July 2023 by Trupti Upadhyay
Grossly Unfair Treatment at William Hill - Employee Beware!Rating: ?Having worked with William Hill for a solid year, I find myself compelled to share my unjust and deeply disturbing experience, highlighting the clear-cut bias and inconsistent management tactics I've faced.Let me begin by saying, I have been a hardworking and dedicated employee from day one. Never missing a shift, always going above and beyond, even offering last-minute support when required. Yet, I found myself dismissed on the grounds of 'gross misconduct' and 'gross negligence', terms that I believe were harshly and erroneously applied to my situation.My supposed 'misconduct' was letting a colleague leave early on five quiet occasions to care for her unwell child and taking an extended break due to personal family issues. These are gestures of humanity and understanding that many of us, especially in these trying times, would offer without a second thought. This act, I was led to believe, was normal practice in all the shops I had worked at, with over 95% of the employees, including those who conducted my meetings, doing the same. I was not aware it was an infraction of such severity, as it was never communicated as such.My dismissal meetings were echoes of each other, with the same questions repeated, and the same disregard shown for my pleas for leniency and a final written warning instead of dismissal. Instead, they selectively chose not to address similar behavior by others due to a lack of 'valid proof', whilst providing no substantial proof for my own supposed misdeeds.I was subjected to three stressful meetings, the appeal process being a hollow repetition of the previous sessions. When I finally lost my patience, highlighting the company's inconsistencies and lack of fair investigation, I was asked to provide names, dates, and times for the same people who had dismissed me, to be investigated. How could an employee have access to such information? Isn't that the responsibility of the management?My reputation has been severely tarnished as a result of this unceremonious dismissal. I now face an uphill battle to secure employment elsewhere due to this experience. The company's handling of my situation has not only wasted my time but severely impacted my mental wellbeing and financial stability.I firmly believe in my right to justice in this matter. I stand by my work ethic and dedication to the job; never have I taken a single sick call, always been flexible and reliable, and often the first to offer help when needed.To summarily dismiss me for actions deemed acceptable for others is nothing short of discriminatory. Even when requesting a notice period to find alternative employment, I was met with harsh responses, stating I committed a 'big crime'. It is baffling and disheartening to be labelled as such for actions guided by compassion and necessity.If this is the way William Hill treats its loyal and hardworking employees, then I sincerely advise potential candidates to consider their options before joining this organization. As of my experience, the company's 'management' lacks the fairness, transparency, and humanity one expects from an employer of its stature.Sadly, it appears that William Hill's current priorities lie not in the welfare of its employees but in finding reasons to dismiss them. Unjust, unfair, and deeply disappointing.