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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to tell anyone I've been fired?

80 replies

ahbollocks · 16/01/2015 17:52

I know I am really :(
Just so embarrassed and humiliated.
This job was a bit of dream job for me, in a prestigious small business thats well known in my industry.
Was hired on the spot by the owner, once I joined I found out a lady who does similar work to me for them was on maternity, and she returned a couple of months ago. Ive been there a year.
Really really fucking stupidly I nevsr signed a contract, rarely saw the business owner and my payments were made direct to me from clients and I then paid half over to the owner.
Anyway, she FACEBOOK messaged me last night (privately) and said sorry, im lovely, talented but its time to go our separate ways and to drop my keys off today.
Its totally out of the blue and I havent even told Dh or even my best friend.
We have a 3 yo dd :(
Jobs are so hard to come by in my area and I dont have enough capital to go alone.
Just totally gutted and so angry with business owner for firing me in such a careless way. I genuinely thought we had a good relationship and I always got along well with everyone at the office.
Fuck sake.

OP posts:
Altinkum · 16/01/2015 17:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrscumberbatch · 16/01/2015 17:55

Oh that's gutting OP, but unfortunately foreseeable if you were brought in as maternity cover.

What is it that you do? Can you setup on your own?

And tell DP ASAP. You could do with some support and a cuddle

Flossyfloof · 16/01/2015 17:56

Go and get some advice. My understanding is that after 13 weeks you have a contract. Might be wrong, but try CAB or find a solicitor who offers half an hour's free advice.

Jewels234 · 16/01/2015 17:57

You haven't been fired. You have been made redundant. Get some legal advice. You haven't done anything wrong.

DamnBamboo · 16/01/2015 17:58

But you've not been fired though have you?
You don't need a paper contract for there to be one.
To be fair, if she doesn't want or need you anymore, she's not obliged to keep you.

LaLa5 · 16/01/2015 17:58

That sounds a tad illegal to me, they can't terminate you for no reason unless you're a contractor and have a temporary contract.

Speak to CAB and good luck, you poor thing it sounds upsetting

Loletta · 16/01/2015 17:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bunbaker · 16/01/2015 17:59

I was sacked from a Saturday job at BHS when I was a teenager. I know it wasn't the end of the world, but the feeling of being let go was awful, and telling people was very difficult. I felt like a failure at the time, so I do know how you feel.

I am concerned at the lack of contract and the way the business was run though. It sounds like you are better off parting company with an employer that has such a cavalier attitude to employment law.

mrscumberbatch · 16/01/2015 17:59

If you've been getting paid directly by the client and then settling to the business I think you've been freelancing without realising.

DamnBamboo · 16/01/2015 18:00

OP, you've not been fired.

Were you even an employee?

Did you get a monthly paystub from them? Did they pay NI on your behalf?

notonyourninny · 16/01/2015 18:00

I don't think you've been fired, you were covering maternity? It sounds like ex boss saw it as a casual set up. I have no idea of your rights. She should of been up front.Flowers you don't have anything to be embaressed about.

Summerisle1 · 16/01/2015 18:00

If you've been getting paid directly by the client and then settling to the business I think you've been freelancing without realising.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I rather suspect you've agreed to an arrangement that leaves you without any employment rights. What arrangements were made for tax and NI contributions?

OatcakeCravings · 16/01/2015 18:01

There really isn't much you can do about being let go anymore if you haven't been there for at least 2 years, unless you feel you have been discriminated against.

I'd ask her for a reference though and tell people you were made redundant when the woman on maternity leave came back, which has happened.

FightOrFlight · 16/01/2015 18:01

my payments were made direct to me from clients and I then paid half over to the owner.

First thought was that you worked for Spearmint Rhino Confused

You haven't actually done anything to warrant being sacked so I don't understand the embarrassment.

If your DH was aware that you had no formal contract then just 'fess up about what's happened. It's not as though he going to blame you for losing the job surely?

InfinitySeven · 16/01/2015 18:02

I'll agree that you haven't been fired.

But, when you have under two years service, you can be let go without a reason. You would be entitled to any holiday pay outstanding, if there was any, and pay in lieu of notice if she didn't want you to work.

Flowery will probably be along soon, and she's brilliant with employment law.

Koalafications · 16/01/2015 18:03

That sounds a tad illegal to me, they can't terminate you for no reason unless you're a contractor and have a temporary contract.

Yes, they can. You can be dismissed, without reason during the first two years of employment. (Unless you can prove discrimination).

Notnaice · 16/01/2015 18:03

No need to be embarrassed. Just put covering maternity leave on your cv. I hope they give you a decent reference.
Very cowardly not doing it face to face.

Koalafications · 16/01/2015 18:03

x-post with Infinity

Greywackejones · 16/01/2015 18:04

Less than two years? Not redundancy then.

Was your role mat cover? I'm confused,

Koalafications · 16/01/2015 18:05

Oh and I'm sure I've read flowery say that she avoids employment threads in AIBU.

OP, might be worth reposting in 'employment issues'

MinceSpy · 16/01/2015 18:06

You haven't been fired. The owner has been underhand and should have been up front that it was maternity covet. She should give you proper notice so it might be worth ringing ACAS. You have a verbal contract. Hold your head up high you've not been sacked.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 16/01/2015 18:06

Can you approach the client(s) for work? If you had no contract, you can't be accused of 'stealing' business. And presumably the clients liked you?

fromparistoberlin73 · 16/01/2015 18:07

another to say NOT fired, its was more of a termporary casual affair

and boss could have been kinder too

I know you are gutted but noone here thinks itys a firing

update CV, matyyerfnity cover and write a para with what you have learnt

its gutting, and next time DRAFT A CONTRACT XXX

Blistory · 16/01/2015 18:07

Were you an employee ? Did you get a salary that they deducted PAYE & NI from as it's not clear from your post ?

If you were an employee then you're entitled to payment in lieu of notice, any outstanding salary and holiday pay if accrued. Other than that, you need 2 years service before being able to consider unfair dismissal unless it's on the grounds of discrimination.

The lack of an employment contract is potentially an issue that you could follow up but given that there appears to be confusion over what your status is, it may be that there's little that can be done.

It's a horrible way to treat someone but it's not necessarily illegal.

As frustrating as it is, would it be better to channel your resources into finding alternative employment ? Have you gained any contacts during the period who could come in handy, throw work your way, recommend you etc ?

DazzleU · 16/01/2015 18:08

www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/redundancy-pay

Might help if you've been made redundant.

I know we were very lucky DH just scarped past 2 years to get any money.

If you've been taking the money direct from clients have you been self employed ? I was just wondering what was happening with national insurance and tax stuff - If they company was paying those then you were surely an employee and looking at this your contract can be a verbal one www.gov.uk/employment-contracts-and-conditions/overview - though I'm not sure about that so maybe trying to see CAB might be a start.

Oh and tell your DH - you need the support and you've done nothing wrong.