Just been sacked for the first time ever after a funeral

Support is one of the shittest words at work at the moment imo. It’s better to have found out now that this is a shit employer than in a few years. Do they have glassdoor reviews?

I think that was what hurt me the most.

I'm so sorry they have done this to you. I know it seems pretty impossible right now, but personally I took that grief and used it to pursue better things. It took a few months on JSA but I did eventually get a much better job where I feel my efforts are properly rewarded. That was coming up on 10 years ago now!

Am really surprised they don't have to follow a disciplinary investigation and share feedback with you before dismissing you. I'm a manager and have some who has conducted significant gross misconduct (really bad stuff) and it needs to go through a whole process of suspension while she's investigated, and then a disciplinary committee where she'll be able to provide her say. She's been with us 18 months too so not eligible for an unfair dismissal claim and we still have to do it.

I kinda assumed that all companies in the UK did this, but I guess not?

What you've done would not even warrant a formal performance review if i hadn't given you an opportunity to be informally managed with feedback!

Really sorry this has happened but does sound like they just wanted to get rid of you for cost cutting rather than real performance concerns.

I'm so sorry you're having a rough time at the moment. It was really shitty of your employer to do that. I know you're in shock right now, but please do not miss the opportunity to apply for the role advertised at your previous employer.

It would be a shame to miss out on that. Don't think of it as going backwards, sometimes it's better to work in a pleasant environment, with people you like, than at a firm you've just had to leave.

Speak to ACAS. Long time since I was an employer but I always went with verbal warning, second verbal warning, written warning, then termination.

So in terms of your CV

say that this was a nine month contract, that you needed something that was shorter term and well paying while you looked after your Nan. If you are able to, contact your old manager on mat leave and ask if she will be a reference.

if it is your old company then they will not care about references, it wont be a step back, be clear you want development opportunities. While grieving your energy will be low for a while, so maybe the familiarity of the old company and the ability to do work that you know well might suit.

I once had a manager I hated, my work was fine, he would have given a good reference, but I just did not want to ask him. I gave the details of other people I worked with and it was fine.

Decide what? I have no idea what you're talking about if you don't quote my post.

Jesus H Christ on a bike. The two year rule applies unfortunately but what shit fuckery is this 🤷‍♀️ you know you did your job, your manager is on mat leave and your micromanaging temp manager let you go. Trust yourself this is either because you had time of for a funeral and or the new manager is an incompetent weirdo who doesn't like you. Plus they have previous for it. The fact you just delivered a project as well, perhaps they can't be arsed to pay temps? Likely they would be hellish to work for in the long term as they are morally vacuous. When you feel better, you will realise they did you a favour. Your right to be hurt, confused, and upset but you did nothing wrong.

Good luck OP.

@Loopytiles , This is OP's thread, she can choose what to take away from it.
A public forum is about different opinions & no one made you the thread monitor.

@AngelicKaty Then OP will do just that if she so decides.

I second this. It doesn’t make you bitter or incompetent it’s generous to the company but it doesn’t look great for the previous company either given you were fired after compassionate leave. Clever in the way it’s worded. And will show the op can look at the situation objectively.

It’s not you it’s them!

Don’t let the b**tards get you down!

That would daft to lie, payroll could see your earnings and it would be clear that you’d been working otherwise where did the earning come from?

Just want to quote Ariela’s excellent post to make sure you see the kind of thing you can communicate about your last position to prospective employers. It’s very well phrased and if you read it a couple of times, you’ll feel more comfortable answering questions. Good luck with your job search.

Think it is worth approaching previous company. Be as honest as you can about 'being sacked' but very much deal with it as a bit of a mystery, all seemed fine but a recent change of management is the only thing that would make sense. Everything was fine up to that point.
Would you be able to get a reference from the manager on mat leave?
On one occasion, I requested an alternative referee for my new job, as my abusive ex still worked at the previous company. Not sure if you can do something similar in this situation.
You might be able to get some legal advice to ensure the previous company don't give a rubbish reference, which is totally unjustified.

Sorry for your loss op. That's really shitty and stressful. I know it won't help but will you be responding to the letter to say it's a shame they hadn't raised any issue previously and their letter is still very vague on the reasons for your termination?

I completely understand you being worried about others finding out and thinking somehow it's on you but you have worked with people in this circle and they will know different. Keep reminding yourself of that and tell people so they can support you.

A very similar thing happened to me after taking a day off to visit my mum in hospital. They said they couldn't support me if I was going to be distracted by a family illness. I'd been there around 6 months so nothing I could do.

It was also my birthday.

Strongly implies it's them, not you, that's the problem

That pretty sums up the reason I left my last project
The existing manager (who gave me the contract) left on long-term (stress related) sickness
Her replacement was a vile, dishonest, micromanaging cow
I made sure when I gave my zero days notice that her manager knew the reason
Three months later, the client got back to me saying she'd been fired "for all the reasons that you know about" and asking me to come back and continue the project
I didn't return, for reason unrelated to her with that awful client (e.g. Persons of Restricted Mobility cannot visit their HQ, where I was supposed to work, as they didn't have a fire safety certificate for the building due to zero evacuation plans for PRMs from the 4-8th floors) but crikey did I feel vindicated :)

I'm so sorry OP, that sounds absolutely awful. I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother, and getting sacked on top of that is horrendous. Don't feel ashamed - I can understand why you feel it, but it's not something you should feel ashamed of.
I'm not an employment lawyer, but I fear that at 9 months in, you aren't in a strong position. It's worth a quick chat with an employment solicitor, though, nothing to lose.

Go back to your old company and work for the nice manager! It's a no brainer. Tell them, it turned out they were right and the new place was toxic.

Under 9 months, so not unfair dismissal unless discriminatory (race, sex, etc)

Not for someone of under two years service