Work Post.
Okay so my previous workplace, the book-lending project, went kaboom.
And didn't pay us September's paycheck. And September was the hardest month ever, we worked in the field, carrying boxes of books from classroom to classroom in 90 different schools throughout the country delivering books to kids. And being cursed at by rude kids and shouted at by angry moms and teachers. I'm due 3,360NIS ($930 or £500) for September and I'm probably never going to get it. Why? Because Bookmarket Ltd. has no money to pay us. Their bank accounts have been foreclosed on/upon. (?)
It started on September 18th: the HR company through which I reached Bookmarket, and through which I was paid every month, called me to their offices (they refused to tell me what was up over the phone) and basically fired me and everyone else who worked at Bookmarket through them. They (the HR company) tried to bullshit me by saying that I'd been with them for 6 months and after that they couldn't keep me as their employee longer than that. I'd simply transfer to being employed directly by the company (Bookmarket). So retroactively, for all of September, I was going to be paid directly by Bookmarket.
I thought, well the six months thing could be legit, I nosed around a bit and there actually is a government law about that. But. Several other HR employees had only been there for 4-5 months, and they were also laid off. Only the ones working at Bookmarket. That should have been my red lightbulb. But I was naïve and chose to have faith in Bookmarket, even though as their employee I'd lost faith in the management of the place a while ago. Our head of customer services, the lovely woman who supervised us at the call center, had quit because things were so awful. I should have done the same.
So. September ended with a Jewish New Year's toast and a 100NIS gift certificate. Lovely. I worked normally for the first week of October as well. We're normally paid on the 10th of the next month, and the holidays were due to begin on the 12th of October, so once the 10th rolled around and no money went into my bank account, I got nervous. Called my previous boss (the one who'd run the call center before the woman came in) and he said the company's bank account had been foreclosed, they'd hoped to be able to pay us half our wages before the holiday but hadn't managed it, and they hoped to sort things out after the holidays.
Well a fat lot of bullshit that was. On October 23rd, this Sunday, we had a meeting with the CEO and the investors of the company. Basically, there's no money, there are lots of debts, and there are no investors willing to bring in money. Until an investor is found, we won't be paid. We're all on unpaid leave and are free to look for different jobs in the meanwhile. We all received the CEO's phone number, fax, and private email to keep in touch with him, and we left our contact information with him too.
Nothing's going to come out of it, I'm sure. Bookmarket is going to die, it's only a matter of time. I feel bad for the clients, but I have to look out for myself. I started looking for a new job even before the holidays - once I realized I wasn't going to be paid for September. The girl at the HR company helped me out (they said I couldn't work through them anymore, but they could still help me get interviews) and she did indeed get me 2 interviews.
And guess what? I aced them both :)
The first was on Tuesday, for a company who works with the country's municipalities. It's basically a call center where people call to pay their taxes, water fees, cellular parking, etc. It was physically located in the next town, not very far, but their hourly rate was 22.5NIS. At Bookmarket I'd gotten 23 for the first two months, and then ever since June I got a raise to 24. Also, their hours were 7-22, which sucks. Still, I went to the interview and I aced it. They called me 3 hours later and said could I start Thursday?
The problem was, they demand a 9-month guarantee. If I leave before 9 months, I have to pay a 900NIS fine for the training they gave me when I started the job. Thing is? 'Training' at this company is like, two shifts. So, uh, no thanks. They also only wanted 3 shifts a week, and I need to save up money until I start school next year because Design is a very A) expensive , and B) time-consuming degree. So I probably won't be able to work while I study.
So. I asked for a day to think about it, and during that day, Wednesday, I went to an interview at another company: the company behind the country's first and only toll-highway, which connects the north and the south of the country. Their call center pays 24 per hour, plus insane bonuses if you're good enough. Their interview was a group thing, took 3 hours altogether and included drinks and snacks, watching a clip about the highway, a short written exam, and only then a one-on-one interview with someone from HR. And guess what? I aced that too :)
After the interview with a lady from HR, I was told to wait for an interview with a team leader from the call center itself as well - no-one else was held back for that, everyone else was dismissed after the initial interview. I was told that I had aced the written exam and impressed the HR lady, and then interviewed a bit more intensively. Then I was released home. I had my hand on the door-handle when the woman who orchestrated the first part of the group-interview called me back and said that I'd basically made the cut, that they were very impressed by me and that they wanted me to sign on immediately!
I was so blown away. I mean, I do take myself seriously and I know I'm a good employee, but to ace two interviews in two days, and to receive such quick call-backs - I mean, I wasn't even off the property when they accepted me for the second job! They also sound like a very serious place of employment - very good social benefits and bonuses, if you do a good job, the place looks physically nice, they have shuttles to and from work free of charge, sandwiches at subsidized prices, social events, etc.
She sent me the contract via e-mail and I'll go over it, sign, and probably fax it to her tomorrow :) Starting on the 2nd of November, I will be employed again!! :) Wish me luck.
