Delivering bad news

[Guttedme]

Hi,

Just wonder from a Managers perspective when you’d give bad news?

I’m in a role day to day there is only just about enough work for me - I heard from someone else that the person I’m covering wants their job back full time mid March.

My Manager isn’t saying a lot (I appreciate the manager may not had to do this ever before) and I wonder if there was a manager protocol which may mean they will discuss on a Friday before they go on holiday or the Monday they return?

I have a contract that expires end of March and one month’s notice either side so I’m considering I’m on notice as of Friday in the absence of hearing as can get maybe no discussion is needed.

If they try and tell me on the 11th or 18th March then would I still receive a month’s notice pay? or would I lose out because the contract could be considered as naturally expiring.

Depends what the contract says on notice periods. What does it say if notice isn’t provided, does it roll or just end?

Fixed-term contracts normally end automatically when they reach their agreed finishing point, so there is no need for your employer to give or pay you notice once the fixed term is reached. However, it still counts as a dismissal and if you’ve been there more than two years, they’re required to set out the reason for dismissal - although the person you’ve been covering returning to work would be sufficient reason.

I’d be requesting to meet with your manager in the next week to ask the company’s intentions and whether they’re intending to keep you on, renew your contract, or let you go. You need to make plans if they aren’t going to renew, it’s not going to be a surprise to them that you need some clarity.

If you're on a fixed term contract then your contract will come to an end unless your managers agree with you to extend it. Are there any permanent jobs coming up you can apply for?

If the context is up at the end of March, that's the only thing certain. They don't have to tell you at the end of Feb - they just would have had to give you notice until now.

when I was on fixed contract I was usually informed about a week before the contract expired whether will be renewed or not and for how long (financial services). I see it as naturally expiring end of March. The notice is for during the actual contract eg if they want to end it as of Jan, they’d give notice wnd of nov/ 1st dec)

I would assume your contract is ending unless otherwise has been mentioned.

I think it's really poor form of any manager not to have at least had a discussion with a staff member a month before expiry.

To let you know that there's no opportunity to extend. To offer a reference. To acknowledge you may need the odd hour off to interview elsewhere etc.

I would ask at this stage. Assume the worst, hope for the best.

Thank you, they are a trainee type manager who at worst don’t really want to have to handle the situation. I kind of feel for them as the CEO has said they won’t get involved saying the manager can chose their team. I wouldn’t mind if I was told I’d have to re interview but it’s let’s bury our heads. So I’m seeing higher management in new light.

There has been an unexpected belt tightening redundancy in another team last few days so I can’t see how they can keep 2 people for the work of 1 person for keeping control of the funds.

I‘m the eldest and been around the job block, I might insist a conversation happens Friday just for my own sanity and write it off.