Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sacked after ONE day! :(

171 replies

PrankedByLife · 28/12/2020 12:24

This happened a couple of weeks ago but I still can't get over it.

After TEN years of temporary and contract work I finally got a permanent job!
£40k, permanent, 3 month probation period, in my field of expertise, directly employed with the company, no crappy agencies involved - I thought finally, after 10 years of rubbish God had finally rewarded me.

They sacked me after ONE day!!!

First he said I was over qualified and then I was too slow.

The irony of this situation is, I've never worked so hard in my first day in any job. I was hands on, got a lot done.

I emailed the owner of the business who actually hired me to let him know that the MD had sacked me and nearly two weeks on he hasn't bothered to reply.

I can't believe they only gave me one day to prove myself!!

I have to admit the atmosphere was strange the minute I got there - no one was prepared to even say hello!

Has this happened to anyone else and did you ever find out why?

I feel like I'm meant to take the scraps of jobs forever, I'm not good enough for a proper job.

OP posts:
BubblyBarbara · 28/12/2020 14:05

However, I don't feel that race or gender could have been the issue, they could see what I looked like at the interview.

I really hope not, but could have been a box ticking exercise to say they hired "someone from an ethnic minority in 2020" for some stupid reason. Anyway, this is a terrible story, I'm very sorry you've got caught up in whatever these idiots are trying to pull.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 28/12/2020 14:05

I do think though its actually a blessing in disguise. Somethings that happen it can seem like someone up there has got a downer on you. However its often for the best, as It seems like you've dodged a number of bullets. Would you want to be part of a company who think its okay to treat people with such disregard.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 28/12/2020 14:06

Like others, I'd say you dodged a bullet. Can you imagine the shit treatment you'd likely have to endure working in a place that behaves like this?

Make sure you get paid for that one day and tell them that you won't be letting that days wages go.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 28/12/2020 14:08

Yeah make damn sure they pay you. Its making me think who else have they done that to made them do a days work got rid of them and not paid them.

Notnownotneverever · 28/12/2020 14:12

That is awful but the silver lining is you haven’t wasted your own time investing in a job that wouldn’t work out. If you worked as hard as possible on your first day and that was the outcome it was not the place for you. Sounds like a workplace to be avoided from the sounds of it.

Original poster
PrankedByLife · 28/12/2020 14:12

Answers to various PP quesirosn.

I have been paid for the one day.

There wasn't a notice period from them to me so, no additional payment.

I turned down a £25k permanent job for this one - I had a good week! 2 job offers after 6 months of unemployment.

It can't have been about box ticking etc - small company that no one cares about that doesn't have to bother with the politics that large companies have to be seen to care about.

OP posts:
Hicksville21 · 28/12/2020 14:16

Similar happened to me. Got the job started after Christmas and when I arrived I was started off on something which was not what I interviewed for. The owners who’d been lovely at interview were stand offish. Meanwhile one of the joint owners was there in the office, training his niece to do the job I was supposed to be doing. I was on trial for 2 weeks and just before that was up they fired me for misconduct. Apparently checking my computer history threw up some non work related web searches. However these were planted while I was at lunch. There was nothing I could do. I was devastated but couldn’t work there with such arse holes. I dreamed for many years of exacting my revenge on the firm but I decided karma would get them in the end whether I am there to see it or not.

Sillysandy · 28/12/2020 14:18

OP this is terrible and nothing to do with you. They are a crowd of jokers and there was something else going on here. You unfortunately got caught in the crossfire. I feel really sorry for you, it's quite nervewracking starting a new job without this sort of rubbish.

CityCommuter · 28/12/2020 14:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hangingover · 28/12/2020 14:21

The company I used to work for did this a lot. They were complete bastards and everyone who worked there was miserable. It says more about them than you OP! Flowers

Original poster
PrankedByLife · 28/12/2020 14:23

Temping / contracting market is ruthless, people treat you like shit. Make you work like a dog and then dismiss you with a minute's notice.

I really thought this was my chance to get out of this vicious circle.
I couldn't believe my luck someone wanted me for a permanent job.

Dread going back into the temp market.
There isn't anything out there at the moment anyway due to COVID, plus even in normal times temps get treated so badly, even when you're paid well.

Managers can't get the permanent staff to work properly but expect the world from temps.

OP posts:
VimFuego101 · 28/12/2020 14:23

I would place actual money on something else going on behind the scenes, unrelated to your abilities.

MadameBlobby · 28/12/2020 14:25

Surely you have rights and even though you were on probation wouldn't they have had to give you 2 weeks notice or does the contract say 'with immediate effect'? If it does then it's usually reserved for gross misconduct which obviously doesn't apply to you. Did you even get time to sign the contract? Have they /will they pay you for your 1 day's work?

The statutory right to give and receive notice only kicks in after a month. And even then it would only be one week. Many employment contracts have similar provisions.

MrsMariaReynolds · 28/12/2020 14:25

I know it's a tough blow, but I'd say count your lucky stars that you've dodged a bullet from what would likely have been a very uncomfortable and dysfunctional work environment. Better you cut your losses now than been strung along for the probationary period and sent packing. Onward and upward!

randomer · 28/12/2020 14:38

Surely there must be procedures in place? This doesn't sound right at all.

Motnight · 28/12/2020 14:39

That is awful, Op. I would do as Xenia suggests just to piss them off.

Good luck with the job hunting.

Viviennemary · 28/12/2020 14:40

I think they probably decided they couldn't afford to pay your salary and regretted taking on an extra staff member. Maybe their financial position took a downturn.

VimFuego101 · 28/12/2020 14:41

@Xenia

1. Tomorrow make a data subject access demand from. You want all the notes from your interview and anything else relevant. (It might have been sex discrimination for example).
  1. Ask them for reasons in writing.
This is good advice.
user1471565182 · 28/12/2020 14:53

I've had this happen. Whilst working there first day the owner's wife came in and was openly whining about 'why have we got new staff?'. I wasnt going to go back anyway, the place was a bitchy shithole with chefs doing that macho sweary shit. I suspect this place would have turned out the same for you OP.

randomer · 28/12/2020 14:55

Why are some people such bastards? Its depressing.

user1471565182 · 28/12/2020 14:55

Could it be a race/gender/disability issue? Im no longer suprised by the levels of bigotry among management with God complexes

PickAChew · 28/12/2020 14:56

Ouch. It's shit but probably a bullet dodged.

madcatladyforever · 28/12/2020 15:02

It's happened to me before OP and to people I know, usually because someone else has come along they like better or someone who turned the job down now wants it.
It isn't your fault, some companies do awful shitty things and instead of owning what they did they decide to make it look like your fault giving you a massive complex.
Happened to mt exH, turns out their number 1 candidate had turned down the job and then rung up after exH had started to accept it. They fired exH and told him his work was substandard, it wasn't. We found out much later from someone who worked there who was a friend of a friend.
People like that should have their businesses burnt to the ground.

madcatladyforever · 28/12/2020 15:04

Oh yes and on another occasion he got a job with a company, worked there for one month - we went on honeymoon after they promised his salary would be in the bank the next day. It wasn't, we had no money on homneymoon or ever. Got back to find the place boarded up - it had gone bust.

BuzzingTheBee · 28/12/2020 15:05

Its them not youFlowers