I lost my job last week WIBU?

[Looklock]

On Friday my boss sacked me. I had been there for nearly 2 years and worked in a team of 2 women. One of the women W1 was really nice, very outgoing and popular but often let deadlines slip. The other woman W2 slated her every single day, from what she wore to her children's names. She pointed out every error behind her back and was generally very unpleasant to be around cos she never had a nice word to say.

All 3 of us were working to the same promotion but W2 spent every moment planning how to get there. She made our office juniors lives hell and undermined our boss constantly.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago and W1 was off work all week cos her DD had her appendix removed. W2 used this as an excuse to dig out all of W1s work and essentially sabotage it. She changed dates to make it look like she had ignored customers for months and basically made W1 look like she'd really messed up. W2 passed this to the boss and when W1 got back there were lots of changes in place that basically controlled how she worked and she was now under the supervision of W2.

W1 was obviously confused and upset. She could see her work had been tampered with and blamed some juniors. She then asked me what had happened and I answered that W2 had shown her work to the boss because she was concerned. I didn't tell the full story because it was too awkward. W1 was shocked.

I then had a few days off and come back on Friday. My boss called me in and asked why I had dropped W2 in it. I explained and she said W1 and W2 had talked it through and W1 was extremely upset with me for lying. W2 was very hurt and felt like she could never work with me again. This left the boss in a difficult position and because she had two against one she felt the only way to make the situation better was to let me go.

So that was it. I should have stayed out of it all but after nearly 2 years of it all I snapped. I was so sick of W2s behaviour. But now I don't have a job. I had a civil relationship with both of them before that and got on very well with other staff. I also produced the highest figures for our team. I'm so confused by all of it I can't tell anymore if I was BU.

Of course there's no HR department. Of course everyone floats around "staying out of it". Absolute nightmare.

Make sure they pay you for your accrued annual leave as well as your notice period. You definitely have no case but it may be worth getting in touch with your former boss to discuss the possibility of an agreed reference.

They may even agree to state that your employment ended by mutual agreement and that there were no capability or disciplinary issues (you didn't go through the company disciplinary procedure right?)

They don't have to agree to any of that but they may do. If you don't feel comfortable speaking on your own behalf you could contact ACAS and ask them to appoint a conciliator. They will explain the process to you.

Good luck OP.

Thank you, I will call Acas today.

I didn't go through any disciplinary procedures during the whole time I was there.

There's been another development. Another member of staff has contacted me to say she has text messages from W2 detailing everything she has done basically boasting to her. I had no idea they were friends but apparently she also dislikes W1 and they've had a few bitching sessions via text. She said she would hand them over to me and doesn't mind if I give them to my boss but she refuses to get involved or admit it was her.

I don't know if there's a point.

Personally, I wouldn't get involved. Surely your fingers have already been badly burned by getting embroiled in a situation that, in the cold light of day, wasn't really your battle to fight - but you became the sacrificial lamb in a political turf war. Heaping more coal on the fire won't do anything.

Focus on your reputation, getting a clean reference and finding a new job so you can put it behind you. Why waste your emotional headspace and energy?

I think I agree. Everyone around me is furious and urging me to share the messages to put it right but I don't think it'll make a difference and this has really shattered me. I can't make decisions, even tiny ones like if I'm hungry. So I don't want to make the wrong decision and regret it.

Its pretty tough to know when to fight and injustice, and when to walk away and get on with your life.

Maybe take a few days to think about what you want to do?

I would accept the messages but sit on them until you get further advice.

It all sounds absolutely ridiculous!

Why does W1 say that you lied?

I would also accept the messages but do nothing atm.

What might this other woman's otive be for offering them?

Get copies of the text messages. You can decide later on whether you want to use them or not (I'm betting it wouldn't help that much - the boss won't want to admit she made a mistake and start unravelling the whole mess). But there may come a day when you wish you had them, even if it's just so you don't start doubting your own recollection of events.

There's been another development. Another member of staff has contacted me to say she has text messages from W2 detailing everything she has done basically boasting to her. I had no idea they were friends but apparently she also dislikes W1 and they've had a few bitching sessions via text. She said she would hand them over to me and doesn't mind if I give them to my boss but she refuses to get involved or admit it was her.

Bloody hell! It sounds like you're way better off out of it - they all sound like total bitches!

If you do want to pursue it further, speak to a proper employment lawyer. 'Under two years = no rights' is an over-simplification.

Take the messages! I would write a very detailed letter to the boss. Unbelievably poor behaviour from colleague and her.

