Lived Experience Forum

[Darlina85]

I have personally suffered with Major Depressive disorders and anixity since I was 10 years old. I have been a very dedicated worker that always seems to get used and abused by employers. I work for free, overtime, call ins, sacrifice life events to please the boss and still get screwed in the workplace eventually. Prodominantly Hospitality but in other industries also.

I am now 35 and yet again the people who call themselves understanding employers are refusing to pay personal leave as a Permenant Part Time employee as the EBA says they dont have to roster me a minimum or pay me personal leave if the roster isnt out and they then don't roster me on. 

The main point of my post is I am so sick and tired of being tossed aside and treated like scum that I am fighting this. I need to know your recomendations for a Union that will help me takie action against a massive company and one that specialises in Mental health and adverse action taken. I have a HR expert in my corner but he isnt a lawyer or a bank.

So as a human being suffering from a unfair and relentless disorder help me fight for us all. I want to change this cruel and unfair system.

Your support will be the strength I need to make a change to employee agreements.

[Teej]

Hi @Darlina85 ,

i am not much help as I don’t work. I was trying to understand that if you are permanent part time don’t they have to give you a min amount of set hours that you were employed for first. When my son was PPT he had a min 10 hours per week. The employer had to pay him 10hours per week regardless. He was given sick leave and holidays according to that proportion of full time employees. Have you got your original contract. It might help to look at that. 

As far as your treatment that is so very unfair and unethical in my books. Sorry you’ve had to go through this. I hope you find some suggestions. 

Welcome to the forum 😊! 

It might be an idea to call the SANE call centre (ph 1800187263 ) or the chat line here who may be able to help direct you to some good resources as well. Best of luck 💜😊

[Itoqih]

Hi

I am mentally ill and I have worked in HR. If you find that you're not being supported at work and being actively discriminated based on you illness there 8s a few things you can do. Depending on the size of the organisation there could be an internal complaints department who will take your issue and resolve in internally. If there is an issue with your manager, you can lodge a formal complaint with HR. However if it is not working internally. You can contact Fair work in your state for mediation and launching a complaint. There also workplace solicitors who will work for low cost/free however that's something you have to seek on your own. I find unions useless and willingly water down EBAs to benefit businesses.

I'm really sorry what you are going through. I had severe suicide idealation, PTSD and BPD and often was sectioned and lost jobs as I was locked in hospital due to emotional breakdowns and self harming. I just want you to know there are good managers out there. Unfortunately not as many as we'd like.

[Darlina85]

Thank you for your feedback and support.

I have always been a PPT worker and have never heard that there isn’t a minimum hours or that they don’t pay sick leave. 

The financial stress they have now added to my already fragile state is almost too much to bare.

i have a great network of support around me and am confident if I’m contemplating suicide that I can reach out.