Husband been let go from job. 1 weeks notice. Blindsided.

[Gluteustothemaximus40]

So my husband got a new job 3 months ago, but a weird place to work, for a family run business.

Said the job was 3 month probation then the money would increase. Position was assistant manager.

No signs at all that there were any issues.

Anyway, today, the day after the 3 month probation, the boss says he has to let him go. Says he isn’t aggressive enough with sales and a bunch of other shit. None of which is true.

so he has a week. We have to find another job in a week or we are fucked for paying mortgage and bills and food and just being alive. I have a full time job.

this has never happened to us all our lives. We have worked for companies since we were both 16 (now 40s and 50s) and neither of us have ever been fired or given one weeks notice anywhere. This is alien to us.

so, is this even legal? He never had a contract, everything was verbal.

he didn’t do anything wrong, no gross misconduct, in fact he was early by half hour every day, worked hard, sold, did everything asked and more, and yet here we are.

I’m torn between crying, as financially we are so fucked and I want to throw up, and being angry at the cunts who have done this.

Without a contract I think it will be difficult to prove employment. And for constructive dismissal you have to have been employed for 2 years. I have complete sympathy for you, but don't think you'll get anywhere. Please contact Acas to see if they can help. Having work issues my self and they have been fantastic. So sorry 😞

Unfortunately there’s very little protection for employees in the first 2 years of employment (which Labour want to reduce but that will take a couple of years), so unless he’s got a protected characteristic and has been discriminated against there’s not much to be done.

In any event, those things take time and it doesn’t help with the here and now. Allow yourself a night to cry and rant, then make a plan - strip everything back to bare bones, get your DH applying for any Christmas temp work and take it from there.

💐

Unfortunately he has no rights and can be let go for any or no reason, unless he's worked there for two or more years, or unless they have descriminated against a protected characteristic. He is getting his statutory 1 week notice.

Thank you. I just needed to rant. He is beside himself and glued to job pages and has been down to tesco to look for anything right now. It really knocks the stuffing out of you.

Sadly yes it's legal (in the uk) he agreed to a 3 months probationary period. For what ever reason they have decided to not go forward. That sucks especially if there was no prior feedback. But with smaller companies the management is often poor.
You need to make a plan. What is the minimum he/you need to make the bills. Speak to your lender, soon, explain the situation. I worked closely with lenders during the 2008 crunch, the last thing they want to do is reprocess your house. They lost a fortune by jumping the gun and not letting people ride out the storm in the 90s.
Can you borrow from family to tide you over. Can you sell something unimportant like an expensive watch or a personal number plate to generate cash to get breathing space. Also consider eBay stuff in the loft, every penny may count. Plus you will feel more positive taking action

Can your husband network his contacts, will his old job have him back, does he have alternative skills, does he know a builder who might need a labourer....consider you taking a job in the evenings....anything to generate cash.

In future and I know it's not easy, have an emergency fund of at least 6 months money...scrimp and save it as soon as your back on your feet.

Good luck

What a horrible shock

Hopefully your DH can turn it around quickly

It may have been that he wasn't working out or probably more likely that they did some sums and panicked after the budget - cutting DH who was on probation is a lot easier than the next person who has been there over 2 years

At least - that can be the reason your DH can give in interviews which would be perfectly reasonable

Get him on linked in as open to work and a summary of what he’s looking for. Apparently if you post an image with it the post is more impactful, so maybe something that interests him and after some wording about roles he’s looking for a comment which links to the image.

And no contract?? Sounds like a blessing in disguise to be let go

Yes they technically have 3 months from start date to get the contract in place, but that is fairly shoddy HR not to have one ready for the first day

Honestly that’s rubbish.

But don’t take a job again without a contract etc work for someone reputable who doesn’t act like this.

Do you have any temp agencies near you? They can be quite good and pay weekly which may be helpful for your cash flow.

Deliveroo etc could also be good to tide you over.

