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.

It's a lot better than them not being upfront about it with you, so that's a positive - even before you take into account that they may be intending to help you identify other avenues outside the University, such as 'We don't have any funding at King's, however, one of our team is moving to set up something at UCL/Queen Mary's/the Bloomsbury Centre/London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine/joining the WHO/DfE and will need an experienced whatever-you-are on their team'. Obviously switch for De Montfort and Leicester, St Andrew's and Glasgow or whatever your specialism/skills set is.

They aren't trying to surprise you (or worse still, not say anything about your contract until it's too late to find anything else), so go to the meeting and you could benefit far more than just going through the motions and a bit of goodwill.

If you wont go it will damage your reputation and word gets around in every industry so this is guaranteed to bite you back later

I’ve had to terminate multiple people over the years.

I’ll never fail to be impressed by those who handle the conversations with professionalism and dignity. they are always the people I think about when new opportunities arise.

dont burn bridges.

You're not being sacked or dismissed.

Your contract is coming to an end.

Don't be a fool and not attend.

Go to the meeting.

You never know what opportunities may present themselves.

I agree take the word sacked out . It’s not that.

i had a temporary contract ended early for financial reasons . I won’t lie I stomped around for a few days then started enjoying my job for the last few weeks ..

I was actually offered a job in the sister company so sometimes actually interacting is useful .

"consult with you"

Means what it says, they might have a useful suggestion.
If you don't go, you'll never know what might have been discussed.

You are taking this too personally. It's in your best interest to go. You never know what opportunities might come up there in the future. Be brave!

Ahh, you aren't being sacked. Best to go, it will not be about how well you have performed, so say your piece, leave it all amicable and you have every chance of being offered something suitable in the future should further funding become available.
Best of luck!

Of course your should go. Dont burn bridges as pp have said. Show some maturity to go along with the value you have added to them whilst you have been there, and you will be the first person they think of when they have some funding.
If you don't go you are just the person that flounced.

I don't get it? You're not being sacked, your contract has come to an end which was always the agreement?

Of course you should go.

Don't burn your bridges, this isn't a reflection on you or your abilities, it's a reflection on how tough things are for universities right now and how erratic funding is.

You don't know what they're going to say, there may be other opportunities in the pipeline. Go and if it does turn out that there is no further work with this university for you at this point then you are leaving on professional, cordial terms.

You're not being sacked. Your contract is coming to an end and it looks as though it won't be renewed due to lack of funding (sadly not really surprising in the current HE climate). I completely understand that it's upsetting, but I'm not sure it's worth burning bridges over.

I've worked at a UK uni for over ten yrs now and have seen quite a few people who have been on fixed term contracts (that haven't been renewed) pop back up in a few months' time in a slightly different role.

Personally, I would go to the meeting, thank them for the opportunity and ask them to keep you in mind for future roles.

Its not a kick in the teeth or sacking to have your contract end. I bounced from short term contract to short term contract for around 2 years. Its a great way towork with/for different people and get your name known.

Don't burn your bridges. You are not being sacked, they just cannot renew your contract. If you are a no show you'll be seen as immature and unprofessional. not a good combination if anyone asks about you at a later date.

I know burning bridges is not good and I should swallow my pride

This is your answer. Don’t undo any of your hard work. They won’t want to have this uncomfortable conversation either but they’re going to sit down with you out of respect instead of just leaving it at an email. Show them the same courtesy so you don’t do yourself any harm moving forward.

And you’re not being sacked, so I wouldn’t use that language even in your head. Your contract is ending and there isn’t funding or a project to keep you - this isn’t a reflection of your work or how your superiors feel about you. Go shake hands, tell them how much you’ve appreciated the opportunity and hope that someone will refer you for something in the future.

Go 🙂

Go to the meeting with your head held high, ask for a glowing reference, and put it down to modern practice and economics. Say you have really enjoyed the challenge, tell them it is a shame they don't have capacity to keep you as you had so many plans there etc. Take ownership of it and be architect of your own future. I know someone at a university who was re-structured five times in three years and each time the salary was reduced. They left to go to another college where the job was stable.

It's shit, but this is a put the big girl pants on moment.

Just go and listen. I think it's actually better that they've told you in advance so you don't get ambushed in the meeting with bad news. I've been there and it's awful.

If you don't go, they may take offence and you may want a reference from them in the future.

Make sure you've cleared your diary after the meeting so you can go and have a glass of wine with a friend and let off steam.

Go. They might turn up at another institution you apply to in the future. You will benefit from the best reference, networking and reputation possible. They will probably say nice things about you. Hold on to your professional moral high ground.
And...
You can watch them squirm - no one likes to be on their end of these meetings either.

I've experience of these meetings and I'd always say it's worth going, they're consulting with you and if they're a decent organisation to work for it will be meaningful. I've seen meetings where we were sure someone would be let go at the end of it but ideas come up during the meeting that have meant we've kept them on, you never know what may happen. You're not being sacked because of performance or anything like that. I've also seen people let go and then bought back when the landscape changes so don't burn bridges. I've also seen people being let go but then gain work in other organisations through the contacts they made, the world's your lobster 🦞 you never know what may happen 💐

What are you on about? You aren’t being sacked. You should definitely go to the meeting.

I think the same.

You haven't been sacked

And yes, YWBU - it's never nice to have to leave a job but you never know when there might be an opening there again, or when someone you worked with may have an opening for you elsewhere. The best thing to do is to handle the situation like a grown up, not have a sulk.

You aren't being sacked.

The funding for your contract has ended.

You'd be daft not to go

There might be something else

Bring cakes, leave on a high.

""Hi, you might have heard I'm being made redundant/leaving, etc... sucks, but I've enjoyed working here, and with you, so I brought cake :). Hopefully we'll cross paths in the future, add me on LinkedIn."