Work have arranged a performance review after only 7 weeks at work. Help!

[Loobieloo27]

I work for a big company as a baker. I started end of july. I've had no prior experience in this sector so its all very new to me. I have been told what i produxe is of high quality.
Today i recieved a letter to attend a meeting to discuss my not producing enough stock while at work. My training consisted of 4 days working alongside another baker, after those days i was left to produce the same as him which i have found difficult to achieve at times due to how much is needed by one person.

A week after i started i had a previously booked holiday which they knew about so have only properly been working there 6 weeks.

Any advice? Whats my chances of being sacked? I do feel its unfair.

Thanks

Are you actually on probation? If not then I can’t see what the problem is. Maybe they just want to see how they can help and you can explain that your output is lower because there’s now only one of you.

Yes 12 weeks probabation, it states on the letter the meeting can result in dismissal which is what has spooked me, also they have statements on a few messages i've written regarding working hours and lack of breaks.

How long did the previous member of staff do that job ? You can not be expected to work to the same speed if he has been at it for months / years .
But don't go in there all defensive and angry. Go in with I would like help / further training / advice kind of attitude. But there is no need to be subservient

What are these messages? What exactly have you said and where have you sent or published them?

Do you mean you’ve posted critical comments about your employer on Facebook? Are you in a union?

also they have statements on a few messages i've written regarding working hours and lack of breaks.

What?

Are we talking a supermarket bakery or similar? Or a factory?

If you're not meeting productivity targets then if you are considered within reaching distance of the targets with support or training then that might be the next step. If you're way off then they may call time and dismiss you. It's a capability issue if you're not of the standard they need for the role.

Producing high quality is good, but if you are producing one perfect item every thirty minutes when what they need is one good quality product every three minutes then that performance is inadequate still.

Obviously plucking numbers out of thin air here.

Nothing public has been written, its private messages stating im struggling with the workload, cant cope on my own and if i cant manage could maybe transfer to a different department.

They say quality is good and speed will come with time but now this meeting has arrived in the post.

Previous baker been there 5 years

Messages to whom?

Is your speed improving?

My department manager

private messages stating im struggling with the workload, cant cope on my own and if i cant manage could maybe transfer to a different department

Sorry OP, but I don’t think it’s lookong good for you. You’ve literally told them you can’t cope and don’t want to be there.

Yes my speed is improving, however this is working flat out for 9 hours without stopping

Its not i dont want to be there. I enjoy my job, its just because when alone there is so much to do it can be overwhelming, im figuring it out i just need support and time but im unsure if they will provide that

If you sent the messages to your manager then it’s no surprise that they have them and have concerns. You need to be very honest with them, but it might be that they decide that baking isn’t for you.

I think it is perfectly reasonable to say that you need more help at the beginning. Companies need to support staff during their induction. But it seems a strange way to go about this, a review of how you are doing is ok - do you feel like they are not happy with you?

I feel companies can be massively unfair to any employees who don’t hit the ground running.
Do you like the job OP and do you see yourself there long term?

Are they not breaking the law if you don’t have a 20min break after 6 hours of continuous work? I’d be on to the Acas website to look up stuff. There is lots of info on that and you could find that employers will take advice from them too.
Perhaps they already have and are considering you may be a troublemaker as you are a whistleblower about their working practices and therefore thinking of moving you to somewhere else where you won’t kick up a stooshie? Do you really want to work in that current environment? Perhaps a move to admin or packing or whatever may actually be beneficial? Or perhaps the legislation doesn’t apply to bakers I dont know. Acas website first on the to do list. Listen to what they say respectfully is second on your to do list. Good luck.

The managers have said if something is missed its ok however on the letter it states none completion of work hours and none completion of work tasks are two issues. The meeting is with head of recruitment

Iv had no days sick since i started just the prebooked holidays.

Non completion of work hours? Do you clock in and out?

Yes i do

I think you need to start considering dismissal is a possible, if not likely outcome of the meeting.
Depending on the culture of the organisation some may just boot you out if you look like you won't achieve what they need.
At 7 weeks in, unless they are discriminating against to in relation to a protected characteristic, there's not much you can do.
Bring a companion to the meeting for support and I hope it goes ok for you and I'm just being cynical.

When is the meeting?

Im at work wednesday as normal, meeting is thursday

There’s a small possibility it might be a meeting to see what they can do to help you get up to the required speed before the formal 12 week review.