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I am working for a female friend and have been doing so for six months. Just to help her with her financial problems in the company, I "temporarily" accepted a very low wage. In fact it was about half the national minimum wage allowance. As said I have now worked for her for 6 months and I generally do between 9 and 12 hour days, 6 days a week. I am often left in charge of the company when she travels and I basically do everything.
She does thank me (very occasionally), but on most days she insults me, argues with me or she insinuates that I am lying telling me she has not given me an instruction when in actual fact she did.
She can be extremely abusive, to the point of swearing very forcefully, shouting and leaving the room. She will often favour the other staff and accuse me of mistreating them. This in turn causes my subordinate staff to ignore me. She changes the rules constantly depending on the person she favours at the time, does not keep me in the loop and then the subordinate informs me they were told such and such by the boss.
I am a very reasonable, hard working person. Clients have noticed her behaviour (especially after a beer or two), and commented on it. I did ask for a rise but was shouted down, yet since then she has employed other people and I know for a fact they are on a much higher salary than me and do much less important work.
I KNOW I am being taking advantage of here and as it?s only a small company with nobody else to approach I have tried to speak to her about it, but she just gets really angry whenever I try to talk to her. I do not want to lose her friendship, but I am being worn down by her and my subordinates being constantly rude to me (not in earshot of her of course). Whenever I mention the rudeness she says it is my attitude that is the problem and I know it really is not.
Please can somebody suggest how I can deal with this? I do not want to leave her "in the lurch", however, I feel my health is suffering and it is as if I am constantly walking on eggshells. No matter what I say, she always manages to pick fault with it, especially in front of junior staff which is very embarrassing.
Thank you very much.
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At the end of the day she is employing you. She HAS by law got to pay you the minimum wage. Why help her to be dishonest, at your own expense. And sadly, at the end of the day it will be at HER expense too as she will more than likely loose one of the best things she ever had, a good friend like you.
Who are you, an escaped serial killer gone into hiding?
Baz.
ahforfoulkessake