Lost job ............
dilemna
Posts: 2,187
Not sacked, not fired, not dismissed but told I'm incompatible with the business .......... contract terminated and escorted off the premises. They did allow me to change back into my cycling gear albeit security stood outside the toilets. So I had a half day friday.
I am stunned and at a loss as to how a large company can do this. The policies and procedures they claim to adhere to aren't worth the paper they are printed on, (one side only btw). Well they can do this if you are still in their probationary period (13 weeks) and in any event with less than 12 months service one cannot claim unfair dismissal. I had been there 1 month getting on ok and working hard. A bit worried that colleagues appeared to be receiving more training than myself as I was put on other duties not in my job description for a week as they were desperate to get this other stuff done, but was told not to worry about falling behind this would be addressed and I would receive training.
Only I have been working in same such businesses elsewhere for 4 years no problem whatsoever. No warning or any indication that this was about to happen. As I say I am stunned. One minute I was working hard with colleagues on the shopfloor with whom I had a good relationship, the next I was being escorted by a line manager off the shop floor to a room off the main reception area right at the front of the building. There was no negotiation I was told I was finishing before lunchtime and would be paid one week's notice. They refused to enter into any discussion. Everything was written down. I was not given a copy. I was denied a companion which included union representation.
As I've only been there a month basically the company can do whatever they like. If they don't like me which is the only reason I can think this is reason enough to boot me out, although they were all very friendly .......... except one line manager who was a little Hitler. Apparently the word was he went for the job of shift manager and didn't get it so had a huge chip on his shoulder being a lowly department line manager. He did have a real go at me on tuesday as he thought I had made a mistake and told me I had listening problems suggested I was lying telling him that I had little practice on the task since my initial trianing in the first week. I asked for assistance from a trainer but was told to just get on with it. A trainer eventually came over to watch over me and offer help but about 20 minutes later I encountered a problem which brought him flying over literally in a fury. At one point there were 5 people around my bench. Only when my work was checked, twice, as first time they could not find a mistake they checked it again and realised the mistake was not mine but some one from another site .............. a missing item. No apology, nothing. He even had the cheek to come over to give me more grief by standing right in front of me on the other side of the bench staring intently at me as I worked. My hands were shaking like a leaf.
I'm gutted as the job was ok and quite well paid for what it was. The people I was working with were OK as well. It was permanent work plus all the other benefits, proper over time rates, decent bonus scheme, reasonable pension scheme and opportunities to progress. I thought I would see out my days with these people.
Now it's back to square one, hunting for another job. It took me long enough to find this one. The facilites for cyclists were good as well. Good bike racks under cover and showers. The lockers were a bit pokey though and no where to hang stuff to dry, not even a damp towel, so had to take in a dry set of shorts, socks and jersey everyday for the ride home. It was an easy 30 mile round trip as well.
I am stunned and at a loss as to how a large company can do this. The policies and procedures they claim to adhere to aren't worth the paper they are printed on, (one side only btw). Well they can do this if you are still in their probationary period (13 weeks) and in any event with less than 12 months service one cannot claim unfair dismissal. I had been there 1 month getting on ok and working hard. A bit worried that colleagues appeared to be receiving more training than myself as I was put on other duties not in my job description for a week as they were desperate to get this other stuff done, but was told not to worry about falling behind this would be addressed and I would receive training.
Only I have been working in same such businesses elsewhere for 4 years no problem whatsoever. No warning or any indication that this was about to happen. As I say I am stunned. One minute I was working hard with colleagues on the shopfloor with whom I had a good relationship, the next I was being escorted by a line manager off the shop floor to a room off the main reception area right at the front of the building. There was no negotiation I was told I was finishing before lunchtime and would be paid one week's notice. They refused to enter into any discussion. Everything was written down. I was not given a copy. I was denied a companion which included union representation.
As I've only been there a month basically the company can do whatever they like. If they don't like me which is the only reason I can think this is reason enough to boot me out, although they were all very friendly .......... except one line manager who was a little Hitler. Apparently the word was he went for the job of shift manager and didn't get it so had a huge chip on his shoulder being a lowly department line manager. He did have a real go at me on tuesday as he thought I had made a mistake and told me I had listening problems suggested I was lying telling him that I had little practice on the task since my initial trianing in the first week. I asked for assistance from a trainer but was told to just get on with it. A trainer eventually came over to watch over me and offer help but about 20 minutes later I encountered a problem which brought him flying over literally in a fury. At one point there were 5 people around my bench. Only when my work was checked, twice, as first time they could not find a mistake they checked it again and realised the mistake was not mine but some one from another site .............. a missing item. No apology, nothing. He even had the cheek to come over to give me more grief by standing right in front of me on the other side of the bench staring intently at me as I worked. My hands were shaking like a leaf.
