Anyone know anything about HR/management and what I can expect here? Very worried

[wprrie11]

I’m a single parent and work in a professional role. I’m upper junior, so on the way to senior… but there’s lots of steps to the top of senior level too. I’m paid close to 70k, those at the top are on around 120-130, the very top even more.

I have been back from mat leave since March. I have found it hard doing everything domestic and also my job. However, before mat leave there was chaos in the department with various changes of management etc and I had little to no feedback or guidance with workloads. This has changed with a new manager who I quite like…

Here’s the thing. I had a meeting recently where we ended up talking about career progression. It wasn’t the purpose of the meeting, it just sort of happened. He said I was ‘nowhere near’ ready to progress and he ‘didn’t know the ins and outs of what happened in the team previously, but there are clear gaps (in my knowledge).’ He then said he didn’t think it was that I wasn’t capable, but that I hadn’t had the right guidance. I have made some minor mistakes since then and he has said I need to pay more attention etc. I have massively taken this to heart and have barely slept the last few nights. It’s true I do rush work because I have to sometimes. It’s not the sort of job you can do well just on 9-5 and unfortunately I cannot do many hours beyond this anymore as I have DD.

I feel like they are going to get rid of me. What will they do? Will I have a meeting and will I know in advance? Will I have chance to respond? Will they tell a new employer if I move? I feel sick with anxiety as this job is well paid and as a single parent it is hard enough. I don’t think I would find a similar job easily. Please can anyone tell me will I get some notice etc

Sorry you are feeling this way. I do think you have made a massive leap and I can’t see any indication that you are going to be let go

It depends on how long you’ve worked there, if less than 2 years they can skip a few steps in a potential dismissal process. If more than 2 years or you have a protected characteristic/disability then they should follow a full and fair process including multiple warnings and notice of any meetings. If there are serious performance issues you should be given the opportunity to get up to standard with a performance improvement plan.

@FlamingoFloss i have made mistakes though, really basic ones like the wrong heading on a document that just shouldn’t have happened. I think that’s where the ‘pay attention’ comment came from

@NotThoseKindOfEggs i have been there 9 years. Would they tell a new employer I had been on a performance plan?

They can't just get rid of you. If they really wanted to (and it's a big if), then they either offer you a compromise agreement to go quickly (a good sum of money and a legally agreed reference) or they put you through an improvement plan/disciplinary process.

@Ohmychristmick what would a disciplinary process be? Could I defend it? I do keep making minor errors and it’s true there are gaps in my knowledge

If you can't do the job during your contracted hours then surely the workload is too high? Or have I missed something?

Sorry this is happening. I've made loads of mistakes since I had children too. I swear my brain is mush. Fortunately my current manager is sympathetic as she is a single parent.

It's easier said than done but I'd try not to worry. They can't just get rid. I'd probably keep my ear to the ground about other jobs.

Firstly you need to calm down and stop catastrophising.

So far all they have advised you is that there are gaps in your knowledge a d you are making silly mistakes because you are rushing.

So break it down... stop rushing so you make less of the silly mistakes. Easy fix.

Secondly, gaps in your knowledge...you admit there are, they have said it isn't due to your capability but more a craply run team previously. This absolutely sounds like they are trying to work with you.

Take some time to look at what you think your knowledge gaps are, work with your manager on what he thinks they are, build a plan to plug those gaps.

Sound is like he us trying to be supportive and help you rather than wanting to sack you.

you're reading too much into it, it sounds like they want you to shore up on your mistakes before they can look at considering a promotion/pay rise further down the road, not that they're firing you.

it would be too much hassle legally to get rid of you since you've been there 9 years, they won't bother with that.

they've not asked you to work more, they've asked you to stop making basic mistakes because they think you're better than that.

I was teasing it thinking he was saying that they will guide you better and help you fill the gaps in your knowledge.

