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I'm going to lose my job...

49 replies

ReallyJustBloodyDidThat · 11/12/2017 22:28

...and I'm happy about it - sort of. I posted about this horrid, toxic working environment on a previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3095159-To-tell-them-to-stuff-their-bloody-job?msgid=73582993.

Things are getting worse. The boss actually shouted at me across the office, telling me off, and even my manager looked shocked. I quite literally cannot do anything right. I was told that if my work doesn't improve in 2 weeks, I would be given notice.

The last straw came today. Last week I was asked to update a document. It took me a few days to get hold of all the people, but I did, and updated everything I had to. I know for a fact I did. What earthly reason could I have to not update one person's details and pretend I had. All our documents are saved on a shared drive that anyone can access. I had a few days off last week, and my manager sent out this document to our whole network, which is quite large. Got into the office this morning and got another telling off because some of the dates on the document were wrong. Now I know for a bloody fact that I put the correct information in there! I was told that she was very disappointed, as she had hoped I wouldn't make any mistakes. I bloody didn't!

I've had nightmares about work for four consecutive nights now. My mental health is really suffering and my antidepressants aren't even helping any more. I hardly even blink when they tell me off - it's become such a regular thing. I really want out of that horrible, toxic place. The boss has made it quite clear he wants me gone, and too many things have happened and been blamed on me to be co-incidence. It's not a persecution complex if they're really out to get you.

I know I can't walk, as that will look bad on my record/CV. I know for a fact I will be given notice this or next week. If they sack me, I'm assuming that will also affect my CV, or can I just say the contract ended early. And can they give me a bad reference?

I've been searching for another job, but this time of year, and finding a part time job is impossible. I'm going to study again, but still need a job to keep me going.

What do I do? Please, any help/suggestions will be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Hauntedlobster · 11/12/2017 22:34

Firstly get a hold of the document and view the properties which will show you who last viewed it.

I’d walk before I was pushed if things were that bad and try to negotiate for a good reference.

Hauntedlobster · 11/12/2017 22:34

Flowers though as it sounds horrible

DelphiniumBlue · 11/12/2017 22:34

What an awful situation..
I think that you would be better off giving notice and leaving rather than having a sacking on your record. I know that doesn't help financially, but it sounds as if you will be out of a job anyway if you don't leave voluntarily. However it would affect any benefit entitlement ( I think).
You could speak to ACAS about constructive dismissal, and check if there's a union you can join to help you.

Bluntness100 · 11/12/2017 22:36

I think if they are going to fire you it’s better to quit. Yes of con rude they can give you a bad reference if they feel it’s factual.. You could negotiate with them to say you’ve resigned at the point of dismissal but it’s not certain they will permit it. You cannot however claim benefits for a period if you resign.

I’m not sure what you’re saying though, are you saying they took a perfectly correct piece of work and doctored it to look like there was errors in it? Or that the dates aren’t wrong but she thinks they are?

Allthecoolkids · 11/12/2017 22:36

Surely resigning is better than being fired?
And loads of people are hiring for Christmas. Retailers, Royal Mail etc.

Bluntness100 · 11/12/2017 22:37

Com rude? “Of course” sorry, damn auto correct.

Runningoutofusernames · 11/12/2017 22:42

If at all possible, keep your dignity and the ability to say honestly at your next interview that you resigned (better on your CV than being sacked, even before end of contract), and quit. Part time and well paid could be hard, but there are tons of seasonal jobs in shops, or touristy places, babysitting, or people will pay well and in cash for pre Christmas cleaning or ironing. What skills do you have? Depending on your skills, are you with agencies? On LinkedIn? Emailing old friends in the industry?

If you desperately need the money and can't find alternatives, the sacking process can be a bit drawn out and get you some time, as they have to go through a due process about first and second warnings etc, but it is bad for anyone's mental health, and sounds like you're already miserable. What is your notice period? Even a month would get you through into january, then from later next month jobs will start coming up.

Good luck, just make sure that your behaviour stays squeaky clean and that you are documenting everything and spend every spare minute hunting for a better opportunity...

Ylvamoon · 11/12/2017 22:47

I agree, go before the push. Also, there are some ways to cover gaps in your CV ... like taking time out for DC, looking for something closer to home, helping out somewhere, big holiday, time for renovating a house.... I'm not suggesting to lie, but think how you can use the time between jobs and make it look reasonable.
I have a 2year gap in my CV that reads something like: took time out to be with my DC and part time computer course. (Computer Course took 18 months & youngest was at school after 12... So I combined the two & employers seem to accept it.)

Devilishpyjamas · 11/12/2017 23:30

Before you do anything check the revision history of the documents you have been accused of getting wrong. Make a copy (screenshot? Phone photo? Something where you won’t get bollocked). Just to protect yourself.

