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.

That's a good idea, it'd be helpful to know what they're going to say before I do pass their details on to a future employer.

I could always provide my previous employer as a reference instead. I was there for 7 years and am still very good friends with the staff and manager.

I keep going over it all in my head and it's not really getting any clearer.

meet - it is standard for settlement agreements to include you having your lawyer paid for, in fact they are not valid without that. Also, of course you has a case, if you didn't have a case they wouldn't have offered you a settlement it was the potential case they were settling!

It's horrible looklock. I feel a bit more distance from being sacked in JANUARY but it really is such a horrible feeling. Far far far worse than being dumped! Imo. Because it's ok to be single, that's allowed, and it doesn't hang over you like 'proof' you're flawed, and you don't need your previous bf to give a reference to your next one. I felt really skuppered and paralysed after I was sacked.

I think you should write the letter and forward the messages. You might not gain any benefit from it but you might be able to help some of the juniors left behind.

That's it isn't it Prada, I feel humiliated. I just want time to hurry up and pass so this is far behind me.

I don't know if that's going to happen though cos there's been ANOTHER development. My lovely sister often come to meet me for lunch and would see both women most days. My sister is incredibly beautiful and outgoing and W2 always quizzed me on what work she's had done, who pays for it, if she's rich/happy/clever. One day my sister turned up crying cos she had fallen out with her husband and W2 took great pleasure in it. She asked lots of questions that seemed to stem from a jealous place.

Anyway my sister called me this morning to say W2 had been viewing her, her colleagues and boss on LinkedIn and sent messages to her boss. Her boss hasn't said what was in them but asked her what the connection was. We have no idea what the messages say and my sister has asked but he won't tell her.

I emailed W2 and basically asked her to walk away from the situation cos she has done enough. She replied saying she's only just started.

I'm normally a strong person but I just want to run away from it all. I'm exhausted.

I would also write an email now detailing everything. If W2 had altered documents I'm sure that could be proved esp if W1 was off at the time it was done.,

What? Thats harassment. I wouldnt be emailing w2 id be contacting a solicitor for advice. She's a dangerous piece of work that one isn't she?
I think you need clear boundaries now do not allow yourself to be pulled into playing her games.

Has your sister told her boss what has happened to you, and how? If not, she needs to now. Hopefully your sister's boss is sensible and will think W2 is just some silly cow, but you never know.

I would be keeping a record of exactly what is happening, as this is starting to look like harassment - a criminal offence.

Poor you. Hope this is all over and done with soon.

Oh and keep the email. Do not respond further to her. Get your sister to do the same and both of you need solicitors advice - that sounds very threatening.

Go to a tribunal! They are free now!

She's done what now?!! 😲

Yes my sister told her boss when he asked what the connection was, she said he looked baffled by it all and when she asked what the messages were and he said it doesn't matter. That was it. He understandably wants to stay well out of it, so does my sister. And so do I!

Is W2 a relative of the boss?

Is there more to this op.?

It's clear you don't like the second woman. It's clear neither woman likes you.

The way you're describing this woman is one of a total physcopath, she tampers with work, she lies, stalks your sister, but yet the bosses have taken her side against yours. The other woman has accepted the work tampering and turned on you, the bosses accepted it, knew she showed them the tampered work, knew you were honest, and still made her the supervisor and turned on you. It's hugely unusual.

Are you sure you didn't get it wrong about what you said? I'm guessing you are also jealous she got promoted or will do.

For everyone in this scenario to turn on you when you've done nothing more than say " I think she showed the boss your work" is beyond extreme. Either way the woman is out for vengeance as she clearly feels you getting the sack wasn't enough. Are you sure she tampered with work and showed the bosses?

I wouldn't let this rest.
Sounds like she is going to drag your name through the mud. You don't know who else she has contacted.

Email the ex boss - give your version of events, give her the texts and attach the email where she says she's only just begun.

If the woman continues talk to your df about taking legal action against her.

No they're not related.

I'm sure that's what happened. I didn't tell W1 that W2 tampered with her work. I just said W2 had shown her work to the boss. I had seen the documents before and after W2 sat at W1's desk going through everything and they were definitely altered. There were plenty of examples given to the boss that hadn't been altered and were genuine errors too.

The boss didn't ask for my version of the story and didn't clarify what their versions were either.

What I'm taking from this is that W1 was upset with W2 for showing her work. Boss says I've harmed their relationship by telling W1 and now the team is broken and there's only one way to fix it which was me leaving.

The boss definitely acknowledged W2 had been underhanded which I took to mean she knew about the tampering before I had even told her but I guess it could have meant just going behind W1s back by showing the work.

I told the boss what had happened but it was pointless. Her mind was made up.

I've been over and over it all in my head and it's not getting any clearer.

I didn't like W2 at all but was always civil with her. She's very intimidating and I always tried to just stay out of her way and focus on my work. I got on well with W1 and enjoyed working with her.

If you get involved further at this point the discussion about your reference and final pay will get lost. However I would at this point let your colleague know that you would like copies of the messages.

Get your money and agree your reference, get a new job and let your new employer take up that reference. If a new job isn't a possibility then join an employment agency. They will also want a reference and you can eventually make new contacts for your next reference.

Then forward the information you have to your old boss marked 'for your interest'.

This scenario is actually quite common. Somehow everyone around the trouble maker is coerced by them and acts in their favour. Even the bosses. Their behavior is so extreme it's terrifying and sounds ridiculous when a victim attempts to explain what is happening.

It really does feel like that. I've mentioned her behaviour regularly to my DH and sister since I started at the company so none of this is a huge surprise to them, apart from the me getting sacked bit. But when I think about telling someone new, like a solicitor, I wouldn't even know where to start. Her behaviour has been so crazy it makes me feel crazy to say it out loud.

It's just so extreme and unnecessary . To fire someone for something so trivial as saying woman 2 showed her work to the boss, which is true, so the boss would know it. To fire a strong performer for nothing more than telling her that one fact is beyond bizzare.

This situation keeps getting more and more bonkers. There has to be more to the backstory, surely??

Are they replacing you? Could it be they wanted to reduce the team by 1 and as you were below the two years used this as a convenient excuse?

This is getting more and more bonkers, and so you must stop trying to engage with it as if it isn't. Establish what your pay/reference situation is, keep a record of what this lunatic woman is doing, and then focus completely on yourself and your own professional future by finding a job or a training course to do asap.

Seriously you could send yourself nuts trying to analyse something that is far too nuts to be analysed. Cover your arse and move on.

W2 is clearly a sociopath!

You're right, I think I might be going mad trying to understand the madness.

They won't be replacing me but apparently now both women have very high targets in order to try and cover the deficit which will be very stressful.

There isn't a back story I know of but it wouldn't surprise me if W2 had invented one or perhaps been creating one for months. I don't know what to think anymore.

Stop trying to decide what to think. The situation is beyond sense. Focus on moving on as smoothly as possible for now.

Have ACAS been back in touch and have you started the discussion re your exit?