Fear that I might have been fired from work due to reporting pain in leg

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Ah, jaysus, they were probably worried they'd have to 'take him aside' for every task.



Nothing from what the OP has said suggests the company has done anything wrong. They saw potential trouble and acted in the best interests of the company. Harsh, but a lesson should be learned.

It was poorly handled. You seem ok with that.

I've never found doing things poorly that having a
selective memory makes for the most productive environment.

If they do this with trivial activity it's very likely to be cultural and habitual though an organisation.

beauf

Holly13 wrote: »

You need to have some sort of experience of any kind in your CV if time is passing and you have never held a position for longer than a week.
OP should have stuck it out for at least 3 months while looking for other positions.
Any experience helps in interviews as you have something to talk about. e.g. “the job spec in my current role has changed, and while I value the experience I have gained, l am looking to be more challenged in work and utilize and develop skills/ abilities ....blah, blah, blah
If the OP does not learn from this and change his attitude, he is on the road to making himself unemployable.

I don't disagree. Both the company and the op handled this poorly.

Game of Thrones Fan

Holly13 wrote: »

What manufacturing/pharmaceutical company advertises for a “scientist”?
The word scientist is old-fashioned and means nothing. Having a degree in Science does not make you a “scientist” in the same way having a degree in Business does not make you a “Businessman”

Yes, they didn't advertise it as 'scientist'. I didn't want to specify what it was.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

If they do this with trivial activity it's very likely to be cultural and habitual though an organisation.

It's possible, but far from certain. The company could do 999/1000 right, but they don't cross all t's and dot all the i's with the wrong person and they end up on boards.ie.



If you think a company should detail every possible task an employee could be asked to do (and manual work may seem very obvious - which is why I asked the OP what industry they are in) then I don't think you're being reasonable.

beauf

Though having too much of other experience outside your core career path or role can be detrimental.

Game of Thrones Fan

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

Yes, they didn't advertise it as 'scientist'. I didn't want to specify what it was.

Hi GoTF,


I'd advise you to move on. I know it's galling that after waiting a year that you were left go when you thought you'd a genuine reason for not doing what you were asked.



However, a company needs to make 1'000's of decisions in a day, and unfortunately for you they decided to remove a risk.



Best of luck in your future career.



BTW, I'd not put a week's work on a CV.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

Though having too much of other experience outside your core career path or role can be detrimental.

Doesn't apply to the OP, but yes, people can be overqualified for a role.

Game of Thrones Fan

Deleted User wrote: »

No, your manager is not paying this out of her own money. The cheque will have the name of the company on it. She will have the full backing of her company, possibly a positive review point for her.

I wouldn't be so sure. It could be just a bank draft!

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's possible, but far from certain. The company could do 999/1000 right, but they don't cross all t's and dot all the i's with the wrong person and they end up on boards.ie.



If you think a company should detail every possible task an employee could be asked to do (and manual work may seem very obvious - which is why I asked the OP what industry they are in) then I don't think you're being reasonable.

I think if you hire someone who has never done heavy lifting, to haul cement bags or coal, it's not going to work out for anyone. There is a skill to many as l labour same with driving a nail. Some people simply do not have the physical aptitude for it.

Some of the strongest toughest hardest working people I've met have at some point got injured. Not sure immediately firing them was to build a good working relationship.

You have to be smart about even doing something like hauling things around.

Holly13

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

Yes, they didn't advertise it as 'scientist'. I didn't want to specify what it was.

I graduated from Science a good few years now. Starting out the jobs are always crap, you need experience. Also companies tend to have recruitment drives, ie if a new product is coming in, they will advertise a load of positions at once. Production may not be set up and ready to go. Maybe what happened in your case.
Everyone has to put up with situations they are not happy with starting out and during probationary periods. It’s just something you have to go through in order to move onwards and upwards

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Doesn't apply to the OP, but yes, people can be overqualified for a role.

It's more you dilute your skillset and people hire you for mixed roles rather than what you want to specialise in. They may even hire you under misleading specs.

Game of Thrones Fan

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

I wouldn't be so sure. It could be just a bank draft!

A company isn't going ask an employee to go to the bother of getting cash, physically going to a bank, queuing up in an under manned counter and filling out a form for a bank draft.



You're going to get a cheque from the company.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

I think if you hire someone who has never done heavy lifting, to haul cement bags or coal, it's not going to work out for anyone. There is a skill to many as l labour same with driving a nail. Some people simply do not have the physical aptitude for it.

Some of the strongest toughest hardest working people I've met have at some point got injured. Not sure immediately firing them was to build a good working relationship.

You have to be smart about even doing something like hauling things around.

