lizs

I'm briefly visiting Sheffield this Friday eve - is Cubana still the only place to go and dance salsa or have some other venues opened in the last year and a half?! Thanks!

Thanks Stephie - that was much clearer! However, as a full time employee, then he would have worked more than 15 hours before the 20th (5 days at 36/7 hours), hence should be being paid tomorrow? I remember the 15 hour rule from when I was employed there - but I was only part time...as a full time employee that dosen't quite work. But thanks for the help anyway. Liz

Hi Sheffielder If I am correct you work at Ant (though I am not 100 per cent sure of your role)? Your previous posts have suggested this much. Considering you comment that Ant's payroll runs from the 20th to the 20th of each month and pay on the last day of the month, would be grateful if you could explain the following: My boyfriend started work before the 20th January. So I would be correct in thinking that he will be getting paid tomorrow (31st January) for the 5 days work he completed before the 20th? However, he has been informed at work that his first pay packet will not be until the end of February, with his contract. (I guess we can safely assume they meant the 20th February?) So if he dosen't get paid tomorrow...where is his first week's pay gone? To me that would suggest that they are NOT paying him for it. I don't think that there are many ways that people can misunderstand their employers when they inform them they will not be paid until February. I will post back to let you know the outcome tomorrow. However, if you can cast any further light on this your help would be appreciated - as you seem to be the person with the insider knowledge on ANT. Are you in a position to be able to assist with any dubious outcomes from situations such as above, or is that outside the remit of your particular role within ANT? Please pm me if you would prefer. Thanks

Pretty sure that they aren't going to pay him...considering first pay check isn't until the end of February and he started mid January. As a general rule in my experience I haven't come across many employers who pay you for a month and a half work. Have you? And having spoken to his colleagues there they have all been in the same boat. I believe Ant have found a loophole - which is that if it states within your contract that you will have an unpaid training period, then they can legally not pay you. So undoubtedly this is the case. However, Ant don't seem to issue employers with a contract until their first pay packet - so it is not something that employees would not be aware of when they commence employment, and subsequently work for free. (After asking, my boyfriend has been told he will not be given a contract until his first February pay packet - this again is legal as companies have two months to issue employers with a contract). This would not be a problem if ANT informed staff that they were entering an unpaid training period. But the problem is that they don't. So people take employment there in good faith that they will be paid and then aren't. Im not an expert on employment law (though I have a relative who works in employment law) - but if anyone has a greater understanding and thinks I have misunderstood, your clarification on the situation will be appreciated. What I was looking from was a response from somebody in ANT (I have seen so many before!), to explain how they can justify using underhand methods (underhand, as the situation is not made explicit to new employees. As mentioned from my understanding, what they are doing is legal, although undoubtedly not so ethical). I would disagree that it is something not to get concerned about. ANT has a high turnover of staff - and because of the demands upon the company to hit research targets, there is always an availability of jobs. Because of this known availibilty of jobs, they can employ some of the most vulnerable people on the job market, those who are desperate for work to make ends meet and have no choice. And to me such employment practices as stated above are completely explotative.

No doubt that ANT is extremley unpopular! But I'm just wondering if anyone has an answer of how/if ANT are allowed to do this? And more so, how ANT can defend employing staff and failing to tell them until they have worked their first week that they will recieve no payment for their first week of work? Whenever there is a negative post about ANT - normally someone leaps to their defence, saying staff who complain/leave are really bad at the job/not destined for telesales etc, etc. Seems to be a lack of response to this query from ANT's side....maybe because there is no defense!!!!

I have no doubt that Ant Marketing have found a loophole within the law for this - but I still think that it is pretty disgusting! My boyfriend has recently started work full time at Ant Marketing in Broomhill -he has done a weeks work and apparently Ant no longer pay for the first weeks work that employees complete - but my boyfriend was not made aware of this until after his first week of work. So, not only has he done a week's work free (for the coporate slave drivers that everyone knows and accepts are ANT), but also did overtime on the belief that he would be paid for it. Indeed when he was offered overtime it was suggested that it was very uncomon to offer overtime to new starters (obviously not if they are getting them to do it for free - one would guess!). Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar expereince with ANT? I now live in London - but did my obligatory 6 month stint at ANT as a student - so know what it was like when I worked there - but I just have to highlight this as beign a particularly bad example of employment practice. And a warning to anyone else before they start at ANT.... And if anyone who works at ANT (I know that there are a few people out there!)can come back to me and explain why this is - would be appreciated!

Unfortunatley this events in London - I moved down here a month ago:( But thought would consult people in Shef for friendly replies:) I remember there used to be quite a few in Shef though?

They are good one for the men that you want to put off Carmine! TimmyR - nothing wrong with serial speedaters - maybe if they have gone more than 5 times in the last six moths I would be concerned!!! Any more from anyone?! Emailed my housemate and she thinks they are great!!

Thanks TimmyR, those are pretty good (don't think have you ever been speed dating before is a bad one - can see if they are a serial speed dater!!!) Any one got any more?!

Me and my housemate are going speed dating tonight and are looking for some inspiration for some original questions to ask....so what question/s would you ask if you went to a speed dating event to get the most insightful info possible out of your 'date'?!!

Thanks, will give them a try...its a time thing, I'm glued to the computer typing my dissertation...So if anyone knows off the top of their head that would be so helpful!!!! Thanks!!!!

Was wondering if anyone can tell me a shop that can do this - I know the uni does it but it says it can take upto a week and this is pushing my deadline!!!! Any help?! Thanks

Well research was carried out in North American colleges...not sure on it exact location or if it would even be included for reasons of anonymity...I've been told that there has been much similar research done however to validate it...

A little off topic, but this was something that I heard in a seminar once...that studies have been done and a surprising number of men would rape if there were no legal repercussions... Just found this in a journal (any distraction from my essay...) 'between 25 and 60 percent of male college students reported some likelihood that they would rape a woman if they could get away with it (Briere and Malamuth 1983; Russell 1998 A bit scary...not sure of the exact methods used to research, so that would need to be checked out. Anyone else ever read anything similar? I suppose there aren't many repercussions to rape when your stuck in a disaster zone...

Makes me feel better to know Im not the only one puzzling how to write 15, 000 words in two weeks - left mine to the last minute too!! Always the way of the old proverb 'work expands to fill the time available for its completion'.....