Been called to a meeting with HR - any advice?

[Foxy200]

(Name change in case any of my colleagues recognise me)

I’ve been called into the office on Wednesday next week for a meeting with my boss and HR. The meeting title is vague, and when I asked what it was about, I was told it was just an update meeting with nothing to prepare. I asked if I should be worried, and I was told that I shouldn’t be. However, I can’t shake the feeling that something might be amiss.

There’s no question about my performance, but I find my boss very difficult to work with; he’s a micromanager and often inappropriate. I tend to keep my distance and only approach him when necessary, and I avoid any work social events.

I’m concerned that I may be let go simply because I don’t seem to fit in. I’ve been with the company for 11 months in a senior role, and while I’m not devastated since I hate the job, I’m worried about being out of work and finding another position. I’ve never been fired before, and I feel a bit anxious about it.

Any advice on how to handle the meeting?

You seem to be completely convinced that you're going to be fired. If you've not been pulled up in anything in the last 11 months and your only evidence is that your manager is a micromanaging annoyance (not sure what you mean by inappropriate) then there's no reason to believe that you're going to lose your job.

Are you in a union? (If not, why not????) I'd be taking a 'rep' of some kind to the meeting so they can advocate for you and act as a witness to anything the say.

I'd ask if you should bring union representatives

You have limited employee rights if employed for less than 2 years.
Might be worth reviewing your rights on the ACAS website, just so you are informed before your meeting.

Join a union asap. They won't help if you join after the meeting.

If it a formal meeting, they should be giving you 5 days notice. And with this, letting you know what the meeting is about!

They can't just spring things on and say whatever they want.

If it is an informal meeting, then they can speak about anything

Of course they can. You can’t give notice that in 5 days we’re going to discuss letting you go.

Take a trusted colleague/ friend in with you, I'd suggest an officer of your union, but you are probably not a member of one. This is essential because two sets of ears are better than one, and the less outnumbered you feel the better.
Ask for a copy of the agenda ahead of time, and study it carefully and talk to the person you are taking in with you about it.
Read your contract carefully before going in, and staff handbook, if there is one. Prime a couple of job agencies for your sector that you might soon be looking for a new position.

Sorry that I can't give any useful advice, but I just wanted to wish you luck. Hopefully you're worrying about nothing.

I’ve gone through this in the workplace years ago and wish I knew then what I know now. Know your employment rights, don’t go in without a notebook and pen and write everything down. No one can stop you taking minutes of the meeting. Then email that back to them so you’re covered. This might be a lead up to them pushing you into leaving and if you need to claim constructive dismissal you’ll need to keep a diary.
This should help you find up to date information and to know your rights…
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/

I know you mean well but is a bad idea, it would give the boss chance to prepare a fabricated story to deny his inappropriate behaviour. If OP wants to keep her job she needs to keep a detailed diary of inappropriate behaviour to use against him in the future so she has a case. Giving him the chance to prepare won’t help her.
Trust me, I know, I’ve been there and I was the one who ended up leaving on the verge of a breakdown. However said boss moved onto someone else after I left, she was more savvy and collated every tiny piece of evidence. She eventually left when the situation became untenable claiming constructive dismissal, took him to court, won her case, happy days.

OP please listen to the HR professionals on this thread and those who understand UK employment law.

I've managed people for years and what I'd say is listen, don't commit to any decisions. If you are on your way out anyway just buy some time for yourself.

Were you told you could bring someone with you? Usually if it’s a disciplinary etc you would be told you can have a rep (union or otherwise).

Not about dismissal, how about redundancy? Or TUPE etc

This. They shouldn’t be calling you into a meeting without giving you an idea of what it’s about. I would ask for an agenda so that you can prepare.

Update

I have found out that the company is making redundancies due to the increase in National Insurance. There hasn’t been an official announcement but a close friend in another team received her notice yesterday. They are loosing one person on average per department. My boss was on annual leave yesterday and Monday, Tuesday next week, and I don’t believe anyone in our team has been informed yet.

My friend, who also has under two years of service, was offered just her three months' notice. The company has decided not to pay her annual bonuses, which was confirmed in December and expected at the end of January. About two weeks ago, we all received an email stating that bonus payments would be delayed until February due to cash flow issues. I reviewed my contract and found that it allows the company to withhold bonus payments at their discretion.
The more I think about it, my boss has been resistant to booking a number of important meetings in February and March, which makes me suspect that I might be affected.

Has anyone been in this position before in terms of bonus payments being confirmed and then withheld. It is 30% of my salary and so too much to loose especially if I get made redundant.

OP look there is going to be very little you can do as long as they follow process and HR is not your friend here, their job is to protect the company under this situation.

So they will probably pay out your notice, may put you on gardening leave but either way you then put your energy into finding that new job.

Just read your update, that's shit OP.

Wow, why did they dish out 30% bonuses (is it 30% of annual salary??), and then lay off people?

Also, so sorry OP 😞

I’d phone ACAS and ask them that exact question they will clarify it for you. Acas helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 1100
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Discretionary bonuses are always "in the gift" of the employer so they can simply choose not to give them.