A pallet is not particularly heavy. And did any of these strong people get injured on a graduation programme (which usually lasts a couple of years) in their first week?

As a matter of interest op, do you think considering how difficult it is for you to get a job, you should have stuck it out a bit longer to start the job you were hired to do? Seems like you had a bit of muscle strain due to not being used to manual work. As another poster said, wooden palates aren’t heavy to drag, it’s a one hand job.

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

A pallet is not particularly heavy. And did any of these strong people get injured on a graduation programme (which usually lasts a couple of years) in their first week?

It's not about weight. If you bend and lift something awkwardly you can injure yourself, especially if it's repetitive.

Which is why you'd look for people with manual labour experience before hiring them for a job that requires it.

Hi OP,

Reread your opening post, you'd already highlighted (on your first day?) the concerns you had re the proximity of 1 tonne bags. What was that about exactly, why did you feel unsafe? Was there a risk of them crushing you?

beauf

beauf wrote: »

It's not about weight. If you bend and lift something awkwardly you can injure yourself, especially if it's repetitive.

Which is why you'd look for people with manual labour experience before hiring them for a job that requires it.

He got manual lifting training. Have you ever lifted a pallet, I have. He has said it was dragged a significant distance, and if that was more than a few metres they should have provided a pallet truck.



But, it's hard to know exactly what was asked.



Complaining about a hurt leg came in his first week where he questioned the safety of the company's work practices. He may have been 100% correct, but it's not surprising he was let go.

knockers84

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

I wouldn't be so sure. It could be just a bank draft!

Dear God

beauf

Deleted User wrote: »

He got manual lifting training. Have you ever lifted a pallet, I have. He has said it was dragged a significant distance, and if that was more than a few metres they should have provided a pallet truck.



But, it's hard to know exactly what was asked.



Complaining about a hurt leg came in his first week where he questioned the safety of the company's work practices. He may have been 100% correct, but it's not surprising he was let go.

I'm curious, if I say I've lifted a pallet, then is what I said correct, or if I say I haven't does that mean its incorrect.

Also if someone does a manual lifting course does that mean they know everything about lifting, and its impossible to get injured afterwards.

Is it good sign if someone questions something, they get let go. Does that imply we should never question anything, especially safety related.

beauf

beauf wrote: »

I'm curious, if I say I've lifted a pallet, then is what I said correct, or if I say I haven't does that mean its incorrect.

Also if someone does a manual lifting course does that mean they know everything about lifting, and its impossible to get injured afterwards.

Is it good sign if someone questions something, they get let go. Does that imply we should never question anything, especially safety related.

Jesus wept.

It’s a wooden palate, you literally do not have to be a scientist to lift it a little and drag it a bit.

tipptom

Pallets that are used to hold ton bags are very heavy and awkward to lift so it easier to drag them.

It is like something you would put the junior labourer at,sounds like a right shi**ty company to expect a man or woman who was starting as a scientist to do this and they should have given them a less physical job to do while they waited for the lab to be set up.

Almost seems like the OP was marked out of the four of them for this to force them out.

beauf

Dav010 wrote: »

Jesus wept.

It’s a wooden palate, you literally do not have to be a scientist to lift it a little and drag it a bit.

Jesus wept it was ....rhetorical....

Dav010

Dav010 wrote: »

Jesus wept.

It’s a wooden palate, you literally do not have to be a scientist to lift it a little and drag it a bit.

Dunno, rigging up a Block and Tackle would help

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Dunno, rigging up a Block and Tackle would help

Very true, a scientific mind might make it easier.

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

...Have you ever lifted a pallet, I have. ...

....I guess only a qualified and experienced pallet lifter will be able to answer the question....

beauf

beauf wrote: »

....I guess only a qualified and experienced pallet lifter will be able to answer the question....

What are the points for that?

beauf

beauf wrote: »

....I guess only a qualified and experienced pallet lifter will be able to answer the question....

And should be listed specifically on a job description

beauf

[Deleted User] wrote: »

And should be listed specifically on a job description

... in pencil for those swinging the lead... subject to change...

Timistry

Sorry OP didnt read the whole thread but company must have an SOP and risk assessment for every task performed on site. If not, they are liable

Timistry

Timistry wrote: »

Sorry OP didnt read the whole thread but company must have an SOP and risk assessment for every task performed on site. If not, they are liable

Liable for what?

Game of Thrones Fan

Deleted User wrote: »

Liable for what?

I must actually report them to the health and safety about that.

Game of Thrones Fan

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

I must actually report them to the health and safety about that.

They will come out, do an assessment, the company will get a report to what needs to be fixed and a time frame to fix.



No biggie. What were you expecting, blues and twos and the directors being carted off in handcuffs?


