Just been sacked for the first time ever after a funeral

I think you'll get a lot of advice about what you can do to argue this, but ultimately I doubt you want to work there anymore after this. Just checking they have given you notice and will pay you your notice, so hopefully at least 1 month money but you can go immediately? Did they even ask you to do a handover?

In terms of future employment, if asked at interview, just say it didn't work out there and wasn't a good cultural fit for you. I did 7 months at a company and I was miserable, I quit with nowhere to go, and to be honest future employers weren't that interested in why after I gave that flimsy answer about cultural fit. Sometimes these things just happen. In terms of reference for a new employer, your old employer HR will just say 'yes she worked here' - they never say anything more because they don't want to be held to it, so don't worry about references. You're also within your rights to post on LinkedIn that you're open to work and looking for a new role in x field, that will probably speed up your job search.
(all my advice is based on work experience in UK).

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother, I was devastated when I lost mine too.

Im so sorry you lost your gran.i understand totally, mine literally raised me too.:( so sorry you lost your job,that is not fair :( big hugs xxxxxx

I’m so sorry for your loss OP. These things happen in life. If you are proud of your work, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t be embarrassed. Hold your head high.
I would keep the job on your C.V. I’d tell future employers and anyone who asks that you had some reservations about the management style and ethos of the company from the start but you stayed to complete X project successfully.
Finishing the project coincided with the death of the woman who mainly raised you and made you realise that you had more to offer and you weren’t the right fit for the company longer term.
Rather than stay and be miserable you took the brave decision to move on to something that suited your skill set better. It was a mutual decision and seemed like the fairest thing all round.
This is largely true. It is not casting blame. It makes you look professional and self aware.
You can easily survive a nine month job on your C.V. Just rehearse your answer to the inevitable question. I know lots of people who’ve decided quickly that a job isn’t for them and made a quick decision to leave. They’ve all gone on to better things and you will too.

This. Although you can't claim usually claim unfair dismissal unless there's been discrimination related to a protected characteristic, they still have to follow a proper process and it does not sound like they've done this at all. I believe it can be regarded as breach of contract.

There are also a set of "automatically unfair" reasons for dismissal that apply under 2 years.

https://www.davidsonmorris.com/unfair-dismissal-under-2-years/#elementor-toc__heading-anchor-1

Hi op,

it is really tough. I would encourage you to not linger in the whys because evidently nothing serious/important happen. However, the work in itself isn’t all required from an employer’s perspective and it may be that it was just not a great fit on their side….doesn’t look like it was great from your perspective too.

I understand completely you being side blinded though. Not great. But they can’t really tell you… »sorry, we don’t like you so much »…

You will find something better. That you enjoy more!

Good luck op 🌺

There is a process. It just doesn’t apply here.

I don't think there is much you can do under the current legislation although there has been talk of the 2 year rule being removed in the future. But such as it currently stands, here is the relevant ACAS link that will clarify your rights or otherwise:
https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/unfair-dismissal

If you conclude that they haven't acted illegally, there's no point in being awkaward about it; ask for a meeting with your manager or the HR Manager and request that you depart as a "good leaver" ie you remain until the end of the week for example and do a comprehensive handover in respect of what you were working on, they pay you up to date including any outstanding accrued holiday pay and maybe politely ask if they will pay your notice and provide a fair reference if needed. By being reasonable, mature and helpful with your departure, (what is known as a "good leaver"!) you may be able to negotiate some things in your favour and allow you to leave with your head held high.

And then put it down to experience and let it go.
Good luck!

@PrueD The trouble is, OP, that whilst it is unlawful to dismiss someone because they took compassionate leave, you had continuous service of less than 2 years so you don't have the legal right to bring an "unfair" dismissal claim UNLESS you've been primarily dismissed for a reason relating to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, i.e. discrimination, or been dismissed for a reason that's "automatically unfair". This link to the ACAS website gives more information on this: https://www.acas.org.uk/dismissals/unfair-dismissal The list of "automatically unfair" reasons doesn't appear to be exhaustive so it may be worth you speaking to ACAS just to double-check if your dismissal was for a reason which, under law, is considered to be "automatically unfair". (@DazedDragon "pregnancy or maternity leave" is an automatically unfair reason so you may have been able to bring a claim for automatically unfair dismissal even without 2 years' continuous service.)
Also, @PrueD does your contract of employment say anything about how bereavement will be handled by the company and/or reference a Bereavement Policy? If it does and they've breached the terms of your contract in this regard, you may be able to bring a claim for "wrongful" dismissal as all employees have this legal right from day one of their employment (instead of "unfair" dismissal, which, as I've previously explained, you have no legal right to bring with less than 2 years' service unless it's due to discrimination or an "automatically unfair" reason as detailed above). This link to the ACAS website gives more information on this: https://www.acas.org.uk/time-off-for-bereavement
I agree entirely @PrueD that they ended your employment because of your bereavement (which makes them utter bastards in my book!). They clearly cared more about wanting someone that was 100% focused on their job, regardless of what was going on in their private life, than showing basic human decency and giving you the support you need. It really beggars belief. However, it isn't whether their actions were morally wrong that would help you, but if they were legally wrong. Incidentally, if I were you I would definitely make a Subject Access Request (SAR) for your entire personnel file (it's free to request and they have to respond within one month). Your employer claimed they conducted "a thorough review of your performance and overall suitability for your role" so there should be a record of this in your personnel file. If there's no mention of this review then, whilst this is unlikely to help you legally, you will be able to tell people this is the reason they gave for dismissing you but you know it's a lie because you made a SAR and have seen your personnel file which makes no mention of it. 😉Good luck with whatever you do next OP and enjoy your get-together with your friend tomorrow.