Yes write a letter detailing the incident and then work backwards to include all previous
Incidents. Address it to the boss and Woman1. I know your boss is in denial, however at least it will be down on paper and all out there for when she next try's it on. Good to at least set the record straight and let them deal with any future fallout.

Ask for copies of the texts

If she doesn't hand over the text messages, use a copy of the women's text in your letter to the manager

Op, you old the first woman the second woman showed the boss her mistakes. The second woman denied it and the boss fired you for lying. Right?

Is it the same boss? Surely whichever boss she showed it to would say whether she had or hadn't and as such immediately proven you didn't lie.

What am I missing?

I know nothing of the law so could only reiterate advice to check your rights with Acas. Then negotiate a reference.
After that walk away and move on. It seems a horribly toxic atmosphere where everyone is after their own gains and manipulating the situation.

I would have nothing to do with the other colleagues texts. How can you trust her motivations? The boss may have been looking to get rid of someone anyway.
I would leave it all begin. Let them fight their own battles and take comfort in the fact that they will notice the drop in revenue since you were the highest earner.

I explained and she said W1 and W2 had talked it through and W1 was extremely upset with me for lying. W2 was very hurt and felt like she could never work with me again

Does W1 think you stuffed her work whilst she was in absentia?

In any case, W2 has obv given her a very creative version of events.

Personally you have already been fired. Do the right thing and take the text messages back to your boss. You shouldn't have sat there while someone committed fraud in front of you!

Is the boss the owner of the business? If so there's not much you can do if she's made her mind up. If, however, there are others who have a financial interest in the business or organisation, it would be worth writing to them to say exactly what has happened. I wouldn't want someone like that working for me. If you do decide to write to your boss (and I think you should whether it achieves anything or not), make it very level headed and factual, and somehow work in that W2 will be after her job next ;).

I was in a similar situation (fired out of the blue, just before my 2 years) and found ACAS useless. They simply repeated in a robotic tone I basically had zero rights and was nothing I could do. Zero other advice, zero support from them, almost felt worse after speaking to them than before. Hope they've changed a few years on.

I was actually offered a non disclosure agreement with a few months wages as part of the agreement, as even though I was under 2 years it was all pretty dodgy and they had to pay for me to see a layer, who suggested I would have grounds for a case. I took the money and left. it is shattering though short term OP- I feel your pain, but you will see its definitely for the best. I would suggest writing the letter to your boss as others have advised and hint at this, surely they wouldn't want word spreading now would they?

Personally I would get copies of texts and pass them on to the manager. If your former boss refuses to give you a reference, it may be harder to get another job.

I'd probably send it from the setting the record straight stance because you would like a good reference for a job well done as you always performed your role with pride and to a high standard. Then perhaps chase this request. No sour grapes iyswim.

Can't believe you looked on and did nothing while W2 stitched W1 up though. In my book that makes you as bad as W2.

In this case it doesn't sound like no rights due to less than 2 years employment is an over simplification.

They can't sack OP because of a disability or protected characteristic regardless of length of service and it doesn't sound like they have.

Also they should follow company policy when dismissing regardless of the circumstances which they haven't done. It sounds like OP was taken aside and then asked to leave.

Therefore they have slightly fucked up and that is why they may be prepared to give a reference and maybe even enhance the notice pay. The slight fuck up will not make the dismissal unfair in the eyes of an employment tribunal. Although some of the lawyers out there will say that you may have a case because they want your money.

Also, although it's awful to be sacked, when you have less than 2 years service you usually will not have a case for unfair dismissal. It may feel that ACAS etc are communicating robotically but they are being honest.

It used to be the case that you accrued the right to claim unfair dismissal after one year of employment. David Cameron's government increased it to two. Blame him and the shitty clueless employers who take advantage. Not those trying to help.

Thank you all.

I really don't understand the other woman's motive in offering the texts. I guess I hope it's her doing what she thinks is a good deed but I don't feel able to read any situation properly anymore.

I called ACAS and am awaiting a call back.

I honestly don't know what W1 believes I've lied about or how the whole story turned out. This is making it difficult to move on from. In our meeting, the boss said 'regardless of whether W2s actions were underhanded or not, there's been a breakdown in the team and it can only be fixed by you leaving'.

So it was kind of acknowledged that the boss knew already that W2 had sabotaged the work. She didn't seem surprised when I explain it all either. Just didn't care.

Well that's a bit different from what you have said til now. I can see why getting in contact with the messages is futile.

As a side note, in a couple of weeks I'd get someone to call them asking for a reference - and record the call. If you can prove they're making untrue claims about you, you potentially have legal recourse against them. (In writing would be better, but they're more likely to be indiscreet on the phone.)