To ask how you remain composed? I'm going to lose my job at 11am.

[AbsolutelyCrushed]

My manager has invited me to a "next steps" meeting with HR.

I'm one week away from completing probation today, and they have to give me one weeks' notice. The timing won't be a coincidence.

Essentially, I've freelanced for them for years, but they said last year they'd have to stop giving me work due to IR35 unless I accepted a full-time job. I was nervous, but did - but the project they gave me changed, and turned out to not be my skill set. I've done a fine job, the client is really happy, but it's not what I want to do. I had a chat with a director a while back and he said they think I'm great and would find me something else, and just wanted me to be happy. We agreed I'd suggest and then train up a replacement for this project, and they'd find me work closer to what I usually do, and am good at.

I've done that. Replacement is in place. Everyone is happy (client has asked if I can stay in some capacity, but all is fine). Manager last week asked me "off the record" if I'd like to go back to freelancing - I said I hadn't thought about it but enjoyed being employed. To be honest, as they made me stop all freelancing when I signed my contract with them, I don't have the clients anymore. He said he wasn't aware of any other opportunities coming up in the next 2 months but would ask around.

He's now put a meeting in for 11am with HR and I can't stop crying. I'm the breadwinner, DH can't work due to a disability, and we have a toddler who has just settled into nursery. I'm so upset. I also feel really stupid. How do I get through this without crying?

Agreed also the OP's toddler/disabled husband are irrelevant here. They behaved like dickheads but really.. no employer owes a you a job beyond the legalities.
You could be let go at any time, never get too comfortable, always protect yourself.

Go back to them and ask for 3 months not one.
Reasons- it has come as a massive shock. You have trained your replacement so it is goodwill from them towards you.
Goodwill as you dropped your other clients in the understanding of perm work.
Being the breadwinner this is important and deserves 3 months garden leave.

Push it. 3 months is industry norm and reasonable.

Use them like they have used you.... keep it all smiles all happy and light. Build back up your client base and then walk away.... They cannot have their cake and eat it. They let you go, they don't get to use your services when they feel like it. They forced you into permanent employment and an exclusivity agreement and then dumped you when they felt like it. If you do ever enter permanent work again I wouldn't agree to an exclusivity agreement unless they remove the probationary period.

@AbsolutelyCrushed I'm so sorry. What AHs. They are so OOO a clause that says you can't freelance and 6 m probation even though you've worked with them for years. The company decision makers are idiots and they've stitched you up. But it's their loss cos you're going to be too busy for them...Call recruiters and see what cobtracts are available. Call your previous clients and check in with them saying you have time if they need you. Sign on.

I know self employment is liberating but it can also be peaks and troughs. I hope you find something very soon.

Sending you a hug and good luck xxx

Hope you’re ok

So sorry you're in this situation, it's very difficult for you.
Have you phoned ACAS just to be absolutely clear about your rights? They are a free independent service that give crystal clear employment law advice.
When I was made redundant a quick phone to them got me an extra 11k in redundancy payment. Some consolation for losing a job a loved.

You sound a fantastic hard working employee who the boss must rate. Ask your manager what the objective of the meeting is you are entitled to know before hand and explain you are worried no harm in that you shouldnt be stressed that is not right.

OP

I would speak to ACAS. As if they are claiming they do not have enough work for you, this would fall under redundancy, but it's not, because you trained your replacement.

Even on probation, depending on the nature of your previous work with the company, if it was deemed that you were a worker or an employee you may have continuous service.

To be self employed you have to:

• work for multiple clients
• pick your own pay rate, working hours
• be able to take time off when you want
• be able to send someone else to cover your role

Many freelance jobs are actually hidden employment, they just use freelance to strip people of their employment rights.

Them trying to avoid IR35 Indicates that actually you were an off pay roll worker, and have very different rights to a freelancer.

You're not a failure though - That's the ADHD talking, that part where Imposter Syndrome kicks in. Stop letting it decide which parts of this situation you should focus on (The negatives. We all go through these sh*tty situations with our jobs. You are not alone in this. You won't be the first and you certainly won't be the last.)

Focus on the following:

This company cherishes your work so much that they want to keep you.

The company have also found themselves in a situation where they cannot provide full-time employment for you anymore and sound quite sincere with their guilt.

They think you're amazing. (The Imposter Syndrome wants you to think the opposite because it's a nasty little c*nt.)

Life always changes and we mostly cannot stop the inevitable. So, be realistic about the freelancing and know there may not be more clients, so of you do end up with new clients - You will be pleasantly surprised.

Call ACAS for some legal advice and see where you stand. They can advise you if they think your workplace has dismissed you unfairly, set a honey trap, acquired staff via deception.

The above points are something in your control, something you can work with.

Things happen for a reason so just go with the flow and see where it takes you.

You've got this, O/P. If you can handle a toddler, you can handle this.

Utter twats!

That's all I have to say.

They have failed you. You had a good set up, they decided they wanted you permanently and have now realised they don't need you permanently. They should never have offered you a permanent role if it wasn't sustainable.

I'd be really annoyed and would only continue to accept work from them while I need to. Once I'd built a client list back up I'd dump them.

Fuckers.

Does the client you did the work for have any openings?

Call ACAS for some legal advice and see where you stand. They can advise you if they think your workplace has dismissed you unfairly, set a honey trap, acquired staff via deception.

This ^

It's so obvious that they required you to cease all other freelancing and now that their project is over you're given the heave ho.

You are the sole breadwinner, you really need this job, but you want and told them this is not something you enjoy 😳 They are not obligated to find you work that you enjoy! After you tell someone you don’t like the kind of work offered, the obvious next step is replacing you with someone who is grateful for the job and will shut up and get on with it.

Either you have other ‘enjoyable’ options lined up or you accept losing your job. It was a really stupid move given your circumstances.