Move. On.

Phileas Frog

Not a great few weeks for you in your new job OP, apparently you've gone deaf too.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058013061/1/#post111183695

Phileas Frog

Phileas Frog wrote: »

Not a great few weeks for you in your new job OP, apparently you've gone deaf too.

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2058013061/1/#post111183695

The OP has had some serious questioning on this and other threads. Will nobody think of this poor OP, the Jonah of Scientists.

Problem Of Motivation

Deleted User wrote: »

The OP has had some serious questioning on this and other threads. Will nobody think of this poor OP, the Jonah of Scientists.

Well I wouldn't be gloating about it.

jackboy

Deleted User wrote: »

The OP has had some serious questioning on this and other threads. Will nobody think of this poor OP, the Jonah of Scientists.

I’m seriously wondering if these stories of workplace woes are real. If they are, the op sounds like a nightmare employee who can’t look after himself and takes responsibility for nothing.

Game of Thrones Fan

jackboy wrote: »

I’m seriously wondering if these stories of workplace woes are real. If they are, the op sounds like a nightmare employee who can’t look after himself and takes responsibility for nothing.

Maybe I should have spoken up sooner about the ear protection, but with all due respect, that supervisor should've known to show us where the ear protection was on our first time going in. The other newbee wouldn't have had the initiative to ask for it let alone the ability to question what was going on.

jackboy

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

Maybe I should have spoken up sooner about the ear protection, but with all due respect, that supervisor should've known to show us where the ear protection was on our first time going in. The other newbee wouldn't have had the initiative to ask for it let alone the ability to question what was going on.

You are responsible for your own safety. You should never do a task that you deem unsafe. A lot of employers have poor practices but they are rarely tackled unless an employee is killed or seriously injured.

Reviews and Books Galore

Game of Thrones Fan wrote: »

I've been fired.

Manager said that the job spec has changed, that she's letting me go, and that a new job spec will have to made available for which I can apply to. She's saying that all of a sudden they don't need to take as many samples as before and therefore the new job spec is going to involve manual labor as well as laboratory work.

All this goes completely against the contract which I pointed out. After being fired, I spoke with the site H&S person, and he said he might be able to talk about this today with me, but I haven't heard from him. They're paying me until tomorrow, and that's it.

Is there anything I can do about this? with all the laws we have in our country, is there anything that I can do?

I'm wondering would you give an anonymous bad review about the manager? Taking a young lad with a bait and switch in an environent with a lot of workplace injuries is pretty scummy.

Phileas Frog

Reviews and Books Galore wrote: »

I'm wondering would you give an anonymous bad review about the manager? Taking a young lad with a bait and switch in an environent with a lot of workplace injuries is pretty scummy.

It's utter ball cocks. Let me introduce you to Walter Mitty

Problem Of Motivation

jackboy wrote: »

You are responsible for your own safety. You should never do a task that you deem unsafe.

Yeah, at least the OP can now think that he wouldn't have got fired (or at least pissed her off) if he had insisted on ear protection at the first instance!

jackboy

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

Yeah, at least the OP can now think that he wouldn't have got fired (or at least pissed her off) if he had insisted on ear protection at the first instance!

He should have asked for ear protection. Yes, it should have been offered but if you knowingly put yourself in an unsafe position in the workplace you are partly responsible.

AngryHippie

Strumms wrote: »

Fûck this disingenuous greedy bull**** of trying to just have ‘employees’ that you want to get to do anything anytime, no forget it. Agree salary, job and task wise do zero outside of that description, contract and scope.

It was within work hours, not outside of that. so not anytime.

I can bet you 100% that somewhere in the job description and contract, "other works as directed by management" or an equivalent clause will be in there, so it would have included it in either description, contract or scope.
That means, the company can direct you to anything they deem to be within your capabilities if it is operationally required.
It's the difference between useful employees and bums on seats.

There is nothing disingenuous about it. Its a pretty basic layer cake in life, starting out, work is going to be tough and not that palatable.
As you progress and become more experienced and useful, you get the better tasks to undertake, then when you get really good at that, you get an opportunity to do work that is above and beyond your Contract for a bit, then you negotiate the JD and contract to suit your new function and so on.
Unless there is a fully funded HR department, then everyone gets to apply for promotions and go through the usually flattery, fakery and fondling stage to get the bump up.

Doing zero outside your JD, contract or scope will get you earmarked as being obstructive and hard work to approach.

Being prepared to do it, but having a discussion about expectations and duration will generally get you earmarked as being a bit switched on and flexible and opportunities will present.

Its called work ethic. Everyone has their own, for their own reasons. People who progress are generally those who roll up their sleeves, take opportunities and look after themselves.