A kick in the teeth from the bosses :(

jordy_on_bass · #1 11-30-2011, 08:31 AM

G'day TB'ers,

Just a little vent and advice-seeking session here for me. For almost the past 2 years, my fiance and I have been running a pub in a rural area of Australia. Whilst it hasn't been the greatest job in the world and the pressure of having to run a 7 day a week business for someone else has been a bit frustrating, it has groomed us well to do something similar in the future. Since we are both still young, it has also set us up with a career in an industry that will never die should work be hard to come by, and a resume that's overly impressive for the hospitality industry.

Now I should probably mention here that we also live on the premises. That's what the hardest part has been. It may seem like a handy thing for some people, or like a dream life for others, but believe me:
It is not fun at all. I used to drink a beer or two after work when I first started this job. Now I have been so turned off by alcohol, I don't drink at all. So it isn't a fun job for us at all - it is more like a nightmare.

Over the past couple of months, the owner's of the pub have had the pub up for sale due to the fact that they don't get along and can never agree on anything with the pub. The sale is not due to our performance, as they have expressed many times how happy they have been with us. To cut a REALLY long story short; the pub had gone to auction and they rejected the highest bid (which was 200k more than I thought it would be), then they entered negotiations, then they were stopped, then started again. In other words, they have been jerking us left and right with what's happening with the sale of the business. In the past 2 months, they have changed our cease of employment date about 8 times, ranging anywhere from December 22nd until April-May and we really had no idea what was going on. Until today, that is...

Apparently this Sunday, they are entering talks with the most interested investor for the business. They said that they are 99.9% sure it will be sold, but won't know until Sunday and can't give a definite answer until then. Once that happens we will have 2 weeks (December 19th) to pack up a 3 bedroom apartment, organize a removalist and then find a house back home (750 miles interstate).

This has really pissed me off. My fiance and I have given 200% effort into their business and we are basically being given the flick from our home with 2 weeks notice. I can't organize a removalist for a month, real estates here take anywhere up to 6 weeks to process applications for houses and I really have NFI what the crap I am going to do. My fiance isn't so worried, but that's because I said I would take care of all this stuff...

Have always prided myself on taking care of my fiance, and this time I am worried that I might fail on that...

Any advice from the wealth of knowledge that is TB on what I should do in this situation would be greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the advice coming from those around me is either biased family advice who live closer to where I am now and don't want me to leave, or it is the advice of somebody who has had too many beers to be giving advice.

Cheers fellas,
Jord

P. Aaron · #2 11-30-2011, 08:38 AM

I feel for ya...not knowing where one's home status is stressful. Not knowing your country's law's regarding severance either, (if there are any) all I can do is hope for the best for you both.

It's a perfect storm of uncertainty.

MJ5150 · #3 11-30-2011, 08:52 AM

Maybe you can contact the new owners and see if they will keep you around?

-Mike

Internet Police · #4 11-30-2011, 09:00 AM

At least they gave you 2 weeks notice. Time to spend less time here and more on job websites.

i_got_a_mohawk · #5 11-30-2011, 09:08 AM

You have more patience than I do, as soon as they said they were planning on selling up I would have started looking for something else. Not my problem if they end up short staffed for a few months while trying to sell.

tekdiver500ft · #6 11-30-2011, 09:16 AM

Wow, that really sucks. I don't know Australian law in the least, but in the States, the landlord must give 30 days written notice to evict. Check your laws, you may be able to get more time. I'd also check with the new owners, they may want to retain your services, or at least give you some time to arrange for a removalist (I love that word, in the States, they're called "furniture movers" or just "movers") and new housing. I'd even play up the whole "it's Christmas" thing, and use their sympathies in your favor.

jordy_on_bass · #7 11-30-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Maybe you can contact the new owners and see if they will keep you around?

-Mike

We chose not to stay on, the only reason we have even stayed for as long as we have is because of one of the owners, he is kinda like a grandfather to us. We said we would stay on until the handover. Plus, they already have somebody they want to run the pub.