I'm gutted as the job was ok and quite well paid for what it was. The people I was working with were OK as well. It was permanent work plus all the other benefits, proper over time rates, decent bonus scheme, reasonable pension scheme and opportunities to progress. I thought I would see out my days with these people.
Now it's back to square one, hunting for another job. It took me long enough to find this one. The facilites for cyclists were good as well. Good bike racks under cover and showers. The lockers were a bit pokey though and no where to hang stuff to dry, not even a damp towel, so had to take in a dry set of shorts, socks and jersey everyday for the ride home. It was an easy 30 mile round trip as well.
Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.
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huh. you just dont want work do you. (sarcasm) . thats why so many are unemployed i believe, they want ready made candidates. i cant stand this kind of shoot behaviour. you deserve a full explanation at least. you never know if they are working on false information from some other party or used as a scapegoat, which you had no chance to defend yourself. either that or they didnt have a good speakable reason. it stinks. it sounds heavy to escort you off like that. it stinks somewhere. false stealing accusation?0
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Sorry to hear this mate.
Name and shame!0 -
I was made redundant about 6 weeks ago, after 9 years at the company, so I know the pain.
It sounds more like you had a lucky escape though, to be honest. If a company is going to treat staff like that in the first few weeks, you can imagine how that will go later into your employment.
I was made redundant just before the start of the TdF, plus the sun has made a record appearance during my time off, so it's not all bad.
Something else will come along, it is often lifes way of pointing us in the right direction.Complicating matters since 19650 -
Small consolation around now but remember that the probationary period works both ways. (Same goes for interviews. You are interviewing them too).
My guess is that around now you would probably prefer not to work for a company that treats it's staff that way.
Better luck for the the next one.None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.0 -
name & shame whilst thanking your lucky stars you have escaped and spending the minimum of time there0
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This is a real sickener and it's never fair when Employers think they can treat their employees like this. One thing I might add though is not to confuse Unfair Dismissal with Wrongful Dismissal - they are two seperate entities. You're employer can sack you without notice but to do so you must have commited a serious breach of contract. If you have not, it could well be that your employer is the one who has breached your contract and that puts him squarely in the wrong.
Obviously not enough specific knowledge or details here on my part to say one way or t'other but if this has came completely out of the blue and without foundation as your say, then perhaps a call to a solicitor might be worthwhile?0 -
Had this years ago, week before Christmas.
Actually, got a sorta disciplinary tomorrow, more to do with sickness/time off.
Injurys on duty are to listed as Accident on Duty, so this doesn't go on your record.
BUT...Manager claim it was "Incident" not Accident, hence meeting.
Two weeks off sick, medication/treatment,
Union Reps, Union Legal Dept, GP all say Accident, so big fight on my hands, it appears.
Hope they see sense and it doesn't got further...0 -
As others have already noted, it sounds like you're far better off out of this company, it's just a shame that they've wasted your time.
A proper explanation should always be given at the absolute least, even if they've based the dismissal on nothing other than personal attitude.
It might be worth writing to their HR department asking politely for an explanation. You could say you'd appreciate their views to assist you in avoiding similar downfalls in future employment.
If you went through a recruitment firm, it might be worth trying to get feedback from them on what happened, or even complaining to them about the situation. OK, it won't change their decision, but they should be aware if they're going to treat other people so poorly in the future.Giant Rapid 30 -
It could be they actually took on more people than they needed, with the intention of cherry picking those whose faces fitted best during the probationary period. There are some managers, the doubters, who quickly form an opinion about the merits or otherwise of their various employees and, once made, their opinion never changes whatever you do.0
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dont take it too personally if they do give an explanation either, it could be a pile of junk.
sometimes it doesnt matter how well you do as above.0 -
I once worked for (then called) Customs and Excise within a VAT call centre.
They do the same now, the 'probationary period' where they can get rid of you 'just like that' if your not 'compatible' or (the bit they don't say) they just want someone to do a quick bit of work , promise you the earth and then pull the rug from under you once they get what they want.
hella sux mate, most jobs going this way now - the only people whose jobs are safe ar the fat cats who are not 'accountable' to anyone except their mates who got them the job in the first place because they went to the same public school - think it doesn't happen ? think again!
the ol' 'not what you know its who you know' is so rife its disgusting - and nepotism - don't even get me started on that one!
'since the flaming telly's been taken away, we don't even know if the Queen of Englands gone off with the dustman'.
Lizzie Birdsworth, Episode 64, Prisoner Cell Block H.0 -
Without wanting to come across as unsympathetic, which I'm not, probationary periods are the norm for most jobs.
