Dismissed from work.

OP, I’m sorry you have been through this experience.
In this context fair has two meanings- fair morally which has zero impact on anything, and fair legally which could only be agreed on by going through a legal process.
In your head you need to accept that differentiation.

If you decide to proceed down a legal route then my advice is to do that properly. But you also need to be realistic with yourself as to the likely outcome (Legally fair from the small amount of information you’ve given). What outcome are you looking for?

I just want to say Thank You 💐 to you for doing such a tough job as the 999 call handler.
I hope you feel better soon and find a role that suits you, if you haven’t already done so.

Yes I have a family member who is police, and they had to do this, I think the process took a year or two, it is not quick, so there is something missing here.

the police don’t dismiss anyone without all the evidence in place, being absolutely certain, and covering every single angle including discrimination.

which makes me think that’s why acas couldn’t help at the time, every single box was ticked, and this was the only opton, and this must have been going on for a very long time indeed, and the 4 months back would look like she came back to keep her job at the very end of ghe process.

Op, you’re focusing on how long you were back in role for when it happened, but capability procedures take a long time, particularly in the police.

how long were you off before this, what did your absence record look like over the whole period since you stated struggling and how long were you off, over what period, in the new role.

then when did the procedure start versus when you came back . I assume it started then you returned?

when you did return, did you still suffer anxiety, was that apparent in how you were able to do your role?

Come on OP
Tell us the full story and not just your side
Capability procedures take years!

You have 3 months from the termination claim to commence legal proceedings. In practice this means contacting Acas, who offer a free conciliation service, as a first step.

If you had anxiety so serious you couldn't carry out the role then you likely meet the threshold for being classed as disabled under the Equality Act (doesn't matter if you don't 'feel' disabled). If so, they had a duty to make reasonable adjustments in order to allow you to carry out the role. That doesn't mean continuing to employ someone who can't provide reliable service but it does mean cutting you some slack and maybe applying the capability procedure less rigidly. If they don't make adjustments then it's disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, entitling you to compensation.

If it was me I'd contact Acas. Even if you're outside the 3 month limit, in discrimination cases the time limit can sometimes be extended.

Don't employers have a duty of care to their employees? Especially emergency service workers?

Sorry but do you expect to have a job forever when you don't turn up ?

It is only fair to the taxpayer and your colleagues- who have to step in to cover you. If you aren’t fit for this role that someone else is employed who can carry out this important job. It is time to look for a different line of work

How long had you been in the new role?
Are you saying you had no sick days at all in that new role?

They could argue that you had lots of time off sick but then as soon as the dismissal process started - you didn’t have any more sick days which looks odd.

But if it was simply a case that you got a new role, which suited you much better then you could argue that your lack of sick days was because your MH was directly related to the old role.

My colleague had a lot of time off and it was a nightmare to try and get rid of him.
They started the dismissal process and then all of a sudden he had no more absences - they foolishly stopped the process and now he’s back to having lots of absences and now they’re struggling to get rid of him again.

It’s horrible as this job was part of your identity but in all honesty it sounds as though this job is not good for you and you needed to completely step away from that area all together anyway - this has just forced your hand.
You know that you could not continue working there for the next 20 years.

Its time to put your health first and start a new career where you can use your transferable skills but not make yourself ill.

So to clarify-
you worked as a call handler, found it extremely stressful and had long periods of sickness which resulted in going through stages to a capacity meeting. In that time you moved to another role within the police and worked with no issues? And they then sacked you?
id get some legal advice, it seems unfair you moved roles and was then sacked despite no issues. That’s like a reasonable adjustment that was successful, they shouldn’t have needed to sack you as the issue had gone. And does sickness carry over from one role to another? Or does starting a new role reset it? It really depends on the policy within the company. It does seem very unfair though.

These kinds of discrimination cases are well worth exploring. Stand up for yourself, OP!

I'm sorry you're upset but you repeatedly say you haven't been off sick for four months.

It kinda indicates you've been off sick for quite a lot, repeatedly, and not doing so for four months is an achievement of sorts?

I feel you havent really given the full picture here. Maybe not intentionally, but also maybe intentionally

Post deleted as the thread had moved on, my phone hadn’t loaded the page properly.

But what was your sick leave pattern for the last two years?

Police HR here…. Capability is a LONG process, with a huge period of investigation.
There is more to this story I would wager.
Was the desk job a temp redeployment?

You had burnout so it was the right thing for you, the universe has saved you, take a break and decide what you really want to do, look after you for once and not everyone else, well done on your years of service

Did you union consider of the anxiety was a result of a work related injury? If the anxiety was directly caused by the work then surely there was a different approach available?

How long ago (exactly) were you dismissed? You only have three months less a day to claim unfair dismissal. You can start that process yourself online today by completing a simple Early Conciliation form online with ACAS. If it was longer ago than that you have no recourse.

Did you appeal your dismissal?

How much time did you have off in the 12 months before you returned to work?

Sounds like it was no longer the job for you. Take it as an opportunity to move on to something that better suits you now. There are plenty of less stressful jobs around that would use your skills in call
handling.

As someone who suffered burn out and compassion fatigue and ended up leaving a job I loved. I would encourage you to focus on your future. You will have incredible transferable skills that many other roles would love.
I have moments where I am angry that I was treated badly, but ultimately the management is still in place so it could have ended up being ground hog day. I have taken my skills to other organisations who really value them and generally am much happier for it.

I am really sorry this happened to you... @Endoadnowarrior has asked some pertinent questions which I am sure will help, get some advice and see if you have a claim against the force.

I hope you are getting support irl and can take the opportunity to rest and reset considering your options going forward

Another (senior) HR bod here.

Did you appeal the dismissal? How long ago is “a few months” as you may well be out of time for a tribunal claim (3 months minus 1 day from the dismissal).

I feel for you.
Generally these threads are full of people paid to be off sick for years and never get actually dismissed.
I would feel aggrieved in your shoes . Could you join some sort of support group if fighting your case feels too much? Although it sounds like you should have a case as you don’t appear to have done anything wrong.

OP everyone has jumped into you taking action in some way against the dismissal but this doesn’t seem either the obvious or right course of action, particularly for your anxiety.
my sister resigned from the police after 30 years. Also started as a call handler ended up working in CSA (all admin) she left due to the stress but had counselling at various stages provided by her force.

its a really difficult one. They are very hard jobs but there isn’t the money or culture to genuinely support mental wellbeing.

what are you doing for your health, are you having counselling now? Medication?

do you have a new job?

wishing you healing x