Just been sacked for the first time ever after a funeral

It’s not shameful. People are getting terminated like this left, right and centre. My sibling has just had this happen to a workplace friend. The friend was not performing badly - only been in the job a few months, management need to lay people off due to rising costs or whatever and he was convenient. So they laid him off

please don’t be embarrassed. Newish employees are the easiest targets - you can hardly lay someone off for this reason if they’ve been there 10 years - because they’d rightly say well hang on - been her 10 years with no probs and they have more rights.

you were just an easy target

@PrueD ignore what I said about ‘may have recourse’. While I did not mention rights, it was misleading and others have corrected this, as they should.
@AngelicKaty @EmmaMaria

So that senior manager who commented that you wouldn't like the new employer - drop him an email saying something to the effect

Dear
Remember on my last day you said I wouldn't like the new employer - well guess what they've just let me go !
Know of any openings anywhere which might suit a skilled, experienced hard worker ?

In other words - hit that network right now, get others looking out for you. Good luck - you can do this

@Ohnobackagain It is not rude to ask people to stop giving incorrect legal advice. You are potentially making a bad situation worse.

It isn't shameful for you OP. The most exemplary employees can find themselves on the receiving end of unprofessional behaviour by poorly managed organisations. I bet once you start telling people they will regale you with their own horror stories about lousy employers. Please put this thought out of your head - onwards and upwards! 🤗

Oh and also, they would probably give you a reference, my company always does for the people we let go. They won't probably say WONDERFUL things but they say you were there for such and such time, we're always reliable, punctual blablabla... so if you think you'll need a reference, ask for one. They won't pit bad things on it.
Good luck

@EmmaMaria no need to be so rude

Is it a marketing/comms agency you work for OP? It sounds like it from your description.
If so, unfortunately this is common in the industry that sometimes your face just doesn't fit and the second you have one mistake, or one client complaint then your being managed out the door.
However most people in the industry know agency life is ruthless and not the right fit for everyone so it should be an issue to get another role.

Sadly, with less than two years service you can be sacked for any reason. It doesn’t have to be fair. The only exceptions are for protected characteristics

im so sorry op. What a shit week. And I’m sorry for your loss.

Can we please stop with this now? A settlement for what? The employer has done nothing unlawful, and they have no requirement to follow any procedure at all. It not only does no good, it actually does harm to tell people that they have rights they do not have. Probation is an irrelevance in legal terms.

Even more reason for OP to use all her resources to find a new job.

Of course you are upset which is totally understable and I'm very sorry for your loss. But there's no reason for you to feel embarrassed, these things happen.
Don't waste your time on ACAS, unfair dismissal, wording on the letter... you were there for less than 2 years, they don't really need a reason to let you go and the "review of your performance" that they mention on the letter could hve been done by the managers or whoever else without involving you (it would be different if you had longer service).
Focus on your next job. In my company we took back good people who left MANY times, in all different departments, its very common - in the past 5 years I can think of at least 8 people in one of our offices!

@PrueD there is no shame on you here, please look after yourself.

That is awful OP but there are some seriously toxic companies out there....don't think this was about you they were wanting to cut costs.

I wouldn't go back to your old place you left for a reason(s)....focus on the future and looking for something new...the market is very tough at the moment as I'm a job seeker and it is not easy right now jobs wise so just be prepared...

Well said, it's very frustrating reading 'advice' from people who don't have the knowledge x

Step away from 'shame'. Stop using that word.

When you're feeling better:

Brush yourself off and start talking instead about that brilliant fixed term contract you just completed, where you delivered xyz. Now you're looking for your next exciting challenge.

OP, an awful lot of businesses are laying off people atm. People who have been there less than two years are the low-hanging fruit who can be dispensed with easily. It probably isn't personal. There's an economic downturn on the horizon, NI rates have gone up, many people were offered jobs on substantial salaries that can no longer be justified and so last in, easiest out.

In your shoes I'd ask to see the thorough reviews and the conclusions they came to in order to insure that you know where you fell short (even though all concerned know you didn't fall short). Just to embarrass them.

They'll have to give you a reference, they're required to. Most employers these days just confirm that you were employed between this date and that date in such and such a capacity. That's all you need. If you're asked why you were let go in an interview say the economic climate changed and as you were a recent hire...

With kindness you need to park it and start looking for another job. They’ve let you go, you’ve been there less than a year so there’s not a lot you can do. Don’t get mad get a better job.

No, passing her probationary period does not give her more employment rights. She could have worked there a week short of two years and they could have dismissed her for "business reasons" (for example) and she still wouldn't have any more rights. With fewer than two years' continuous service, she could only claim unfair dismissal if she's been discriminated against (under the protected characteristics specified in the Equality Act 2010) or because she's been dismissed for reasons which are "automatically unfair", or claim wrongful dismissal if they've breached her contract of employment. The first of these two don't appear to apply from what OP has told us and nor does the latter (wrongful dismissal) but it may apply if her employer doesn't correctly pay her final monies i.e. salary, expenses (if applicable), PILON and outstanding holiday pay.

You won’t know until you ask them. If you liked your previous employer, they liked you and there’s a job available, it could work out well for everyone!

I'm sorry to hear this, you get some shitty employers but people need to stop telling you to look for compensation/ go to papers/ claim unfair dismissal, it would be a complete waste of time and cause you a lot of upset.
I've had a lifetime in HR and employers can drop you for any reason they want less than 2 years unless it is a protected characteristics under the discrimination act.
The employer has said in their letter it is due to performance, no mention of the time off, weather that is true or not you can't prove otherwise.

I once worked for an organisation who needed to cut some costs so chose the people with less than 2 years service (as most would).
The HR manager literally looked at the people and said ergh he's wearing a horrible tie pick him and that was it, he was fired for 'failing probation'.

Most people have no idea of the politics that goes on in companies, that's a big reason I left the profession.

On the plus OP many HR and good managers know these things happen and don't hold it against you, definitely contact your old company. Not in a grovelling way, view it as a business transaction, you've been away, gained more experience, delivered a great project but realise how well aligned you were with their company, it can't hurt, good luck!!

Honestly OP, if your old place will take you back and it will avoid any financial difficulties just go back!
I am on my third stint at my current company, I seem to do about 5 years with them and then think the grass is greener.....buggers up my holiday entitlement somewhat but needs must!

Only you can decide if you "want to go backwards" OP, but maybe you should reframe this thought as you wouldn't necessarily be going back to your old job just because you're going back to your old employer. I once recruited an engineer who resigned after six months to go back to her previous employer. It transpired she couldn't get a pay rise from her previous employer so she came to us for more money and after six months with us, returned to them for even more than we were paying her! If they want you OP, they want you, so don't discount returning to your previous employer in a different role if there's a vacancy that you're suited to.

"2JFDIYOLO · Today 11:59 Contact your old employer! Your network is always your first port of call."
It’s a thought but why would they take back someone who left them?
in truth my old colleagues are much nicer on the whole and I have missed them. Would feel like a step back though. I think if they said sling your hook it would be too much shame to deal with!

Stop chucking rocks onto your own feet this minute! You'll only stop yourself taking steps.

They might jump at having you back. I've seen it.

Or they may say no.

Fair enough either way.

Every application and approach you make is a step in the right direction. Chuck them out, keep walking, don't look back. One day something will tap you on the shoulder.