I've been sacked

[user910]

Two AIBU's in this I suppose.
I stopped being a SAHM almost 6 months ago and started my probation period in a new role. I loved it mainly because I loved my team and thought I'd made a few good friends in our small team.
Management got took over when I was almost 6 weeks in and I felt the atmosphere changed with the new manager and could feel her being very nit-picky with me and not warming to me.
Over the past month, there's been 3 occasions where I've ran 5 minutes late into work. I've informed them every time. I've been going through a difficult time in my personal life as I've been through a bad break up where police had to be involved with my ex becoming aggressive and I've been adjusting to being a single parent to a 2 year old- and although it's no excuse for bad punctuality, it did affect me and I felt completely unsupported at work. My performance at work stayed consistent and I was continuously learning new aspects of the job, though.
The other morning I rang to explain that my toddler was unwell and I just had to ensure he ate and felt a bit better before he went to nursery but I'd make up the missed half an hour whenever they needed me. I was completely snapped at down the phone. I asked the manager a few times during the day if she wanted to have a chat about it and she told me to wait until the end of the day. And right before my shift finished, they sacked me.

I completely understand lates are unacceptable but AIBU to think they could've at least told me in the morning so I could get home to my sick child/be a little more understanding to my circumstances and issue a final warning given that my performance at work was good?

And AIBU to be bothered that NO ONE even messaged to check I'm alright? They are people I spoke to out of work, we went on nights out, we spoke a lot about personal stuff in work, and I just got removed from the group chat and didn't receive a single message.

Please tell me I'm being unreasonable, I feel like I'm not but reading it back I'm worried I sound a bit entitled!

Lots of people pointing out research about people under 30 preferring flexible working times to a better salary - that may well be the way many companies work now and in the future, but the OP's company obviously does not operate like that. If she had wanted flexible working hours she should have looked for a job where that was on offer. I am another poster who is a bit skeptical about the "5 minutes" late. Most people who are late are "only 5 minutes late". It could have been nearer 10 minutes or 15 minutes. She might have been 5 minutes late at the front door but needed several more minutes to be actually sitting at her desk and working productively.

Also we do not know if the lateness was the main reason for her dismissal as she has not told us what was said during the dismissal meeting. Maybe they were not happy with other aspects of her work and the lateness was another issue on top of that.
In the OP she writes:
My performance at work stayed consistent and I was continuously learning new aspects of the job, though.
So maybe she wasn't learning the new aspects as fast as the company wanted or there was some other kind of issue.

I do feel for the OP - she's had a hard time and is adjusting to a new situation. Hope she finds a new job soon and learns from this incident so she can find a position that is a better fit.

What about teachers (said through gritted teeth)? They cannot afford to be late at all. Sadly, flexible working only applies to certain sectors

But they sound like a horrible company who have no idea how difficult it is for parents, especially single parents, to juggle work and childcare and children do get ill sometimes sorry but I find comments like this a bit silly. Policy is policy, management have to follow it.

I'm a manager in the care sector so obviously punctuality and reliability are very important. When I started I implemented these values and followed policies the previous manager failed to do (obviously discretion is used in some circumstances). I had people tell me I didn't understand as they had children don't you know. Little did they know I was a single parent at the time, had been the whole time I worked my way up the ladder. Still showed up on time. And his other parent wasn't involved.

I'm sorry you've been sacked but it does sound like you should possibly apply to work in flexible environments.

I know I'll probably get flamed 😂

As the older generations retire, companies like puzzled's will have to adapt or die

Considering its ongoing massive success, this comes as quite a surprise - especially when I mentioned I've been one of those managers who bends over backwards for staff. Where relevant I was in fact encouraging flexible working before it became "the thing", but that's a whole other thread

This isn't about me or indeed any other employer, though - it's about OP's. Sadly she's not been able to meet their needs, but as said, hopefully she'll be able to find something to suit both herself and her employer

Very sensible post puzzled

I meant your first post, think I only read one page! Now I need to check I agree with everything you've said since ;)

I used to be cabin crew and being late was obviously seriously frowned upon! I was late once. And I rang in sick rather than get a warning for lateness.

StealthPolarBear don't worry - much of it followed the same theme, but feel free to berate me if I've said anything completely out of order

Very sorry to hear it OP I hope most people would agree that, in this day and age, unless there is a good reason to be in on time, enforcing set start times to that extent is just ridiculous and draconian. I hope you find somewhere better. In the long run, it would have ground you down working somewhere like that. Your DS would have spent his early years with a stressed, ratty mum every morning who couldn't take 5 minutes out to comfort him if he got sick or hurt, in case her ass-hat boss fired her.

