AIBU for being so anxious over colleagues sacking?

Icamebyfilm · 2022-09-14T21:53:41+00:00

My colleague is getting sacked. New starter and I’ve had to provide lots of evidence. Language barrier is probably the reason why they don’t understand, but they apparently have a degree from a uk uni whereby they would have had to write a lot. I just can’t think of anything else at the moment and I sometimes gas light myself into thinking maybe he’s not being trained, or manager doesn’t like him etc, despite him making big cock ups. Im also glad he is leaving as he’s not able to do the work, and at the same time AIBU for thinking about this so much?

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 22:56

No it's normal to feel bad and over think it OP. I remember having to give evidence against a manager once who was sacked. I really liked her as a person so I found the whole process incredibly hard. Still feel guilty to this day and it was ages ago.

Original poster

Icamebyfilm · 14/09/2022 23:02

OldAndTubby · 14/09/2022 22:56

No it's normal to feel bad and over think it OP. I remember having to give evidence against a manager once who was sacked. I really liked her as a person so I found the whole process incredibly hard. Still feel guilty to this day and it was ages ago.

:( but I guess she messed up. Did you think the offence was sackable?

OP posts:

JillPole123 · 14/09/2022 23:08

I think it's normal to feel bad. Early in my career I was a few months into a new post and a senior colleague was sacked. It really shook me. I also felt guilty, thinking back to times we were chatting and wondering if I had distracted him while he should have been working. Took me years to realise that a senior colleague chatting for ages to a young new starter probably wasn't in best control of their work, and I definitely had nothing to feel guilty about.

In general, it can be excruciating for the underperforming colleague to do a role where they are not a good match. I have worked with people since who should have probably been let go, but who struggled through every day. It was awful to watch and didn't seem healthy for their self-esteem. If there were no opportunities for coaching/mentoring, or if the gap between skillset and role is too large, then I like to think it can be kinder in the long run to allow them to find a better fitting role. (But this may be wishful thinking as it's very unpleasant and shocking to fire someone)

Original poster

Icamebyfilm · 14/09/2022 23:25

JillPole123 · 14/09/2022 23:08

I think it's normal to feel bad. Early in my career I was a few months into a new post and a senior colleague was sacked. It really shook me. I also felt guilty, thinking back to times we were chatting and wondering if I had distracted him while he should have been working. Took me years to realise that a senior colleague chatting for ages to a young new starter probably wasn't in best control of their work, and I definitely had nothing to feel guilty about.

In general, it can be excruciating for the underperforming colleague to do a role where they are not a good match. I have worked with people since who should have probably been let go, but who struggled through every day. It was awful to watch and didn't seem healthy for their self-esteem. If there were no opportunities for coaching/mentoring, or if the gap between skillset and role is too large, then I like to think it can be kinder in the long run to allow them to find a better fitting role. (But this may be wishful thinking as it's very unpleasant and shocking to fire someone)

The job is pretty straightforward so we don’t know why he’s not getting it….

they've given the person improvement meetings etc but they’ve not got any better

OP posts:

Original poster

Icamebyfilm · 14/09/2022 23:25

I think it’s because everyone knows.

OP posts:

cheapskatemum · 14/09/2022 23:31

Maybe they've discovered that their degree is a fake

Snoozer11 · 14/09/2022 23:41

I think it's a tough one, but only you know if it's genuine.

When I started a job once, I was given no training. Literally, nobody talked me through anything, explained the systems I was completely unfamiliar with or answered any of my questions with more than a sentence.

They kept piling work on though, and I was expected to complete it in a given timeframe and without mistakes.

I was shit. I could tell everyone thought I was shit, and it really affected my confidence. I felt like my colleagues didn't like me and to this day, I feel like my manager had taken a personal dislike to me the second I walked through the door.

The lack of support I received was so severe that I feel unable to properly describe it, and no one would believe it if I did. Particularly as my manager was Mr Perfect.

You know better than us, but I would make sure people have actually explained things to him.

Spinewars23 · 05/08/2023 00:33

The law changed over 10 years ago. You have no protection until you have worked for a company 24 months unlike the previous to April 12 when you needed 12 months.

my paraplegic brother was let go from a job in 2017 despite working for the company close to 10 years prior to accident - he received nothing from the posters who’ll tell you you are in for some windfall.