the top floor then I'd offer my help.

The problem is I always seem to end up being a doormat. They just keep coming to me to do more and more. Also there's always absolute deadwood in these places that just drift around doing absolutely nothing and they're loved by everyone. I work my ass off and I get exploited and bullied.

I was doing all this at the office place but one day I was taking it easy. The boss was away and he had left a numpty in charge. I had my work under control and was cruising around. Next thing I know it the numpty shouts at me "Are you going to do any fcuking work today?". It just pisses me off. I get treated like **** even though I'm doing my work and more beyond that.

I'd like to know what are my rights as an employee? Am I entitled to say no to certain work? I mean in many places they don't even bother giving job particulars so I have no idea whether I'm being taken advantage of or whether it's something I'm obliged to do.

Does this **** just happen to me I wonder? I think maybe I'm far too quiet and lack assertiveness. I just can't get my head around the fact I'm practically doing everything for them, putting myself second constantly, and they still go mental whenever I have any sort of lapse. It's feels so unfair. What's wrong with these people? I used to think if I was obliging they'd be grateful and maybe give me a bit of leeway if I fecked up.

I'm embittered and resentful as I do my best and get **** on yet there are wasters that wander off home early after doing nothing all day and it's all a big laugh. I'm sick of working with assholes. It seems no matter what I do they're never happy. :mad:

Workplace sounds toxic, find something else if you can.

In terms of your rights, I don't know what would be violated here.

Nody

Yea OP; not really any laws broken based on what you shared so far. Your best bet as starting point is Citizen information but that would only cover the basics; another option would be to speak with NERA.

Crunchienut

Your contract of employment or statement of terms of employment should outline your duties. If you don't have one you should ask for one. Take a look at this link.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/contracts_of_employment/contract_of_employment.html

Gongoozler

I'm very confused about this, you offered to do the work, what's the problem? Stop offering to do it if you don't want to. Say no to people asking you to do things if it's not part of your job, and talk to your manager about what jobs you should be taking on.

Oh and bring up with your manager, if you want, yer man being a dick to you.

Simple.

If only it were that simple mate....they don't take "No" for a answer and when they do they make their displeasure known. Also I don't think I've ever been told, by contract or anything else, what my duties were so I just didn't know where I stood. Absolute ignorance on my part I agree.......

Recondite49

My advice to you my friend is to join a Union and have a chat with your Rep about your concerns. This might seem harmless on the face of it but if it's stressing you out, there might be something that can be done.

belgian blue

You don't know it yet, but you're entering the first phase of a long and very useless and bitter road if you stay at that workplace.

Forget about unions and solicitors, no one is really going to help you other than you, but they will take your money, and waste months and years of your time.

You're in a classic dysfunctional and toxic workplace, full of toxic and dysfunctional people due to an incompetent manager trying to cover up his inability to lead. All too common in Ireland. The only long term solution for you, or anyone in this situation, is to plan to move on, until you find a group willing to work as a team and a competent manager with the ability to inspire confidence and teamwork. They are out there, but you might have to try several workplaces/jobs to find them.

If you were a professional sports player would you stay in a crap team with crap players and a crap manager and crap facilites ? Of course not. Don't rot there, use it to pay the bills untill you get work somewhere else, but ultimately work at getting out and moving onwards.