Just been sacked for the first time ever after a funeral

[PrueD]

On Monday I was at a funeral and yesterday I was off on compassionate leave. When I returned today the director sacked me. Been there 9 months.

Before now, I hadn’t been made aware of any issues in my one to ones, the last one being a week and a half ago. I had told my manager a month ago about my terminally ill relative. It was harder to work at my usual capacity at this time but I was still doing a good job on important projects. The main problem I had was they kept piling on more work on top of existing work.

I said I would’ve liked the chance to address any issues and they said they don’t have capacity to support and that’s it. I’m in shock, having an awful week as it is.

There's a new law coming in that means you don't have to be 2 years to go to ACAS or similar about unfair dismissal. It might be in place already, not sure. Contact ACAS asap or your union if you have one.

Were you on a probation period? I assume so the way they have let you go. If so, you weren’t sacked, you were let go through your probation. I know that makes no difference to you now, but it does mean that you won’t have a sacking on your record, that you seem to be concerned about

@DurinsBane I wasn’t on probation. I passed probation after 3 months. I’ve been there for 9 months now.

so yes, it will be done as sacked.

Sounds like it wasn’t a good fit. Not pleasant if they treat people like that. Some managers blame employees for their own shortcomings. It’s not right but unfortunately it is life.

so sorry for your loss, please be kind to yourself and allow time to grieve x

It really is shit but there is nothing you can do when you have been employed for less than 2 years they can just let you go

Ex HR person here

Might this fit on your CV as a project and you left when the project was complete

Because that's what is sounds like

Please contact ACAS https://www.acas.org.uk/
This is awful I’m so sorry for your loss I was raised by my grandparents and when I lost my grandmother I lost apart of me sending you so much love xx

If it’s a small sector people will know and trust me it’ll reflect worse on your former employer. I work in a small, tight knit sector. Different circumstances but I lost my job despite being a very high performer - had received a pay rise about 9 months before losing my job because I was one of the top performing employees. Few months later, my new line manager is a manager with a solid record of incompetency and a noticeable number of people resigning once she became their line manager (like the grim reaper of jobs). I lost my job as did 9 others. 2 of us started the process towards tribunal but settled.

long story short. The organisation I worked for had (I thought) a great reputation and that I would be tainted for having been let go by them. Not the case. Their behaviour was toxic and they treated people as dispensable and other people in the sector could see it a mile off. I’m now in a role where I’ve won national awards because it’s not in the least bit toxic. You’re better off out of there, although I really know it doesn’t feel like that initially. It took me about 18 months to be over the shock of it.

Yeah, moving on so you can side-step my question: "So why did you write "if"? (She doesn't have to ask "if" they will pay her PILON, politely or otherwise!). You could have just said you actually didn't know when you made that mistake. 🙄

Dog. Bone. @AngelicKaty

Only because she keeps coming back at me and can't admit she got it wrong. When she stops, I will.

my 9 year old said almost word for word this morning re an argument with his younger sibling @AngelicKaty

And it's clear where your 9 year old gets it from. 😂

I’m really sorry, as you’ll now be aware, you can be dismissed without a reason under 2 years and I’ve known companies do it for all sorts of reasons - including cost cutting/face not fitting etc. I had a friend who was sacked the day she submitted a fit note by a care company after a challenging adult she was working with broke her wrist!!

it’s an awful way to treat people, but I would just focus on getting your annual leave and notice paid and once settled elsewhere let people know what they are like. When asked why you left you can say something like “ our values didn’t align” in applications and then explain at interview that you weren’t treated well and your contract was ended without any real reason. Most companies only give a very basic reference now and don’t give a reason for leaving, however you could check with the HR team and if you do decide to appeal this could be something you ask for as part of your outcome (a basic reference which doesn’t confirm reason for leaving)

Could the company be in financial difficulties? A friend of mine was sacked for very artificial reasons and discovered later from colleagues that the employers were really struggling and manufacturing reasons to ask people to avoid paying redundancy.

OK!

This is going to sound harsh, but doubt nothing just makes you complicit in their behaviour and an enabler. They could go on to do this to someone else if they are not nipped in the bud.

Get angry, OP. Get your husband to write the grievance for you and reference legal jargon etc. Leave no loophole for them. Let him take them to court and wipe the floor with them.

Whether ACAS agree or not - This is unfair dismissal. They've not followed workers rights round defend themselves and go through the motions of a warning first etc. They took that right from you. What if they do this to other women!?

Yes, I’ve read the thread and the drip drip of little “issues” would indicate the OP doesn’t have a leg to stand on

@Tulipsandaffodils to address this -

I was working on all my projects to the same capacity and successfully delivered a project 3 days before I was let go. However, on the week my gran died, they added two additional projects to my workload that week.

The timesheets were mostly up to date, with a few gaps. All of this only in the time period of the last few weeks, I had been diligent before this. I spoke to the manager then about how I was feeling, she said she understood, not to worry and just focus on keeping everything up to date going forward which I did.

As for the director, he has a go that I came in at 9.30 rather than 9am even though my own manager told me it was fine to come in at that flexible time because I lived in another city.

The director himself praised my work during the Christmas review to the team. I was still doing good work this last month but just wasn’t at 100% due to personal circumstance and that wasn’t good enough.

I’ve been too upset to do anything about this and mostly focused on seeing family and friends this weekend. I’m not going to pursue it because although they should’ve had to folllow procedure and didn’t, it is less than 2 years and I’ll get nowhere.

But what is the best excuse to new employers when asked?

• after returning from a period of compassionate, they said they were letting me go. Also my manager had gone on maternity leave so change of management and structure.
• fixed term contract to deliver x2 projects
• not a good culture fit and manager had left

what is going to sound best?

The part about compassionate leave and my manager leaving feels most honest and closest to the truth but I’d like others opinions about what to say.

The "issues" sound like standard workplace stuff to me.

I wouldn't work for a firm that wouldn't cut someone a little slack around a funeral.

Be careful.about sounding too defensive. The compassionate leave could easily drift there.

Honestly if a future employer likes you and your skills they won’t be overly focused on this. You worked there, successfully completed two projects but it wasn’t a good cultural fit and the manager who employed you moved on so you’re looking for a new role.
And then talk about what you’re seeking in a new role, challenging projects, personal development and a good culture in the workplace.
Channel your frustration and anger into something great. You aren’t ’letting them get away with it’ - you’re focusing on yourself and your own well being and future success. Good luck!

@LameBorzoi thank you.

on the compassionate leave point, I wouldn’t sound angry about it, just matter of fact.

I suppose I’d rather say something that feels honest and true to my experience. But I won’t say it if it’s not the best thing.

I would just focus on having successfully delivered 2 projects, and left after the latter one was completed.