Being told to pay more attention when you miss something is normal! Tbf id tell myself the same thing if I made a mistake!

But also agree if you can't fit your work into your working hours that's a management failure to manage your workload. They may have some responsibility for the mistakes due to you rushing.

I think you are massively overthinking because you are stressed. You need to discuss a plan to fill the gaps in your knowledge. And think about how you do things so you are not making as many mistakes.

It doesn't sound like they want you gone just that you aren't ready for promotion

If they put you on a performance plan it is up to them to prove you need it. I.e if they say "you do not follow processes" you can say "show me an example of my work where I didn't follow a process". They have to show that what they claim can be backed up. Don't just sign a pip willy nilly.

You're being really, really harsh on yourself!

The wrong heading in a document is hardly a sackable offence, if that's the only mistake you've made.

A sackable offence is making an error that costs the company many £000's or loss of reputation, or customers going to the competition because of some action you did or didn't do. Not putting the wrong header in a document.

It’s normal to make mistakes. We’re human so it’s going to happen and that’s how we learn. If everything went right all the time we would never learn how to overcome things. It’s what you do with those mistakes which is important. You can beat yourself up or learn from it and do a better job next time.
Youll be ok - honest! This comes from someone who worried about everything in the early days of her career. I’ve a more pragmatic approach now - I realised catastrophising drains the life out of you. 🙂

You are worrying too much. You boss has given clear, specific and helpful feedback. Engage with it - ask clarifying questions if you need to. If the boss thought you were rubbish, they would have made less effort...

Be proactive in filling your knowledge gaps and make your boss aware of it. So find training courses, ask to be mentored by colleagues with that knowledge etc. With regards to mistakes...have your laptop read your documents aloud to you, you are far more likely to heat a mistake than see it.

If they go disciplinary process then it will go in stages - first written, final etc before dismissal. That alone can take 6-12 months as they have to give you the opportunity to improve in between. As it’s not gross misconduct they will need to pay you in lieu of notice which is likely to be 9 weeks plus accrued holiday.

Performance management is similar. Meetings with opportunities to improve in between before dismissal. Again, they have to pay you in lieu of notice.

Other option is that they pay you to leave with mutual agreement - which normally involves a few months pay and you signing a non disclosure.

None of that sounds likely based on what you’ve said is happening

As regards references - 99% of companies now just provide a basic reference, giving start and finish dates and job titles. Unless you work with children/vulnerable adults they are incredibly unlikely to give any more information that that - and even in those circumstances they normally just state if there have been any safeguarding concerns and nothing else

I think you're massively over thinking this.
I would try to turn this around in your head. Think to yourself, right, if I'm not good enough to progress yet, get feedback as to why, and then an action plan of how you can improve. Don't dwell on the past, think how you can make the future better.

In your case, a disciplinary process would be about improvement rather than say gross misconduct. For it to be fair, it'd need to be linked to your objectives/KPIs. So your manager and you would jointly agree on the areas that'd need improving on and put a plan in place that would facilitate that. On a £70k salary, it'd be reasonable to expect you to lead most of this though. You're not a young kid needing to be spoon fed.
Everyone has gaps in their knowledge. Do you need some additional training, to read up more, shadow someone etc? Why are you making errors? Are you short on time or under pressure or are you just slapdash and dont care?

Ask your boss for training to fill the hair in your knowledge?

Hair? Ffs. Gaps.

I also panic at hearing this sort of stuff OP, so I can relate. Just ask for feedback frequently on what you're doing well and what you could do better, it sounds like there's a lot of positives too.

And also make sure you're a trade union member in case things go south.

There's nothing in what you've said that would indicate there's a plan to get rid of you. The person who doesn't make mistakes hasn't been born. Losing sleep won't help. Make a plan to work on points you've been told about. Make notes. At your next meeting demonstrate what steps you're taking to improve. Relax. Try mindfulness. You've been doing it for 9 years, you must be doing something right.