Stick with it or just... stick it?

[SaintAleia]

I have been employed as a dental nurse at my current post since May 2007. Since then I have had some issues with the way I am being treated.
First, the good: I was employed straightaway despite the fact I was a 17-year-old with no experience of the working world who had just dropped out of college. Great stuff! After a lot of umm-ing and aaah-ing they paid for me to go on an evening course to become qualified. This is under the understanding that I continue to work for them for 2 years after I have qualified, or pay them back. Fair enough.
Now, the baad: I was not provided with a contract until 2 months after starting, and even then this was a probationary contract, supposedly lasting 3 months. This meant my contract expired a month after I got it. I have only just been given a new one. Until now I have been 6 months without a contract. The reason they gave for not giving me a permanent contract earlier was that they wanted to make sure I signed up for the course. Fair enough. So naturally 1 month into the course I am expecting a permanent contract... but they have now written into it that my probationary period has been extended to 11 months, which they can give me no good reason for! I was also promised a 50p pay rise, and I have only recieved a 25p pay rise (an hour of course!). It really is such a piffling little amount but it's the principle that matters to me. I have not got what I was promised, despite the fact that these were due 6 months ago! I am extremely competent and committed to my job, otherwise I would not be on the course and would have been fired by now. They're taking the mick if you're asking me!!
I want to leave, but am worried prospective employers will be wary of me. I am young, I left my last job within a year... what can I do? They will be impressed I am on the course already and I have no bad behaviour against me, but still I am worried.
Should I stick where I am?

[figure]

If I were you I'd hang in there and work until the course is completed. Also, In the mean time you are gaining work experience. Your goal is to get a skill and a certificate to prove your skill. After the course is completed you will have less hassle finding a similar job.

Hopping from job to job doesn't look too good from the employers' view. It shows your lack of commitment and loyalty.

[SaintAleia]

Thanks for the response guys.
crambo, I already know of a union but all they offer in the way of employment issues is legal advice...I could get that down the CAB and unfortunately my practice have had problems with staff taking them to court before and have now taken a lot of measures to ensure they cover their backs when it comes to contracts etc., mainly in the form of "We reserve the right to..." so I'm not sure that would help me with anything.
And figure I do agree that job-hopping looks bad but... the course might last up to two years, I can easily pay for it and complete it while in another job, and I don't feel I can show loyalty to people who are showing no respect to me at all. Surely it can't be right to not have a contract for 6 months?? There are two other nurses in the same position at my practice, one who has been waiting on this contract for as long as I have. I feel we would have some sway if we all badgered the boss for changes in our contract, but they are too scared to speak up about it for fear of having no contract at all!

[sue11]

My legal knowledge does not go that far but I am an employer and I will tell you what my understanding is.
(Unless you are on some kind of apprenticeship and I believe that employment terms are different in these cases) The fact that you had not been given a contract by your employers is neither here nor there, My understanding is that after a certain length of time, I think it is 3 months, your contract is implied and you are entitled to the same legal rights that any other worker is entitled to i.e. mininum pay rates, the legal minimum holidays, proper rest breaks etc.
I have never heard of a probation contract, you need to find out if these actually exist in law. Also I am not sure that your employers are acting legally by putting you on a probation period after you have been working for them for a year, it could be argued that if they had any problems with your performance they should have brought this up with you within that year, I am not sure that they would have a case if it ever got to tribunal. As far as putting in things such as 'we reserve the right to' in contracts does not necessarily make it legal, they still have to abide by the law in how they treat employees!
As far as the pay rise goes, as long as you are receiving the legal minimum wage I do not think you will have much recourse to what they have promised and what you actually get, apart from the fact that your trust in them as an employer dimishes.
My advice is to do what is right for you, have they put anything in writing about your agreement to pay them back if you leave within a certain timeframe? If so and you can afford to repay them without any problem, then I would definately look for another job. Not every employer is like this, there are some out there that care for their staff!
I really think you need to get further advice regarding your contract and working conditions.
Best of luck, hope I have been of some use.
Sue