Long story short

[WiseOldSage]

I have worked for my father for two years. I work from home but spend one day a week in the office. I don't have a contract but it was verbally agreed that I would only work weekdays and that evenings and weekends were my own. We have had a huge row but some personal stuff crept in. He has now announced he doesn't want my husband to drive my company car and that he now needs to get hold of me 24/7.

1. He has a new woman in his life who is an ex PA - my gut feeling is that he wants me out to get her in.
2. I have now asked for a contract and he won't provide me with one.
3. He has told me that it is unacceptable for him to ring me and ask for stuff to be done and find that someone else is using the family computer. He has not provided me with a laptop.

What are my rights? Petty I know but if you have seen any of my other posts about my parents you will know he is not a nice man. He got rid of my mother from the company in a very underhand way when they separated.

Any advice? This all comes after I have come back after a holiday which I felt I had to beg for some time off.

[factor-fiction]

Your rights to what? What would you like the outcome to be? Irrespective of the legal position do you think there can ever be a proper working relationship that gives you real job satisfaction? Or is it time to get out. Would a pay-off suit you?

[WiseOldSage]

I stepped in to help out (left my job) because I couldn't watch and let the business go under. But he seemed to bully my mother all those years ago and now I have become his replacement. He is a bully and he is a liar. I have been to court on his behalf and found that out for myself when he has shafted other people.

The working relationship has deteriorated and his issues (work and private) have had a huge impact on my private life which he feels he can control ie the car and the internet. I have been on anti depressives since February mainly because of the bombardment of calls out of hours about how bad his life is, my mother, etc. The last time he rang as a father and not my boss was Christmas Day!

Having said that I enjoy the work and putting up with him one day a week in the office could be bearable.

Can I ask for a contract re my hours and the car? Can he just get rid of me for the sake of his lady friend? Or can I just say I want a pay off and give him my shares of the company back?

[R1Geezer]

Why are you working for him at all if he's such a sh1t? This sounds like a classic case of nepotism to me, get a job you like, that's the practical solution.

[tamborine]

CAB and tribunal in order here. He has controlled your working hours for 2y & is now moving goal posts.

His business accounts will be trawled through by IR & he will have to pay you any overtime/holiday pay due. If he is seen to breach employment laws he will be heavily fined.

But.......that will probably be the end of both your relationships.

[buildersmate]

You can try the CAB and what they will probably tell you is that he is changing your terms and conditions of employment, which he can do by giving you at least 2 weeks notice. They may also tell you that you could resign and claim constructive dismissal at an Employment Tribunal. You might win and get financial compensation of a couple of �K. You wouldn't get the job back on the original terms.
There isn't an automatic link between poor HR policies and the IR (I think we mean HMRC actually) 'trawling through his business accounts' - it simply won't happen.
There is no obligation to pay overtime rates to anyone.
Holiday pay should be provided to at least the statutory minimum levels.
There are no fines for breaching employment laws - they are breach of contract situations.
Keep up the day-job, Tamborine, you have a heck of a lot to learn before you can provide quality information on this subject that people can actually use.