Sadly OP this has happened to me a few times working fot small family run businesses which is why I no longer do private podistry and have gone back to the NHS. They csn just dump you anytime they want for any reason and there is nothing you can do about it. Tje last one said his mother didnt like me!!!
Dont let it wreck his self esteem. Can he temp until he gets another job?

It’s a shock but he failed his probation and they obviously had valid reasons whether you agree with them or not.

They are ‘weird’ and he didn’t have a contract so not the best employer to have.

Has he had payslips, paid ni and tax? He should be paid for any holiday he has accrued but not taken.

It's the shock, it will wear off soon.

Take a breath, this is a nasty surprise but it like a lot of things in life you will be fine.

Firstly, become informed where are your finances. Secondly look into any and all options to reduce outgoings. Mortgage break etc

Information and options set out in black and white will help reduce the inevitable stress.

Hopefully something will come up really quickly for him. In th meantime he can get in touch with agencies for temp work. Having a plan and some income will help navigate the rough waters.

A very similar thing happened to DH earlier this year. He was still on probation, went into work one morning and they told him they didn't want him any more and he had to leave there and then - didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to colleagues. He was stunned. On the upside, he wasn't enjoying the job and he'd already started applying for other things. He's now in a new job which is very different to anything he's done before but which he's enjoying more and it's better paid.

Best luck to your DH in his job hunt OP, hopefully he will end up with something better in the long run.

Unfortunately it’s legal. Happened to DH in July this year - they paid his notice. I was at home with a 5m old. Fucking nightmare.

Apply anything and everything now. Tell him not to be picky, if you’re fucked financially just get a temp Christmas role until something he wants comes up. DH applied for 56, he got 6 interviews but only offered 1. It took 13 weeks. Its not what he expected to be doing, but he loves it, it really suits him, financially better off, commute is better and he loves the job. Its not something he would have considered going for if we weren’t in the situation we were in.

Good luck OP, it’s shit.

That sucks. It's poor form by the employers but not unusual, and in my experience particularly not unusual in small companies without proper HR.

Often the manager just has hiring regret - they've changed their mind or more likely gone over budget somewhere else so they've decided they can manage without the new hire. Sometimes it's last in first out, sometimes it's they just wish they'd got their mate Dave in instead. People on these threads love to say "well there must be a good reason" as though any boss is automatically always right no matter what, but there isn't always any more to it than that.

Try and see it as a lucky escape because they wouldn't have been nice to work with long term.

I'm so sorry OP. Others have given really good practical suggestions about talking to your bank about how to manage this. I agree, they will want to work with you to avoid forcing a sale. You will come through this, I'm just sorry that this is happening. Your DH sounds like a good un.

I have everything crossed that he finds something quickly. If your workplace has an EAP, please use it, this is a horrible shock.

As it's coming up to Christmas there should be plenty of warehouse, delivery and hospitality roles around. Hopefully he will get something soon.

As he has what sounds like a decent employment history I would guess it is them not him. The NI hike will mean lots of employers are looking to make cuts.

OP, I realise it doesn't help now, but when you are both back in work again, forego a few spends and build up an emergency fund. Enough to pay your bills for two months to buy you some breathing space.

Get your dh to sign on. He should be entitled to up to 6 months JSA while he job hunts. Also bear in mind, depending on salary level, he may get a tax rebate when he restarts work.

Thank you all so much for replying. We have no family between us. Sad stories for both of us, so no financial help in that way.

he will literally pick up whatever he needs to do, and yes Christmas isn’t so bad as he could get something temporary but it’s just the bit in between now and then. oh for a crystal ball…

Glad he is looking for work and not burying his head, fingers crossed he gets something soon.

Continue ranting here if you need to.

Christmas temp jobs have already started so he may well find temp work immediately.

Why did he accept a job with no contract though and with nothing in writing? Was he so desperate to leave his last job? If not, can he approach his old company to see if anything is available?

I'm sorry OP, I've been there 2 years ago, please try employment agencies, just as a gap stop. Also I've noticed local bakeries are usually looking for staff, if your DH is used to early morning starts?

DPD Christmas jobs too, they usually recruit through employment agencies.