AIBU to ask for advice in case I get fired?

[firealarmhell]

Two weeks ago my manager pulled me aside and it's come to light I made a mistake at work. A big one. I've only worked there since January so they could easily fire me. I made this mistake several more times before a senior staff member noticed. I'm now under investigation at work. I haven't made this mistake since they informed me. However, I've been off work for a week with covid and I return to work tomorrow, I'm absolutely dreading it. I feel sick with nerves. My partner asked me if I've already been fired and was using covid to hide it. That made me feel awful.

My partner was has been unsupportive. I told her about my fears and she ranted to me about affording the bills if I get fired. She's right, the bills are a concern but I feel worse than ever. I'm so ashamed of messing up at work and I feel I have nobody to talk to. I'm in tears constantly, can't sleep and have a pit of dread in my stomach. Been under investigation has massively affected my mental health. I'm convinced I'm going to get fired tomorrow when I go back.

I have no idea what to do if I get fired. I'm hoping someone will be able to give me some advice :(

Is your disciplinary process referenced in your employment contract. Or do you have a copy? It is quite common for large firms to investigate conduct issues. The investigation is to determine where fault lies and how to stop the issue happening again, it’s rarely as simple as sacking someone as could be a process/induction/training issue. If personal fault is determined there will be a disciplinary process that needs to be followed (but this may depend on your probation terms) You may end up with a verbal/written warning rather than be sacked. Good luck

Goo luck. Do point out there's been no repeat of the mistake since it was pointed out, and thus it was a lack of knowledge that's been remedied.

Are you in a union?

Your partner is not supposed to make life more difficult - a healthy relationship is kind and supportive and you get through the hard stuff together.

I think you'll be fine with the job but you are with the wrong person

It's hard to comment without knowing your workplace, but I wouldn't necessarily go in too hard with this [lack of supervision] after all a certain degree of autonomy's often expected, and micromanaging can bring even more problems of its own

Agreed.

You’ve had some ropy advice on this thread, OP: all this ‘it can’t be your fault because someone should be checking every piece of work that you do’ and ‘you can’t be expected to know anything, even if you’ve had it explained verbally, unless it is written down’.

Nobody wants to employ a plodder who doesn’t want to think for themselves and expects their role to be reduced to a flowchart such that they never have to exercise independent thought. Or whose job has to be replicated by somebody ‘checking’ everything they have done. So don’t act that way in the disciplinary meeting.

When you talked about omitting a ‘first step’ I wondered whether it’s a data breach, or something like failing to carry out compliance checks before a financial transaction took place? In which case you need to be prepared to address that. Your employer will argue that it is common sense and you need to have a response ready.

@springbreak22

Are you in a union?

What is a union going to do? The OP is quite clear that with only three months’ service she can’t sue for unfair dismissal, and the union are scarcely going to organise a strike for her.

I'm struggling with something similar with DS16 who is in his first job and thinks the world is going to fall in because he isn't perfect at it after six shifts.

Mistakes happen.

Now you know, you won't do it again. If I were you, I'd go in with a solution: 'thinking about it, nothing about this process is actually written down, why don't I have a bash at doing it then you can all look at it, then there's a written record of the process for the next new person. Of course now it's been pointed out I won't do it again.'

Bright, breezy, confident, ready to move on.

Also an approach you should be adopting with your partner, I fear.

Much going on in your life Op?
How's your relationship with your own dp/dh & dc?
You sound like you need to get a job or more hours; far too much time on your hands to worry that your friend might possibly get compensated for being the stay at home parent/primary caregiver & sacrificed her own career and possible future so her poorly treated Dh could work away & progress to be a high earner & have a prosperous future ahead for himself; when children were up and he was ready to leave his wife/ mother of his kids and move on with his life. My heart bleeds for him.

Haha sorry op cross post 🥴

Wrong thread @NCLsim1990

@girlmom21 yep whoops.
Can't find the other now