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Original poster

Lost my job today

33 replies

QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:17

I've been working as a private housekeeper for about 18 months now. The lady who owns the house had a very bad fall a few weeks ago and has been in hospital. She has three adult children.

I went in today and was locked out of the house with no key in the safe. Rang her oldest son with no answer - he text me back and told me my services were no longer needed and he'd transfer my money tonight.

It has absolutely and totally dropped me in the shit - I was doing 12-15 hours a week to top up my UC. No idea how I'm going to live on £780 a month and I've been applying for jobs but I have a chronic health condition that means I struggle with anything too fast paced (and couldn't stand at a till for 8 hours or whatever)

I'm absolutely gutted too because I loved it - it was a beautiful house, she has a small dog who I've really bonded with and I'm really going to miss it.

I know there's probably stuff I can do legally but I honestly don't have the heart for it!

OP posts:
Fallenangelofthenorth · 22/03/2024 19:23

If she's been in hospital for a few weeks was there any work for you to do anyway?

I agree that it's an awful way for you to find out you no longer have a job, but perhaps he's worried about his mum? Hope you get paid any holiday due plus notice period. Probably nothing else you can do other than look for another job though since you hadn't been working there for long. Perhaps she's not coming back to her home?

Mrsttcno1 · 22/03/2024 19:24

Hi OP, sorry you’ve had such a bad time!

There’s nothing you can even do legally, as you’ve been employed for less than 2 years you have no come back at all really.

It may be worth applying for other similar roles but in more reliable settings like care homes/schools x

EarthbarsforMartians · 22/03/2024 19:24

The lady who owns the house may be going to a nursing home, or may unfortunately have passed away, and the house may have to be sold. It’s been managed poorly by the adult son but they may not have had much notice about either. I would reply saying you hope your former employer is doing ok and asking if they would be willing to provide a reference for you to help in your search for another job or jobs.

Shouldbedoing · 22/03/2024 19:27

Make a GP appointment and talk through your limiting physical issues. Also talk to UC. They are not (always) monsters.

Fallenangelofthenorth · 22/03/2024 19:28

@Mrsttcno1 has a good idea about looking at care homes - that would be similar. Maybe look at support worker in scheltered housing roles too?

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:29

She's going into long term care because she's been diagnosed with dementia. We've all known that for a couple of weeks.

They're an incredibly well off family and there's no reason why he couldn't have given me a week' notice at least (which is what was agreed when I started working there)

I genuinely have no idea how I'm going to live on UC alone which is the more pressing issue!

OP posts:
PickledPurplePickle · 22/03/2024 19:30

Were you an employee?

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:30

I absolutely cannot cope emotionally in a care home. I've tried in the past and left after a couple of days because it just wrecked me.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:30

PickledPurplePickle · 22/03/2024 19:30

Were you an employee?

Yes. Paid weekly.

OP posts:
EarthbarsforMartians · 22/03/2024 19:31

If you have a contract you can mention the one week’s notice and ask if he wants you to work it or if he would prefer to pay the week’s notice but not have you come in to work.

TabithaTwitchel · 22/03/2024 19:32

I would go back to him and request that he pays you a notice period as you've obviously carved out this time to care for his mother and do your job and to have this immediately cut off places you in a precarious position

So do you have anything that details a notice period?

Btw you don't have to do this confrontationally , just politely and factually

EarthbarsforMartians · 22/03/2024 19:32

Would something like a cleaning job in a school work well? Part time hours? Either before school in the afternoons?

Viviennemary · 22/03/2024 19:33

I agree you should have been given proper notice. But really if she has been in hospital and has dementia did you not expect changes would soon happen. It's a shame you have lost a job you like but you will just have to start lookin for another job.

Fallenangelofthenorth · 22/03/2024 19:34

QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:30

I absolutely cannot cope emotionally in a care home. I've tried in the past and left after a couple of days because it just wrecked me.

Maybe sheltered housing then? The residents won't have severe dementia and won't have high care needs. But they'll still need cleaning services and some personal care.