Certainly the way you lost your job is very unfortunate and is not the way probationary periods are intended.
I'm currently on one myself, but I'd certainly get an idea if I wasn't on track for being kept on much earlier on from the guys I work with before they decide I'm not suitable.
Not that it's much consolation, but you probably weren't a good fit for the place anyway. In the long run, once the emotions die down, you'll consider it a (rather badly done) favour.0 -
What is it about shitfaced bullying line managers who,taken out of the job they are in would be pretty unemployable any where else. Nothing but workplace bullies and I despise them. Sounds like you are better of out of it0
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Rick Chasey wrote:Without wanting to come across as unsympathetic, which I'm not, probationary periods are the norm for most jobs.
Certainly the way you lost your job is very unfortunate and is not the way probationary periods are intended.
I'm currently on one myself, but I'd certainly get an idea if I wasn't on track for being kept on much earlier on from the guys I work with before they decide I'm not suitable.
Not that it's much consolation, but you probably weren't a good fit for the place anyway. In the long run, once the emotions die down, you'll consider it a (rather badly done) favour.
Errr ........ no.
Not sure it would be appropriate for me to name and shame at this stage as my letter to HR is winging it's way to them seeking an explanation, even if legally, they do not have to provide one or could just file my letter in the tray marked bin. If this happens it is complaint to CEO of UK division as they are a global company. Then may be a letter to the CEO of their contractual partner whom I was taken on to provide goods and services for to let them know what is really going on.
I'm still in shock really as one minute I was working with colleagues I really got on well with and the next I was being marched toward reception. No chance to say goodbyes and in many instances collect contacts. I guess that was what they wanted.
The job market is very difficult at the moment. I was off for 16 months making literally hundreds of applications to employers until I landed this one. I am well educated and qualified and have a very good work history. Maybe the management felt threatened by this although it was discussed fully at interview so they shouldn't now turn around and say I am incompatible with their business. They have given me 1 week's notice as compensation. Maybe on reflection HR will re-instate me as they may have been given a very partial story by management and not having heard my side of the story may reach the view that my departure was indeed very unfair. I told the shift managers that I did not have a problem working with them or any of my colleagues, except obviously for the little Hitler although I didn't mention him.
The biazarre thing was when the meeting was wrapped up before security escorted me off site, the shift manager who had been smirking almost laughing as he read from a clearly pre-prepared list that he did not compile, offered me his hand as I was walking out of the room. Quite why I don't know. Conscience, if he had one. Guilt? I paused and looked him straight in the eye before I shook though. I didn't want to but felt I should if I wanted to convince HR to give me my job back or a decent reference. It's always best to keep things amicable where ever possible. The other guy who had been furiously writing wouldn't even look at me and walked off. No thanks whatsoever from either of them for the hard work I had already done. And very hard physically it was - conveyor belt testing over 3 floors taking a batch of 1000 boxes between three floors time after time for a period of a week. A nightmare when it all jammed up. The 3rd day I suggested to the replacement line manager who had told us the orientation of the boxes on the belt was wrong, that we were indeed right having already spent 3 days testing, but no we had to reverse them and sure enough 10 minutes later there were 1000 boxes backed up and jamming a complicated merge conveyor. Of course the line manager didn't admit his error but tried to blame it on the computer sequencing software controlling the belt. The chief tech guy was NOT very happy. He pointed out to the line manager that labels we had stuck on the boxes 3 days previously were now on the opposite side to the light sensors reading them. Doh! He couldn't get out of the that.
Any how. If this is how they really treat enthusiastic hard working well qualified people then I am best out of there. Just that a job paying £20k that doesn't have too much pressure and that is pretty good to fit cycling around can't be bad. I converted three people to cycling to work even though they only had about a 2 mile ride and me 15 miles.
Anyway today I went to the Jobcentre to sign on again after only 1 month away. They were as shocked to see me as I was depressed to see them.
I'm still gutted and very depressed. Back to square one again.
Thanks for all the words of support and sympathy. It's appreciated.Life is like a roll of toilet paper; long and useful, but always ends at the wrong moment. Anon.
Think how stupid the average person is.......
half of them are even more stupid than you first thought.0 -
Bad news but sounds like they weren't good to work for. The people I work for had a shuffle round recently and removed certain individuals who didn't fit in with the new ideas of 'customer service'. The management told a number of us that we didn't 'map across' to a new role and had to be reinterviewed for our jobs. There was some fudging of figures and some people were hoisted out albeit with voluntary severance. But the guys who survived don't trust the management at all now.
Keep looking,something will come up.M.Rushton0
