I think I've just been fired

[CinnamonVanilla]

Boss found out that I applied for a job with our parent company. Supposed to be anonymous; but I'd have said when it was appropriate. Our HR director beat me to it; in front of a lot of people, apparently.

He took me into a room to say that it was humiliating; and means he no longer trusts me, so how do we move forward. He said my work is excellent but this is a big issue.

He's given me some time to think. Presumably he's expecting my notice this evening. I've been here just under two years so there's nothing I can do.

This has made my anxiety rocket and I don't know want to do.

You’ve done nothing wrong. Remember that

Don't record the meeting.

Ask at the beginning what the meeting 'is' and if it's anything other than 'an informal chat' close it down and reschedule when you can bring someone in.

So much nonsense around recording on here. It's illegal to share a recording, but it's perfectly legal to make one for your own use. You can use it to write up minutes. Also, if this were to reach the tribunal and events during the meeting became material, the judge can allow a recording to be used in evidence.

Volant you are wrong. It is part of my job to produce minutes. If you want to record a meeting and share a transcript (minutes) with anyone you have to have permission from the people you record. In the workplace, since GDPR, there should be a policy in place to cover this.

Legally a transcript of a recording is considered in the same way as letting someone listen to the recording.

It would be stupid of Op to do anything underhand, at the moment she's done nothing wrong. If she does anything dodgy now it will probably be covered by company policy and she would give her boss the ammunition he's after.

Rhonda that’s not the same thing Volant was saying. She’s talking about a personal recording you make for your own use. Google it. Nothing illegal about it. You’re talking about official meeting minutes which are made public to relevant parties and are kept as a record. Completely different things.

Meeting went badly. So badly that I suggested I finish my current project (so not to derail) and then step back; to which he said I wouldn't make a mockery of him by leaving his team and he'd be sending a formal letter to start a performance plan. He could not tell me what would be included, but said he'd "find something".

I terminated the meeting at that point. I am now back at my desk; in silence.

Torn between going to see HR this afternoon or just job hunting and hoping I find something before he marks my completely pristine record.

I've done nothing wrong. I am a straight-down-the-line employee. Even last week everyone was saying how skilled I am; and that I'm easy to work with. I'm stunned.

Woah, he's making FAR too much out of this!! it's not personal FGS!

Go to HR to get them to inject some sense into this, you have done nothing wrong and he is WAY over reacting

I would go to HR!

He sounds very unprofessional.

Wow he's taking this too personally. HR for sure.

Do both - HR and job hunting.

He sounds unhinged!

You need to see hr asap and raise a grievance.

It’s HR time now.

Add this mornings meeting to your bullet notes.

It’s time to dob this fuckwit in.

You need to be factual, professional, appear slightly bemused by the madness and simply eager to revert to situation normal without closing down your long-term plans to move through the company.

Practice in your car at lunch-time.

This feels like brilliant advice.

You need to be factual, professional, appear slightly bemused by the madness and simply eager to revert to situation normal without closing down your long-term plans to move through the company.

It sounds like a largish company so you will have a decent HR team. You need to go to them now and explain everything and give a detailed account of his behaviour toward you now. He's basically told you he won't let you quite his team but he's going to find a reason to fire you. And you've done nothing wrong; you are allowed to apply for jobs!

Go see HR.

You need to put your big pants on and deal with it head on.
You need to email your boss and say is wasn't personal you were testing the water and feel you have done nothing wrong.
You are committed to your job and will continue to give the good service you have done to date.

Go to HR
This is ridiculous and you are being bullied.

OP i am in HR.

He can't put you on a performance plan if your performance has never before been in question OP. He would have had to have given you poor feedback previously which would need to be documented. It doesn't sound like this has happened.

GO TO HR. Take in bullet points to cover everything that has happened and been said. Raise a formal grievance because this is bullying plain and simple.

You need to report this to HR immediately. Speak to someone and follow up in writing. But first, write down everything that was said while it is fresh in your mind. If you leave it, details will get blurred and he will find it easier to deny your allegations.

Remember though, HR are there for the business, not you.

I hope you’re in a union, they would take this up for you.

Remember though, HR are there for the business, not you

By which I mean that they are there to get the best outcome for the business, which means dealing with inappropriate behaviour which impacts on the business. So they will be keen to resolve this, but your interests won’t be paramount. So as not to offend any HR professional out there! 😁

What did acas advise? I would personally raise a grievance against him for his treatment of you (threats of "finding something" to put on a performance review is basically bullying and blackmail). No more informal meetings without a rep, no more conversations with him about the issue in anything other than a formal meeting. Stand your ground. He is in the wrong. Utilise HR and acas.

Go to HR asap. He is behaving appallingly.

HR and document everything NOW! In any grievance the timeline here will be crucial. If you can show that your performance has never been questioned up to the point that it was let slip that you applied for another job, then he will have a tough job performance managing you out. Gather together every e mail and PDR that says how amazing you are.

I think you need to aim for a settlement to leave or an internal transfer. If you just find a new job, there is nothing stopping him giving you a shitty reference. He sounds just the type.

You are going to have to get down and dirty here, you are dealing with a bully with a thin skin. You need to go by the book. You need to get a staff rep onto this. You need to involve HR urgently. They kick started this shit show, they contravened GDPR by releasing confidential sensitive information on you.

I would want an internal transfer of my liking or 4 to 6 months salary, with immediate garden leave and a glowing reference.

Also did you get a policies and procedures handbook or guidelines when you started? Or included in your contract? Look through those and see what it says under disciplinary process. I would guarantee he hasn't followed any guidelines at all.

I have a meeting with HR later on - I have to see a specific lady because I declared a disability when I started which she feels this could effect. She's not wrong; anxiety and stress are major triggers of mine.

I'm going to reread all of your advice now. Thank you again.

Write everything down (dates and times) the see your union rep then HR. For future meetings with him ask for it in writing so that the union, HR or another colleague can attend

If you have a disability that effects your work you also need reasonable adjustments being made so you are not disadvantaged at work