Karren Brady's career advice from unfair treatment at work to starting a business

APPRENTICE star and vice-chairperson of West Ham FC Karren Brady answers all your careers questions.

Today she gives advice to a woman who feels she was mistreated in the workplace and provides the first steps to launching your own business.

Q: During my appraisal in my role as sales manager, my boss told me I would need to report in to someone else from then on.

My job title was changed (although my salary wasn’t) and a male colleague is now doing my old sales manager job. I really want to report this to someone as it seems wrong, but I don’t want to risk getting sacked.

Do you have any advice?

Fiona, via email

A: It doesn’t sound to me that you have been treated very well, but first gather the facts.

What does your employment contract state your title is, and does it detail who you report to and what your responsibilities are?

If your title or role have been changed from those detailed in your contract then you need to discuss it with HR and ask for a written explanation as to how and why changes have been made without discussion and consultation with you.

Write down everything you are unhappy about, collate the dates and times of conversations you’ve had, along with emails or letters that relate to the situation. You should also think about how you want your company to resolve the issue.

If HR do not give you an explanation you are happy with, you should formally say you haven’t accepted the changes imposed on you but you’re willing to try and sort things out amicably and ask them to make suggestions for how to do this.

Keep notes and if HR agree to do something, ask them to set a date that they will do it by. Also, ask for a copy of – or intranet link to – your staff handbook, which will detail how to raise a grievance if you are still unhappy.

The bottom line is you will either have to put up with the changes or put your foot down, and this may mean you make a claim to an employment tribunal or sue your company for breaking your contract.

Before you make such an important decision speak to the Citizens Advice Bureau. These are not easy choices, but if you don’t stand up for yourself, no one will do it for you.

Bossing It

BOSSING It is Fabulous’ series about ordinary women who have launched incredible businesses.

It aims to inspire other women and show that if these ladies can do it, so can you!

Read more at Thesun.co.uk/topic/bossing-it.

Q: I’m always getting complimented on how beautiful my garden is, so I’m contemplating starting my own business helping local people do jobs such as mow their lawn and plant shrubs.

But I find the idea of running a business daunting. Do you have any tips for a beginner?

Lara, via email

A: Running your own business can be liberating, rewarding and so much fun. It will help to break down setting up the business into three parts. The first part is the name, logo and marketing.

Choose a name and register it (it’s easy to do online and costs as little as £12). Set up a website and lay out your proposition with photos, details of what you do and what makes you different – add things like a blog to make it interesting. And, most importantly, include how people can contact you.

Do the same on social media, and make sure you post positive reviews. The next part is a business plan and funding (if you need it). Work out what you will charge and buy the minimum equipment you need to get started, setting up trade accounts for all the goods you’ll need.

The last and most important part is to get going. Decide what you will need to do in the first month, first six months etc, and then go for it.

You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try, so the only thing holding you back is you! 

Compiled by: Claire Frost

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