Good news stories after being dismissed?

[leholly]

Hi, I believe I am going to be dismissed from my workplace after 10 years for a stupid, stupid mistake. Can't be any more specific than that as still going through the motions with work. I feel a bit like throwing myself out the window as I've messed up. Have put mine and my husband's life plans back probably many years and we have a young family including a new baby (am on mat leave). The meeting is in the next few days and I'm looking for good news stories about life after sacking, as I'm naturally somebody who is hard on myself anyway so I just need some MN support to get through this! I think I will retrain in a different field once my bub is a few months older but it all seems insurmountable right now.

[IceMaiden73]

Would there be an option to resign rather than be dismissed?

Have you spoken to ACAS? Do they definitely have grounds for dismissal?

[diamond457]

Get some advice from acas, it's free.
If your interested in 're training, why don't you volunteer one day a week if possible. It will keep your spirits up while all this Is going on too.
We all make mistakes in life, draw a line under it.
Sometimes we have to reach rock bottom to end up where we are meant to. A whole new start.
I wasn't sacked but I walked out my job after a year of bullying. I got myself in a right mess. Couldn't face going back no matter what financial state we were in. I ended up taking a job I don't want, a lot less money and hours and I'm still going through the motions. Money is tight but I don't have any options just now.
Work can be great but also totally shit.
Enjoy your baby just now, a whole new start and a whole new life.
Don't beat yourself up for it.

[OllyBJolly]

I haven't been dismissed but I have been made redundant in dubious circumstances. the outcome was great.

First time, I was contacted by a client who had heard I'd left and was offered a brilliant job. Probably the best working experience in my life in terms of fun.

Second time, no savings, small children, single parent, desperate. I emailed every contact I had saying I was on the market. I was offered a three month project that turned into almost 6 years employment.

Third time, nothing on horizon so I decided to free-lance until something came up. 6 years on that's what I'm still doing and never been happier, busier or better off.

What I've learned is that a shit company can really erode your confidence. Outside that company nobody knows or cares. There are a lot of petty people who are really not worth worrying about.

You've held a job for 10 years which shows you have some skills and abilities that an employer will pay for. You have a legitimate reason for a career break so don't have to explain why you left your current employer. Whatever happens at the meeting you'll cope. You'll get another job that might be bigger and better than your last one. Best of luck x

[CrazyDuchess]

I was dismissed (unfairly) 6 weeks ago.

Today - after speaking with CAB - I have 2 job offers and confirmation of a good reference from last employers as long as I don't take them to tribunal.....

It does come good in the end xx

[ThinkPinkStink]

I don't know the ins and outs, but as an employee you are protected by the law. Even more so when you're on mat leave.

I obv. don't know what this 'dismissal worthy' error was - but unless you have broken the terms of your contract (gross negligence?) or behaved illegally, don't take this lying down. Speak to CAB/ACAS.

And of course you'll get a new job! I wholly believe that! You care and you can't buy that!!

[Lilylo]

Hi leholly, I was let go from my previous job a month ago because thw company was financially struggling. I started looking for another job right away and yesterday I signed a contract for a new job in a much nicer company and with a 60% salary raise!

Granted, I was let go and not fired, which may be a bit different. But no one called my references or ex-company to check whether my story was legit, I honestly could have lied about it if I wanted!

[mouldycheesefan]

I work in HR and it would be unusual for us to dismiss someone with ten years service for an error, unless that error had serious financial or other implications. To go straight to dismissal assuming you have no other warnings it would need to be gross misconduct. So a very serious error or negligence or fraud. So either th situation is worse than you painting or you will get a warning instead of dismissal or some other action short of dismissal e.g demotion.
Contacting acas is a good idea.

[leholly]

Thanks all, words I needed to hear. When I say 'stupid mistake' I mean I made a stupid mistake which had serious consequences, not that the company is being stupid. Ten years of great service, not even a sickness warning, so it shows how serious it is.The meeting is tomorrow. mouldy can I rack your HR brains? Obviously I'd rather ask to be able to resign than be dismissed for gross misconduct, from an HR perspective does that sound like something I could/should ask for? Their usual policy is to conclude any misconduct investigation in your notice period.

[mouldycheesefan]

Of course you can ask. People do. We only ever said yes to that once the other times we went ahead and dismissed on gross misconduct. The time we said yes we had flimsy evidence.

[ajandjjmum]

Seems incredible that a stupid mistake should have such grave consequences leholly, but you seem to accept that, and hopefully HR will do what they can to be reasonable. Good luck for tomorrow.

[leholly]

Thanks mouldy! Any other 'life after dismissal' good news stories?! mouldy should I retrain in HR now I have experience in it?