Internet Police, if I didn't live on the premises then I couldn't give a hoot if they gave us 24 hours notice. Trying to organize a home and removalist for 2 weeks before xmas - it would be easier finding a needle in a Mt. Everest haystack...possibly...maybe not. But you know what I mean.
Oh, and we are taking 2-4 weeks off once we finish from here. We haven't had a holiday in about 3 and a half years. We are well overdue. Might start looking then

jordy_on_bass · #8 11-30-2011, 09:20 AM

One thing I may need to add here guys - there was never any contract basis for our employment, nor was there a contract for us to live on the premises. Essentially, it mean's they could kick us out tomorrow and it wouldn't be against the law.

tekdiver500ft · #9 11-30-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordy_on_bass

One thing I may need to add here guys - there was never any contract basis for our employment, nor was there a contract for us to live on the premises. Essentially, it mean's they could kick us out tomorrow and it wouldn't be against the law.

Wow. That's one law I like in Michigan. Even without a contract/lease, they must give 30 days notice to evict. That really is tough. I hope it all works out for you. You never know, this might be a blessing in disguise - a dream job may just be waiting for you back home.

EricF · #10 11-30-2011, 09:40 AM

I don't have much to add other than good luck to both of you.

MatticusMania · #11 11-30-2011, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordy_on_bass

Have always prided myself on taking care of my fiance, and this time I am worried that I might fail on that...

Regardless of your housing situation, so long as youre making every effort to make her comfortable and keep her happy you have not failed. Temporary displacement is only temporary. It seems to me like your fiance knows this, being the reason she is not worried. Even if it takes some time to settle everything she trusts that you will handle it, and you will.

As far as advice, is there any way you and your fiance can crash at a relatives pad until you sort out housing arrangements?

MakiSupaStar · #12 11-30-2011, 10:40 AM

Split the job. Set the fiance on the job of finding places to live, and then you go out and look for bartending jobs, or similar situations. I bet you could find some pretty similar gigs near the coast or in more touristy seasonal areas.

sandmangeck · #13 11-30-2011, 10:52 AM

That Sucks. That being said, the first time they mentioned selling the business, I would have been on the prowl, putting in applications for a new job. They gave you plenty of notice that your employment with them was in jeopardy.

MatticusMania · #14 11-30-2011, 11:37 AM

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me the issue is with finding a housing arrangement, not really looking for employment. Though, that will have to get settled as well, once the move back home is made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordy_on_bass

Apparently this Sunday, they are entering talks with the most interested investor for the business. They said that they are 99.9% sure it will be sold, but won't know until Sunday and can't give a definite answer until then. Once that happens we will have 2 weeks (December 19th) to pack up a 3 bedroom apartment, organize a removalist and then find a house back home (750 miles interstate).

OldDog52 · #15 11-30-2011, 11:58 AM

It seems odd that the new owners would not want you to stick around for a while so they can learn the operation and make for a smooth transition to new management.

elgecko · #16 11-30-2011, 12:09 PM

I prescribe you go fishing!

rr5025 · #17 11-30-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me the issue is with finding a housing arrangement, not really looking for employment. Though, that will have to get settled as well, once the move back home is made.

+1

jordy_on_bass · #18 11-30-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

I prescribe you go fishing!

I went on Tuesday, if I go again I might be in the doghouse lol.

To answer a few questions (Matticusmania), jobs and money is not the issue. I have been a smart young fella and have saved alot of my money, so I could probably take 6 months off work, unpaid.

The new owners have been doing pubs for years, it's pretty much all the same thing in Australia. When we took over, we had 2 hours in the office with the previous guy - that was it!

Tekdiver500ft, it is the opportunity we have wanted to get out of here.

tekdiver500ft · #19 11-30-2011, 07:09 PM

That's a great attitude, Jordy, and if true, then it's a blessing, and I'm happy for you.

jordy_on_bass · #20 11-30-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

I prescribe you go fishing!

I went on Tuesday, if I go again I might be in the doghouse lol.

To answer a few questions (Matticusmania), jobs and money is not the issue. I have been a smart young fella and have saved alot of my money, so I could probably take 6 months off work, unpaid.

The new owners have been doing pubs for years, it's pretty much all the same thing in Australia. When we took over, we had 2 hours in the office with the previous guy - that was it! Pub management is pretty easy as far as the paperwork etc

Tekdiver500ft, it is the opportunity we have wanted to get out of here. We have been wanting to get out but as I previously said, I think it is a bit unfair to give us 2 weeks notice to leave, just before xmas. I know I have a band waiting for me 750 miles away at home, that's a dream job compared to this hahaha.