Op it might be a blessing in disguise, as now you can try to find somewhere that isn't as rigid.

I can't really disclose what job it was as it doesn't seem to come under a certain sector and it's rather a mix, but it wouldn't have a knock on effect if anyone was late and wouldn't have an impact on other colleagues/business (nothing like sole receptionist, teacher, healthcare etc).

In the dismissal conversation, the reason for dismissal was the lates, which made it even more frustrating as they still claimed my performance was 100%.

Sounds shitty. Best of luck finding another job .

Whilst I understand some degree of flexibility is ok in some jobs, there are an awful lot of jobs where being on time is important. Good timekeeping is generally a positive and necessary thing. Being late 3 times in a month and then phoning in a 4th time to make sure DC has eaten really isnt at all professional. As you were still in your probationary period it's not surprising they have dismissed you. Maybe a job with a later start would be better.

What I have found weird in my work life is, in two jobs off the top of my head where lateness didnt really matter at all (no time constraints, we picked our own shifts)they were so damn strict.SO strict. And even worse with people under us. 2 mins late was end of the world. I work for a much much larger organisation now and with a lot of theoretical and SERIOUS consequences if not enough people 'on the floor ', yet if you're late they're much more understanding. It seems to me that they just respect their staff. They know we're good people who don't want to be late. I was late during probation, only 2 mins admittedly but even though my work is a ten min drive I always give myself half an hour. Was late due to roadworks. rang in and explained, absolutely fine. If that had have happened in my old work I'd have had a serious talking to. Anyone else experienced that?

OP I do feel sorry for you with these circumstances , i agree with PPS though, it is a lot of what a lot of companies will see as red flags in a time youre 'meant ' to be on your best behaviour. Good luck finding something better

Oh OP, I hope you are feeling a bit better about it now and have started looking for a new role, hopefully somewhere with a bit more flexibility. I started a new job when my DD was 7 months and wishing a year I'd had to take 3 periods of unexpected leave as she was admitted to hospital. It's so hard when you are trying to prove yourself at work. I really hope you find a new better job soon.

You are not being unreasonable OP. They were being very mean and unsupportive. It's probably down to not telling with the line manager as well as the overall culture of the company. Try to see it as a blessing in disguise and learn from it. When interviewing for your next role, try to understand how family friendly the company is and how they support single parents. Best of luck.

Op, you say you’ve been on work nights out - so you have some back up, can you use this backup to back you up for sickness and make sure you’re not late? I don’t remember seeing the reasons for the lates.

I do think in every job I’ve done, there’s been a huge difference between expectations in the trial period and after. Setting expectations that you are generally ontime is so important - try and get more backup with the right part of it for the next job

It's odd to fire someone for three instances of five mins late and one thirty mins late, if they are a good performer and the lateness was made up and did not impact anyone else. It costs way more to hire and find someone else.

So either there was another reason, and they are just using this as it's nicer, or you're not being quite honest about the five mins.

Your comment about feeling unsupported at work during your break up makes me wonder if there is more to this. I'm really not sure why you expect your new probationary employer to support you through your break up, that's your friends and families job. It's an odd comment to work.
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When interviewing for your next role, try to understand how family friendly the company is and how they support single parents

Please don't ask this, you'll never be employed again if you do. Your commitment is as per your contract. End of. Going to an interview and asking how supportive of single parents they are is going to make you look like you can't commit to what you're contracted for.

It's not odd to fire someone for three lates in their probation period. Generally accepted thinking if someone is willing to be late 3 times in probation , it will be significantly worse once they've passed it. I think most companies would terminate in the circumstances you described .

Not for literally five mins that was made up. I don't agree most companies would fire for this. Unless it was something like a call centre etc.

Although on saying That, if you're due to start work at say nine, you should be there a good few mins before hand and be getting ready to start, not fronting up at five past.

@Bluntness100 definitely. I'm in an office/small contact centre and the person on probation that's coming in 1 min before shift start isn't looking good. The majority of us get there 15 mins before which is needed to boot computer, log in, make a brew etc etc and be ready on time
It's the most relaxed job I've ever had but 2 lateness and you will lose your bonus - I'm not risking my 4 figure monthly bonus so I'm always early. If you ring in and let them know why, they're flexible but constant lateness would be very frowned on

Bluntness100 I agree. I can't think of a single job I've had where anyone rocks up bang on start time. You usually need to be there at least 10 mins before start time for handovers or whatever.

Agree and that might be the issue on thinking about it. Employees need to be at their desks and ready to start at the given time, so most come in and are at their desks ten to fifteen mins before hand. Rocking up five mins after you're supposed to start would be viewed very dimly if there was a given start time.