And didn't pay us September's paycheck. And September was the hardest month ever, we worked in the field, carrying boxes of books from classroom to classroom in 90 different schools throughout the country delivering books to kids. And being cursed at by rude kids and shouted at by angry moms and teachers. I'm due 3,360NIS ($930 or £500) for September and I'm probably never going to get it. Why? Because Bookmarket Ltd. has no money to pay us. Their bank accounts have been foreclosed on/upon. (?)
It started on September 18th: the HR company through which I reached Bookmarket, and through which I was paid every month, called me to their offices (they refused to tell me what was up over the phone) and basically fired me and everyone else who worked at Bookmarket through them. They (the HR company) tried to bullshit me by saying that I'd been with them for 6 months and after that they couldn't keep me as their employee longer than that. I'd simply transfer to being employed directly by the company (Bookmarket). So retroactively, for all of September, I was going to be paid directly by Bookmarket.
I thought, well the six months thing could be legit, I nosed around a bit and there actually is a government law about that. But. Several other HR employees had only been there for 4-5 months, and they were also laid off. Only the ones working at Bookmarket. That should have been my red lightbulb. But I was naïve and chose to have faith in Bookmarket, even though as their employee I'd lost faith in the management of the place a while ago. Our head of customer services, the lovely woman who supervised us at the call center, had quit because things were so awful. I should have done the same.
So. September ended with a Jewish New Year's toast and a 100NIS gift certificate. Lovely. I worked normally for the first week of October as well. We're normally paid on the 10th of the next month, and the holidays were due to begin on the 12th of October, so once the 10th rolled around and no money went into my bank account, I got nervous. Called my previous boss (the one who'd run the call center before the woman came in) and he said the company's bank account had been foreclosed, they'd hoped to be able to pay us half our wages before the holiday but hadn't managed it, and they hoped to sort things out after the holidays.
Well a fat lot of bullshit that was. On October 23rd, this Sunday, we had a meeting with the CEO and the investors of the company. Basically, there's no money, there are lots of debts, and there are no investors willing to bring in money. Until an investor is found, we won't be paid. We're all on unpaid leave and are free to look for different jobs in the meanwhile. We all received the CEO's phone number, fax, and private email to keep in touch with him, and we left our contact information with him too.
Nothing's going to come out of it, I'm sure. Bookmarket is going to die, it's only a matter of time. I feel bad for the clients, but I have to look out for myself. I started looking for a new job even before the holidays - once I realized I wasn't going to be paid for September. The girl at the HR company helped me out (they said I couldn't work through them anymore, but they could still help me get interviews) and she did indeed get me 2 interviews.
And guess what? I aced them both :)
The first was on Tuesday, for a company who works with the country's municipalities. It's basically a call center where people call to pay their taxes, water fees, cellular parking, etc. It was physically located in the next town, not very far, but their hourly rate was 22.5NIS. At Bookmarket I'd gotten 23 for the first two months, and then ever since June I got a raise to 24. Also, their hours were 7-22, which sucks. Still, I went to the interview and I aced it. They called me 3 hours later and said could I start Thursday?
The problem was, they demand a 9-month guarantee. If I leave before 9 months, I have to pay a 900NIS fine for the training they gave me when I started the job. Thing is? 'Training' at this company is like, two shifts. So, uh, no thanks. They also only wanted 3 shifts a week, and I need to save up money until I start school next year because Design is a very A) expensive , and B) time-consuming degree. So I probably won't be able to work while I study.
So. I asked for a day to think about it, and during that day, Wednesday, I went to an interview at another company: the company behind the country's first and only toll-highway, which connects the north and the south of the country. Their call center pays 24 per hour, plus insane bonuses if you're good enough. Their interview was a group thing, took 3 hours altogether and included drinks and snacks, watching a clip about the highway, a short written exam, and only then a one-on-one interview with someone from HR. And guess what? I aced that too :)
After the interview with a lady from HR, I was told to wait for an interview with a team leader from the call center itself as well - no-one else was held back for that, everyone else was dismissed after the initial interview. I was told that I had aced the written exam and impressed the HR lady, and then interviewed a bit more intensively. Then I was released home. I had my hand on the door-handle when the woman who orchestrated the first part of the group-interview called me back and said that I'd basically made the cut, that they were very impressed by me and that they wanted me to sign on immediately!
I was so blown away. I mean, I do take myself seriously and I know I'm a good employee, but to ace two interviews in two days, and to receive such quick call-backs - I mean, I wasn't even off the property when they accepted me for the second job! They also sound like a very serious place of employment - very good social benefits and bonuses, if you do a good job, the place looks physically nice, they have shuttles to and from work free of charge, sandwiches at subsidized prices, social events, etc.
She sent me the contract via e-mail and I'll go over it, sign, and probably fax it to her tomorrow :) Starting on the 2nd of November, I will be employed again!! :) Wish me luck.