For the short term you might be able to get help such as energy vouchers and food parcel. Can you contact UC?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 22/03/2024 19:34

Ah, this is rubbish @QuestionableMouse

There's not many legal options, as others have said, but definitely worth requesting your notice be paid.

PickledPurplePickle · 22/03/2024 19:34

If you’re an employee they need to follow the contract

Phone ACAS if they don’t follow it

You will need to be paid notice plus any holiday you are owed

OneMoreTime23 · 22/03/2024 19:35

Mrsttcno1 · 22/03/2024 19:24

Hi OP, sorry you’ve had such a bad time!

There’s nothing you can even do legally, as you’ve been employed for less than 2 years you have no come back at all really.

It may be worth applying for other similar roles but in more reliable settings like care homes/schools x

She’s entitled to notice pay though.

Frequency · 22/03/2024 19:36

I understand, OP. I lost my job recently and the idea of having to try to survive on UC is terrifying.

I hope you find something else soon. I have no budgeting advice, unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how to make things add up properly. My current plan is to exist on 2 slices of toast per day so that there is enough food left for the kids. I would advise you talk to CAB though, you may be missing out on other benefits you are entitled to if you have health issues.

TroysMammy · 22/03/2024 19:41

Have you thought about being a social care personal assistant? My partner is one to a 20 something young man with autism. He does no personal care but sometimes has to remind him to have a shower. They help out at a charity shop, pick litter from the beach when the weather is good, go shopping, gaming, lunch and coffee, cinema and days out and he gets paid to do that!

The jobs are a few hours a few times a week. Different age groups, circumstances and interests and you could apply for something suitable and could be through your local council.

Sprinkles211 · 22/03/2024 19:43

I'm sorry your going through this it will be incredibly stressful. Ask him for a letter confirming that they are terminating your employment and the reason why this is for universal credit as they may sanction you if they don't have proof you didn't just quite they're aresholes for it. Also ask if he could do you a written reference so you can use this towards your next employment it may be difficult to keep getting them from the family in the future due to the family circumstances and if your future employment depends on gathering the reference first it will delay your start. As pp have suggested going to your gp may help with a fit note and buy you a little extra breathing space with uc while you get your ducks in a row.

Beezknees · 22/03/2024 19:44

Sorry OP. It sucks.

I lost my job last year. Medium size business that went under. It wasn't a secret that they were struggling financially but I essentially walked in one day to be told we were going into administration, the bank had stopped the overdraft and I wasn't getting paid.

Thankfully I received some redundancy money and a month's notice pay to keep me going for a few weeks. It was still a scary time though.

Contact the jobcentre immediately and get on JSA. I hope something comes up for you soon.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:45

Viviennemary · 22/03/2024 19:33

I agree you should have been given proper notice. But really if she has been in hospital and has dementia did you not expect changes would soon happen. It's a shame you have lost a job you like but you will just have to start lookin for another job.

I have been expecting it but I've been getting told that they will need me to get the house ready to be sold. Apparently that's not the case.

I'm not going to fight with them. I'm honestly just sad over the entire thing and feel really upset by the way he handled it today. It's like he doesn't trust me, even though I've never done a single thing wrong.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 22/03/2024 19:46

Frequency · 22/03/2024 19:36

I understand, OP. I lost my job recently and the idea of having to try to survive on UC is terrifying.

I hope you find something else soon. I have no budgeting advice, unfortunately, I still haven't figured out how to make things add up properly. My current plan is to exist on 2 slices of toast per day so that there is enough food left for the kids. I would advise you talk to CAB though, you may be missing out on other benefits you are entitled to if you have health issues.

I'm so sorry you're going through this too. It's so absolutely and utterly shit. ☹️

OP posts:
CassandraWebb · 22/03/2024 19:54

I am so sorry, I know what it is like to want to work but be really constrained by a health condition.

CassandraWebb · 22/03/2024 19:55

Please anyone struggling financially have a look on here and don't be ashamed to ask for help.
I am a trustee of a charity listed on here and we actually struggle to give out all our grant funding each year.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

""

Turn2us

Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to those of us facing financial insecurity.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk