Dismissed from work.

This is a tricky one. People in these kinds of jobs have to be able to have coping mechanisms / scaffolding / peer support. In my role we train people to not take on the emotional burden. All the emergency services are the same. Lots peer support. But if a person can’t do the job then they can’t be on full pay forever.

OP?

You OK?

Is litigation a good use of your energy? I’ve no idea whether your situation is fair or not, but without union support I’d imagine it’s tricky to pursue. You might be better off focussing on getting well abd finding a less stressful job.

Is there anything relevant you are not saying because what you put here is obviously only your version so people cant anything with certainty

Many people would not be able to do these essential jobs. I would not. I have a desk job where I don't have any life or death scenarious to deal with. So I can't imagine what kind of stress you have dealt with for all those years.
You have committed yourself for many years to essential public service and they have left you high and dry.
I would prefer my taxes going to provide mental health support to people like you than the wasted amounts they spend on ridiculous things. So I am sorry this has happened to you and I hope you get the help you need.

Practically are you out of time to appeal? The time limits are very strict. If you are then it’s a different approach having some talking therapy helping you to come to terms with what has happened to enable you to move forward.

Did they ever help you? Surely you'd not be the only person to find this job to be destructive to your mental health?
Am so very sorry for this, it's hard. I hope you can find a more peaceful job going forward and some help for your mental health and your soul. You've been through a lot.

And one more thing, thankyou. It's people like you who help so many others and am sorry that it's come at such a personal cost.

I'm sorry that this happened to you, OP. We can't really comment on whether or not it was fair without more detail.

Your employer should have supported you appropriately and put reasonable adjustments in place if needed. And they should have ensured that a proper process was followed. But it may have been reasonable to dismiss you if there was evidence that you just weren't well enough to keep doing the job.

I am assuming your union was UNISON? How are you feeling they didn’t help you? I am assuming you were dismissed in grounds of capability. It will have been a very long process to get to that stage. I would have thought the Branch Secretary or a senior rep would have represented you.
You will have the right to appeal as long as the time hasn’t expired depending on when this happened. You say you were dismissed because of anxiety but then say you didn’t have months off sick. This is a little contradictory. Did anyone look at early ill health retirement for you?
(I was a Union Branch Secretary for many years)

it seems like it stopped becoming the right job for you. Kindly in time I hope you see this and your mental health improves. I’m so sorry what you chose to do in helping others had this impact on you. I hope you this time and heal x

Have you spoken with union regarding an appeal or called ACAS for advice? An employment lawyer would also be good but you can access them via your union if you'd rather not pay. They can assess your case strength for a tribunal.

I hope you're getting the support of your GP. Sadly this type of dismissal is common and you have nothing to be ashamed of x

It very much depends on circumstances. If you were off sick for a very long time with no prospects of being able to return to work, then they may well have been within their rights to dismiss you on the grounds of capability (although I'm not clear on the circumstances around you working full time prior to dismissal. Was it a failed return to work?) Morally, it may well feel unfair. Whether it is legal will be/has been decided by a tribunal. Pragmatically, they may not have had any other choice as someone has to do the job. It's tough though and, I am sure, didn't help your anxiety.

Sorry to hear this. That must be really tough. I hope someone comes along who knows if you might have a case at tribunal or not, but I thought employers had a duty of care under stressful working conditions?

What sort of process was followed?

I can completely understand why this is so difficult for you to come to terms with, you worked there for a long time.

In terms of the process followed, if you hadn’t had a long period of absence which would have triggered a capability process, am I correct in thinking the dismissal was based on occasions of absence? Were absence review meetings held? Any formal warnings prior to dismissal?

I’m Sorry that you’re upset. Are you getting help for your anxiety?

Were the absences the only reason for the dismissal?

Can you appeal?