It really does suck, but with less than 2 years performance there is nothing you can do.

An engineering company I worked for was restructured whilst I was on maternity. I applied for a team lead position and awaited an interview. They allocated the 4 team lead positions without even considering my application. They interviewed every other candidate. They basically forgot about my application because I was on maternity. I flagged this up and I got this bullshit story about considering me for another position. I then got an interview for this "other" team lead position and was then told I didn't get it. That position never did exist...

Some companies are just crap. Put it behind you and look forward. Their loss and another company's gain.

Have a think, is the new company in direct competition with your old company? Could they have lured you away with a salary increase to stop you doing a good job for your old employer? I hope you find a new job, where you are more appreciated.

The irony is that they'd probably be the type of people to expect everyone to drop everything and come running to their aid when they suffer a bereavement.

They're just arseholes and I repeat what I said earlier - you're better off away from them OP.

Yes you have the right to be angry, but as you worked there less than 2 years they can let you go for any reason they like as long as it is not discrimination.

They didn't fire you for going on compassionate leave, they fired you because they felt you weren't up to scratch at the time.

If your partner is a lawyer, then they'll know how few unfair dismissal cases actually win. By all means phone ACAS, but what are you actually hoping to get from this?! An apology? Your job back?

Have you updated your CV? Have you applied for other jobs yet?

My advice is just to put this behind you and move on. It's their loss and another company's gain.

@PrueD You're right to feel angry OP. It was people that did this - WTF is wrong with them? Do they have so little imagination that they couldn't envisage being in your shoes and how they would feel if they were grieving and other people treated them this way? It's like they're missing the empathy gene!

It’s not a reflection on you.

It’s a reflection of a toxic and unprofessional workplace, that’s quite clear.

It may feel like your world is crashing down around you, but I promise things will get better.

Take a bit of time to grieve your Nan. Apply for UC. Try not to stress or worry too much. And definitely do not dwell on this “sacking”.

Then when you feel up for it, remember who you are and start applying for new roles.

You don’t have to tell anyone at interview ‘why’ you left or were let go. You don’t have to put them as a reference. This will NOT look bad on you.

You should not get a 'good' reference; or a bad one. Just a factual one. Employers can write what they see fit in a reference, provided they can clearly back it up with facts.

You could ask the employer to write a reference which includes details of your achievements and projects you have worked on; you could even offer to write the statement yourself? Just dates of employment without stating the reason for leaving.....is there a sympathetic manager who would agree to issue this for you?

I note that they have skirted around any specific reasons for ending your employment, and you mention that there is no evidence of performance issues. So they may be on really dodgy ground if they ever referred to poor performance in a reference, or (as you mentioned you feared) suggested this to a third party - that could well be slanderous.

I am very sorry for your loss and that you are having such a horrible time. Take care of yourself, I am sure things will improve for you and you will find something much better. Unfortunately many people (myself included) are put through such experiences with dodgy low-integrity employers like this one, so do not be ashamed. I always think of the friend of my DH who kept the pompous dismissal letter from his first employer; he got it framed and displayed it on his toilet door. Needless to say he has long moved on to better things.

Bless you OP - I do really feel for you.

I would try to use a different phrase other than "sacked". Not just when talking to others, but in your own mind too.

You KNOW they're being unreasonable in getting rid of you and the word "sacked" comes with connotations of you having done something wrong.

How about saying "they let me go". When talking to your family, I'd specifically say "They decided X days off for a significant bereavement was too much for them so they let me go - good riddance I reckon!".

I too would approach former colleagues and tell them similar. "Following taking a short break following a recent bereavement, my new employer took the decision to let me go. I'm therefore back in the market for a new job, so if you're aware of anything that comes up, either inside or outside [former employer's name], please do let me know."

You could even chuck in something about your previous manager may have had a point about not staying at your new employer long and perhaps he knew what they were like before you did.

As you've only been there a short while, you could leave it off your CV. You could say you took time off to care for a sick relative (your gran).

A few years down the line you can. But any new job now will want a P45 - plus people talk.

My current job (which does require a lot of security checks) asked for the last few years of HMRC records.

I'd be honest about it, say you'd completed the project, last in, first out. No one is going to question people getting laid off in the current climate.

And definitely talk to your old company- ask of they know of any other roles.

I'm so sorry, OP, it sounds as if they've treated you in a really shitty way.

This is no help to you now, but the new Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament will provide protection against unfair dismissal from day one in a new job. It also includes a right to (unpaid) bereavement leave.

I'd absolutely try to swallow my pride and approach allies from my old company.
Be truthful about what happened but without moaning or being bitter.
You might not get offered or want to take a job there, but you never know what other opportunities your old colleagues and their network might know about.

If asked in future you could say that you successfully delivered on a project in an x month timeframe and then they let you go, historically they had also done the same with other employees.