[Fitzers]

When did this mistake come to light leholly of you are on maternity leave now? I don't mean to ask for details that would identify you but I'm concerned you are leaping to the worst possible outcome when that might not be the case. I also wouldn't volunteer to resign unless they definitely intend to dismiss you and even if they do is recommend some independent advice as to whether that's a proportionate response given the specific circumstances. I suppose I just find it hard to see how a mistake could have such ramifications, usually there is intent, fraud etc to move to instant dismissal. Not saying it isn't possible but it would have to be something huge with major financial costs etc. Anyway get some advice I think and don't be too quick to jump ship, wait and see what's proposed.

[leholly]

Thanks ajandjj, positive vibes! I'll update tomorrow.

[HermioneWeasley]

I'm struggling to think what you can have done while on mat leave

If you are certain they'll dismiss you, you'd be better off resigning. Are you in a regulated role of any kind?

[flowery]

If you have ten years good service and are on maternity leave it would surely have to be incredibly serious for them to feel they have to dismiss you rather than give you a final written warning or similar. Are you sure you're not just being hard on yourself and assuming the worst?

[leholly]

It's a mistake I made 4 years ago. Sorry to be vague but I really don't want to identify myself. I feel like a more mature person now but for the company they have only just noticed. It just happens to fall now. hermione not sure what a regulated role is so I guess I don't! flowery thanks for the reality check but it is that serious. There are mitigating factors and that's what I'm relying on but......slim hope.

[mouldycheesefan]

If it was four years ago and it only came to light now then perhaps the repercussions of the error are less serious than you think. Clearly it had limited immediate impact. Why did your manager not pick up in it before now? We are all human, we all make mistakes but to be sacked for something that was a genuine error that happens four years ago is unusual. I accept that there are circumstances where this would apply e.g you are a surgeon, you left your scissors in a Patient four years ago it was just discovered when they had an X Ray last week! Is the kind of situation that springs to mind. And even then I don't think you would be sacked! hope you just get a warning. Good luck.

[MummyBex1985]

You might not actually be dismissed, OP.

I would suggest that you apologise profusely and point out your clean disciplinary record and your significant length of service. Think of ways that you can demonstrate to your employer that such a mistake won't happen again to give them confidence that they can continue the employment relationship. Throw enough mitigation at it and you might just be able to keep your job.

[MummyBex1985]

Oh and I've just seen that it was four years ago! So you've also worked for four years since the alleged misconduct - it would be difficult for your employer to argue you should be dismissed, despite the fact that it's only just been uncovered.

OP, I think it's possible that you might be okay.

[flowery]

I can only think of very few examples of things where it would be reasonable to sack someone with an otherwise good record 4 years down the line, but none of them are of the stupid mistake variety. I really think it's worth fighting a dismissal OP.

But if you do get dismissed or decide to retrain rather than going back anyway, I know loads of people who were prompted (usually by redundancy but a few dismissals as well) to do something different after leaving a long-term job, who genuinely felt it was the best thing for them after they'd got themselves sorted, and who have found new lines of work/retrained/started own businesses or similar.

[leholly]

Hooray, flowery! That's what I wanted to hear! Gives me hope that i can bounce back. Thanks, you really are a . And thanks loads mouldy fitzers and mummy, I will think about fighting it, tho in any case not sure I want to stay, I think this has made me determined to retrain. FWIW today's meeting was less terrifying than I was expecting (TBH I think I was expecting something along the lines of the gestapo I had built it up so much) but it was formal but pleasant. As mummy suggested I apologised a lot and I am also emailing them a statement of mitigating factors and apologies to really make it clear. They will let me know by the end of this month, so I'll update then. I guess it's the bad times that make us grow (and grow up).

[Fitzers]

This actually gets stranger. Why do they need a month to decide to dismiss you? Gross misconduct usually gets you marched out the door as soon as it is discovered. All very strange on the part of the company, unless they are checking out where they stand legally, which actually is a good thing for you as it would mean they may not be able to take that step. I'd still get advice for yourself and don't be too quick to fall on your sword.

[flowery]

"Why do they need a month to decide to dismiss you? Gross misconduct usually gets you marched out the door as soon as it is discovered."

Not at all. It depends on the nature of the offence. To dismiss someone for GM particularly someone with a long unblemished record, they'd need to be sure of their facts and the circumstances. This needs a thorough investigation which could certainly take a month in a situation where the events took place 4 years ago.

[Fitzers]

Hmmm well I've only known someone to be suspended and never allowed work while the investigation is ongoing. That said the OP is on ML so I suppose no need to suspend as she isn't in the office.

[leholly]

Hi, just an update - had the hearing yesterday and I've been demoted and put on a final written warning . What I haven't missed throughout this is my job, however, anx im certainly not going to enjoy doing it for less money, so I'm going to give notice to quit on Monday, and spend some time thinking about things, reflecting, and deciding what I'll do next. I reckon it'll be easier to get a bit of agency work with a final written warning rather than being sacked (not easy but easier). I admit, I could have never predicted this happening in my life, as I always thought of myself as a careful and consistent person, but that's life, we have to fail sometimes to grow and learn, don't we?!?!