AIBU to not show up to a meeting if I know I'm being sacked.

[Risingsun93]

I guess im looking for insights on this topic generally because I have never been dismissed before. Ok so for context I'm on a fixed-term 0 hour contract. It comes to an end on 30th November which is exactly 2 years.
Its been a good ride, great money with flexibility and I'm really upset (although not surprised) I just hoped there might be a further opportunity for me. I've engaged as much as possible and even done valuable training in the field to up my chances and shared this with them. Today I got an invite to a meeting that says "This meeting’s purpose is to consult with you because the contract on which you are working will come to an end on 30th November 2024 and no alternative funding or project has been identified and the University cannot provide internal funding." Therefore I know thw outcome is that I'm being dismissed. I know burning bridges is not good and I should swallow my pride but it's a real kick in teeth going to a meeting to be formally told I'm sacked when I know I am.

Hopefully this is just a moment of madness for you and you’re not actually considering not going?!

You’ve not been sacked, it’s the end of your contract. There is no funding - in 12 months there might be funding, or maybe they know another University or team interested in someone like you. It would be very unprofessional and spiteful to not go to the meeting.

PLEASE listen to excellent advice you’ve been given OP - academia isn’t the place for burning bridges: you end up setting yourself on fire & then plummeting into the ravine.

You're not being sacked. Your funding has ended. It's sucks but that's life on short term funded contracts.

If a contract comes up in the future they might consider you, but not if you’re unprofessional enough to not turn up to a meeting.

I agree with everyone else, go and be composed (I appreciate this might be hard) and leave on good terms. Might come in handy in the future. They aren’t sacking you they just can’t renew your contract. And you’ll need a reference too.

Good Luck.

if it makes you feel any better , many moons ago my mum used to work for coke a cola .

one day just before the two year mark , they called a massive group of them to the other side of Birmingham for a meeting. (A good 6 hours drive )

the meeting took just less then 10 minutes, and it was basically to fire them all .

she still talks about it now , she hasn’t forgotten about it 30 years later coke a cola owes her 12 hours of petrol money and she’ll probably have it written on her headstone 😜

You are not being sacked. They might have really good feedback and a reference for you. They might explain what they are doing to find more funding. They might take you back when more funding becomes available or recommend you to other teams or universities.

If you don't go, none of this will happen.

You're not being "sacked", you know you're not, and not going would only serve to make you look outrageously immature and unprofessional. Don't be petty. You knew what you signed up for when you took the job.

I'd agree with everything above and would like to add, that the people at that meeting might not stay at that uni - especially if there are funding issues. They may go on to other unis and wish to employ you, but their opinion of you might change if you fail to show up. IT is so important to part on good terms because you don't know where or when you might meet these colleagues again.

Not sure if the 0 hours makes any difference, but for colleagues who had 2yr fixed term contracts they were invited to a meeting to be told they would be offered redeployment, because despite the funding not being renewed, 2yrs meant they had to be treated with the same rights as permanent. So definitely worth going to find out in case it's a similar situation!

“FancyBiscuitsLevel · Today 16:52
Another saying you aren’t being sacked, your contract is ending and they can’t afford to offer you another one. This is not the same thing”

This with bells on.

Yes, this is an employment status question. If OP is classed as an employee, with two years' service... OP you need to take further advice. But also go to the meeting - you're taking this very personally. You are not being sacked.

Yes
You should go, keeps numerous doors still open.

I would definitely go, it will be a useful chance to talk over other ideas for redeployment - they may even have things in mind for you.

Also you will be able to find out what other support they can offer you.

The letter says the funding for the project has finished, which you knew anyway. It doesn’t say that other projects aren’t in the pipeline, or that you will be considered for a permanent contract so please go to the meeting and find out what is happening. If they can people employ people who they know and who they value , they also recommend people who they know and value to other employers.

GO TO THE MEETING!

Act with grace and professionalism - how you leave a (successful) job is almost more important than the work you did whilst employed there.

Elephants and colleagues - long memories.

Unless there are disciplinary reasons or you’ve pissed off some people there then definitely go along.

It is a small world, unis and contracts and why not end on a good word and handshake rather than shooting yourself in the foot and not going. They’ll know you’d want the contract preferably extended or permanently but they won’t know this if you don’t get a chance to tell them.

Go and just get through it and ask a friend to meet you after if possible.

Sounds childish not to go. You never know they could be thinking of another contract in a different department.

Please go for all the reasons already said. It’s really hard not to take it personally although logically you know this outcome is not the result of anything you’ve done. Are you worried about becoming emotional during the meeting? I’ve only been made redundant once, knew what the meeting was about and was looking forward to moving on, but I did feel unexpectedly teary and angry during the exit meeting.

Listen to what the other posters have said about the uni employment scene snd don’t jeapordise future opportunities.

It would be immature and unprofessional to not go. And could be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Who knows when they might have more work available? Do you not want a decent reference from them?

You are not being sacked! It was a two year contract which has ended. As someone who was once sacked (very unfairly), it's a very different thing.

Go to the interview. Express your enthusiasm for the institution, your role and your positive experience there. Ask their advice on what you should be looking for going forward. Ask if they know of roles in other departments or unis. Tell them you would love to considered for other roles in the future.

It’s not glasgow is it? I got one like that and they wanted to move us all to a guaranteed 40hrs a year contract instead. I didn’t want it so have resigned but for gods sake don’t not go - you do not know the options there might be at your uni or another.

"This meeting’s purpose is to consult with you because the contract on which you are working will come to an end on 30th November 2024 and no alternative funding or project has been identified and the University cannot provide internal funding."

To me this says "We really tried our best to keep you on and we want to meet with you to debrief, apologise and promise we'll keep in touch if we should find some funding".

Go!

Assuming this is something like my friend's University, it might also include a "...but we know that X University is currently starting a similar project. I know the budget holder, so I can put in a good word for you."

Do not burn bridges!

It would be daft and unprofessional not to go. And you no it's not being sacked!