ReallyJustBloodyDidThat · 12/12/2017 02:39

Thanks all. I think any work I do, I'll save a copy on my hard drive at the same time, so I can prove later that I did indeed do the work correctly. I do not make the type of mistakes they are accusing me of - I take too much pride in my work.

I did read somewhere that employers aren't supposed to give bad references.

OP posts:
Haggisfish · 12/12/2017 02:57

If you leave, you can’t sign on.

flowery · 12/12/2017 07:16

”I did read somewhere that employers aren't supposed to give bad references.”

That’s a myth I’m afraid. A reference must be factual, and not give a misleading overall impression, but that doesn’t mean they can’t say anything negative.

However many employers stick to only giving very basic dates/details of employment these days.

I see from your other thread that you’ve only been there less than 4 months. Is there any chance of framing this as a temporary position?

daisychain01 · 12/12/2017 07:26

I did read somewhere that employers aren't supposed to give bad references

They can give a "bad" reference ie negatives if they can cover themselves that it is in good faith and factual in their opinion. Employers often avoid doing it though, to avert complications and stick to ascertainable fact.

You could put it to them that you can part company amicably by you resigning, serving your contractual notice period fully to enable them to recruit your replacement and in return they provide a factual reference with dates of employment and job title only on their letterhead, that you can take away on your last day.

If you have any accrued holiday, you can use to shorten your notice.

daisychain01 · 12/12/2017 07:27

Xpost flowery Smile

Bluntness100 · 12/12/2017 07:29

Op, I mean this gently, but an employer sabotaging a basic admin document before distributing it is highly unlikely in this context, because they just don’t need to, it’s that simple, , there are much easier ways to terminate your employment with your short length of service.

The likely hood here is you did make the mistakes, but were wholly unaware of it, so yes keeping w copy in future to be able to check is a good idea.

To be honest, if you did make the errors, then refused to accept you did, then denied it and accused your employer of falsifying the document to make it look like you did, I think You will struggle to keep any job. I would take a step back next time, always keep a copy of your work.or have someone check it, and try to be more careful in future.

I think the sooner the employment ends the better. They are clearly not happy with you/your work, you are clearly not happy with the way they treat you and it would take a super human effort to fix it.💐

Devilishpyjamas · 12/12/2017 07:36

I don’t imagine the employer sabotaged, but someone else may have made changes which the employer then automatically blames on OP without actually checking who altered the dates. Have seen similar happen before.

ReallyJustBloodyDidThat · 12/12/2017 08:26

I see from your other thread that you’ve only been there less than 4 months. Is there any chance of framing this as a temporary position?

It is an 8-month contract, and I've been there about 4.5 months now.

As for sabotage - it's happened in other documents, like meeting minutes. I'll type them, check them, ask my manager to check them, check them another 2 times and distribute them by e-mail. Before the meeting I'll print them out and during the meeting I'll notice errors, like sentences added or changed, no capitals at the beginning of sentences, bad grammar etc. That is simply not me. I do not send out stuff full of errors.

OP posts:
KeemaNaan · 12/12/2017 08:30

I second that you keep a version locally to refer to. You can also check the document properties to see who last edited it. Iirc you may also be able to check what was edited.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. You must feel sick to your stomach.

When it comes to references, you can always put your manager down rather than the boss who is shouting at you.

Tugtupite · 12/12/2017 09:07

That is simply not me. I do not send out stuff full of errors.

In this case they are either:

  1. former uncorrected versions, or
  2. someone else is editing your final versions

    As pp have said you need to go into the document properties and look at the revision history...

    I'd also recommend saving your final documents in pdf non-editable format and emailing that.

    Sounds horrible.
s4nha · 12/12/2017 11:33

I would check benefit situation. I think you will get 6months JSA if you have paid 2 years national insurance contributions. I think it is called income based JSA? I received it 6 years ago after resigning from a post.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 12/12/2017 11:39

Did you email those minutes etc to your boss? If so you can go into Sent and check what you did send over and compare it to the final copy. If someone's gone so far as to delete your Sent file and re-sent it, you'll be able to see the date and time that it was re-sent.

Hauntedlobster · 12/12/2017 12:44

I used to send board reports as pdfs so they couldn’t be changed and found this gave me peace of mind.

As PPs have said, there are plenty of ways of finding out if this is sabotage. I’d check to see but ultimately things are not good either way.

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Viviennemary · 12/12/2017 12:51

I see you have only a few months to go on your contract. I think you could just contract came to an end on any future CV because it was a temporary position anyway. You should have printed out the corrected copy of the document as proof if you suspect sabotage but it's too late for that now. If you've noticed this a few times have you anybody in mind that could be doing this. If there is somebody they must be some weird individual indeed.

Regularsizedrudy · 12/12/2017 12:52

It always looks better to quit than to get sacked. You need to go asap then you can decide with a clear head your next move. You may well have a case for constructive dismissal

Viviennemary · 12/12/2017 12:54

To add is the most likely answer that the corrected document isn't being saved correctly either due to some computer glitch or human error.

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