Work letter of concern

[TD7]

Does a letter of concern from work mean you will be sacked my anxiety is through the roof

Context.

It's not something I have come across.

What is your line of work?

I raised my voice as I had been wound up by another work colleague for an hour or so my pen went missing and I automatically thought it was the person who ad been laughing at me and when I asked why they said you will find out soon so I though this person took the pen my manager spoke to me and that was that now I’ve been told someone reported it anonymously now I’ve got a letter of concern I asked my manager if I was being sacked she said no but now we are on holiday from work I’m covered in a rash from stress and feel I’ll I do suffer from severe anxiety

I have a review meeting in 6 weeks when we go back to work my bass said it was to discuss how I’m going to manage my anxiety in future …I’m off to the dr tomorrow to get help

There are two separate issues to be dealt with:

1. You shouldn't have raised your voice.
2. Your colleague shouldn't have been winding you up and laughing at you.

Your boss should be dealing with both.

I’m aware I shouldn’t have raised my voice I suffer mentally and I’m going to the drs to get help for my anxiety …yes both should be dealt with will I be sacked

My boss did deal with me …somebody rang speak up anonymously that’s why she has to deal with it again as I previously stated

I very much doubt you'll be sacked

Try to relax

Acknowledge you raised your voice inappropriately, say it won't happen again and you are getting help to manage your stress levels, and that will be the end of it

A letter of concern is not a disciplinary process OP, you are not 'being sacked'. That is an entirely separate process. As you say, someone has made a complaint about what happened, as is their right, and the manager is obliged to investigate that and take action - they've chosen to write a letter of concern and hold a meeting to understand the situation once you return. Obviously what you've done is not acceptable in the workplace and the letter of concern is addressing that in writing so that should it happen again it can be called upon that it's been previously discussed, that really is all it is. This isn't a disciplinary process.

That scheduled meeting doesn't mean you are obliged to see the doctor or you are sacked either or at risk of losing your job it just means that your employer will want to understand why the incident happened, where things are with your mental health in terms of you being fit to work and if they can support you with that, and how to avoid a repeat incident going forward. I'd go into it with an open mind, offer to apologise to whomever it was you raised your voice at and view it as a process that is there to help you and not an attack or a threat. It'll be a brief and neutral meeting to run over those things and that will be the end of it.

It sounds as though seeing the GP and being honest about the impact anxiety is having will be a positive step as clearly things are very difficult.

Assume this role is education related if you have six weeks off. Agree not disciplinary but they need to follow up the complaint. Is this the first such incident when your anxiety has shown? Taking some time to find strategies to avoid recurrence in future situations would be beneficial.

Where do you work that people have time for winding each other up for hours and pen drama?

Are you being bullied or are you over sensitive? Or both?

Definitely a good idea to speak to your GP about your anxiety, but if you are having a problem with a colleague, do raise it with your management/HR. Not worth getting yourself in trouble over by reacting poorly.

You aren't being fired, but I'd take it as a warning. Depending on how long you've been there you might be easy to get rid of.

I'd see that as a paper trail so if you have more incidents they could dismiss you and have documentary evidence of the problems. Not necessarily bound for dismissal but paving the way if you are a consistent nuisance.

You need to discuss with work and manage your anxiety. You should address problems before you get so tense that you snap at people.

I do over react due to my anxiety that’s why I need help lived with it for to long in denial not anymore as it’s getting worse over the worry of this I’m covered on my arms with an anxiety rash I’m so tearful …yes somebody stole my pen and that has not been addressed just the way I reacted and caused someone who was winding me up …thanks everyone for your replys

I’ve worked here for 18years never had a day off either I work hard

Having lost your pen is not going to be seen as a big deal at work and you have no real reason to assume someone took it, even if it was a valuable or sentimental item then it would be considered bad judgement on your part for bringing it to work and you shouldn't be taking it out on others if it goes missing. So from a management point of view you would be in the wrong for raising your voice and making a fuss about such a trivial matter.
Having said that most workplaces are trying to do more to support staff with mental health issues at this time so they are likely to be understanding, if you explain this was linked to your anxiety. They will be pleased you are getting some help with that. They may even be willing to put something in place to help you if it's a reasonable request.

No it doesn't. It's an informal approach to tell you that they're not happy about something. There is no further action unless it happens again in which case they'd consult your file and probably send you to formal disciplinary

You're not going to be sacked

Highly unlikely you'll be sacked. It sounds like more of formal chat over the incident and to speak and see what happened etc. This isn't a gross misconduct situation from what I can gather, so relax.

Thankyou all so much you don’t know how much your positive comments mean to me at this time especially with my anxiety which is going crazy

You won't be sacked. The situation is two faced , 1. What you actually did (the shouting) and 2. How you are managing your issues,how can they help, and how itself affecting work.

Just be honest, own up and explain the lead up to it. They will also have to deal with that especially if they're deliberately winding you up. Good luck at the doctors,hopefully they can help and then you'll be able to deal with this situation better too.

I did explaine the action that caused a reaction my manager said the wind up was banter …>It wasn’t as far as I’m concerned just don’t want to make the situation worse I’m so scared I will be sacked ..my mental health scares me right now so that’s why I’m off to the drs tomorrow..tbh my work place makes me feel I’m the problem .>I do over react but being wound up by a 17year old doesn’t help I’m 56 and have worked here for 18 years

Thank you

Sounds like a shitty workplace. Banter my arse. Any chance you can find another job/move teams? I bet your mental health issues would massively improve.

I did explaine the action that caused a reaction my manager said the wind up was banter …>It wasn’t as far as I’m concerned

make an appointment to speak to your manager. Say it's not banter if everyone isn't laughing. Tell manager to make it clear to the team this kind of thing is not to happen again, and if it does you will be raising a complaint about bullying.

Then put it behind you

Because of my anxiety I blamed myself I need to stick up for myself I’ve been goaded but because I worry so much and my anxiety I let things go I agree I over rested but I done that because of my mental health anxiety and because I was being wound up for a good couple of hours with a young work colleague keep laughing at me saying you will find out when I asked why do you keep laughing at me you will find out soon …only to find out my pen had been stolen so automatically I thought that’s why he was laughing at me that’s why I raised my voice to him …my arms today are covered in an anxiety rash I cannot sleep or function as I’m worried I’m going to be sacked I feel like a really bad person my mental health is suffering I cannot face 6 weeks of worry please keep replying to this thread with positivity Thankyou everyone