Suspended from work for gross misconduct

[Sam1993]

Hi all, I need some advice ASAP as I am really stressing out here
In a nutshell, I’ve recently been suspended from work for gross misconduct (call avoidance) however I’m also 17 weeks pregnant... I know it was ridiculously silly of me to become so complacent at work but due to ill health I really did just let it all get on top of me. It’s no excuse but I genuinely had no idea how far it had gone until I was called in for a meeting to be told I’m being suspended!
I’ve got an interview this week to see facts/figures so I’ll know better then, but if anyone can please advise in the meantime I’d thoroughly appreciate it x

To explain what I meant in regards to the last 6 months - I had taken time off prior to pregnancy due to stress outside of work I was off work for approx 2 months, just as I had started to settle back in I was hit with another set back - outside of work again - which didn’t help with me settling back into work. I then fell pregnant, so in a nutshell from September onwards I’ve been struggling with finding my feet at work. Prior to that I was fine and my work/behaviours etc were absolutely fine.
Because of this I haven’t been on top of my game at work and although my manager is aware of everything that has been going on, I was also advised that they’ve been more than accommodating so there’s no excuse. I’m not trying to make excuses but I am trying to explain that this is out of character for me. Furthermore we do have set desks at work and system issues are common amongst everyone, the only thing that works against me is if it only takes a moment or so to reset it, it seems a waste of time to take out 5 mins to log it every time it happens. Like I said, in hindsight I wish I did take out the 5 mins but I wasn’t to know any of this would happen. I’m not the only person on the floor to be pulled up for this however I am the only one from the group of us who’s 17 weeks pregnant and will struggle to find a new job with maternity pay if I was to get dismissed hence why I am this stressed out.

You need to report your other duplicate thread OP and get it removed.

I'll repeat here what I posted on that one:

Why didn't you wear your headset?
Did you log issues with your mic?
Did you have genuine health problems that were backed up with doctors' appointments?
You say yourself that you've been complacent and that you're stuck in a rut.
I'm sorry but it does sound to me that you have been suspended for genuine gross misconduct. You can try pleading pregnancy brain but I doubt it will help you keep your job.

Sometimes I take my headset off when I need a breather, or if I’ve been working on something else or helping somebody with something and forget to put myself into a different code.
Sometimes I admit I have allowed myself to become complacent but obviously without realising anything to this level could possibly happen!
I have had doctors appointments/meds/sick bites etc to back up previous health issues which can prove I wasn’t in the right head space pre-pregnancy however I’ve not come on here for sympathy or anything I just wanted to know if anyone has any advice or experience on how to help me resolve this issue without being left without a job.

Well you've not been doing your job satisfactorily have you? Taking your headset off because you "need a breather" and the other things you mention are obviously not acceptable.

Depending on how likely you think being sacked realistically is, there might be a good case for looking for another job now (especially if they'll let you go quietly with a reference to avoid the hassle of disciplinary procedures). The earlier you are in pregnancy the easier it will be to find another job - yes, you'll have to have maternity allowance not pay, but if this disciplinary procedure drags on for a couple of months before you're sacked then you'll be in a worse position.

How do you mean, allowed yourself to become complacent?? First it was ill health, then pregnancy, then faulty equipment - now complacency?
All excusing you not having your headset on properly when making calls?

I am surprised it is being described as gross misconduct - which in employment terms if normally stuff like theft, fraud, assault etc.

Have you had any previous written warnings about your conduct?

No I haven’t been doing my job satisfactorily and if you read what I’ve posted so far I’ve been open about that and I’ve already said I’m not looking for sympathy. I came here to seek advice so please if you’ve nothing helpful to say just don’t comment!

The op is 17 weeks pregnant almost half way through. Do you really believe any employer would give her a job? I would think the best she could hope for would be temping but she then wouldn't get paid whilst on maternity leave. I think in her case I would admit my wrong doing and hope for a formal warning and vow it won't happen again

But what advice do you think there is? They're going to discipline you for not doing your job competently, and you admit that they're correct; you haven't.
kissthealderman has given you the only advice possible, really...

I’ve not been given any warnings before nor have I ever been pulled up on my performance or behaviours before and I’ve been there more or less 2 years - this is the first instance anything like this has ever happened. I have no access to the facts or stats so I have no idea what I’m looking at which doesn’t help.
To clarify to those who are questioning what I’ve written so far- it’s been a mix of ill health which my manager has been aware of and system faults which I was naive enough not to raise at the time. Complacency is due to the after effects of my ill health, as had I been fully fit and ‘my normal self’ none of this would have happened in the first place.

OP unfortunately 'not being in the right head space' is not a good reason top not do your job properly. I know it is harsh, but if you are not up to working then you need to stay off. I agree it will be harder for you to find a new job than your colleagues will find it but that is of no concern to your employer, it wouldn't really be fair for you to get away with this just because you are pregnant - they have to apply the same rules to everyone. Plus it isn't really relevant as you say your poor performance started long before the pregnancy.

It is crap, but it is a notorious field for monitoring your output and has a high staff turnover, you must have known this.

Unfortunately it doesn't look good op, I would start looking for a new job.

I would happily accept a warning or anything else that doesn’t result in me losing my job, I am being honest by admitting complacency the only thing I am trying to explain is there are reasons behind the complacency as this is completely out of character for me. I’m not trying to hide behind pregnancy or previous health issues I am simply trying to explain how difficult I know it’ll be for me to find something else in the circumstances I’m in that’s all I hope that comes across in my posts and not as though I am trying hide behind the pregnancy.

Unfortunately I think they may have a good case against you. Taking your headset off for a breather is not acceptable in that type of job unless you talk to a your manager and have permission etc. Looks like they have been conducting reviews of all staff and are pulling up those who do not meet the required KPI's.

I'd listen to what they have to say and see what evidence they have. I am no expert but maybe they will give you time to reflect and come back with a plan to right your mistakes and lethargy over work.

I would think the best she could hope for would be temping but she then wouldn't get paid whilst on maternity leave. I think in her case I would admit my wrong doing and hope for a formal warning and vow it won't happen again

That's why I think she should weigh up how likely she really thinks sacking is, and proceed from there. If it really is almost certainly going to happen (and it doesn't sound like her defence is great, but it's hard to tell how serious the misconduct has been) then she's not getting maternity pay whatever happens, so getting a temp job is better than being sacked in a few weeks' time and then being unemployed until the birth. Obviously if she can keep her job that's a much better option - but if it's not going to happen leaving now and trying to start a temp job immediately is better than letting the inevitable slowly play out.

I suggest getting copies of all relevant policies, eg sickness, absence/attendance, disciplinary, pregnancy/maternity etc and reading them very carefully. You need to know exactly why you are being accused of call avoidance, all the details of dates and times etc. Armed with this information you can then take advice on how to handle what happens next. I have never worked in a call centre so I don't know much about that line of work but I would have thought a warning would have been appropriate before moving to gross misconduct. This is why you need to see the policies because if the employer has not followed the correct procedure you might be in a stronger position. If you have legal cover with your house insurance it may cover employment situations.

Try not to panic and maybe get this thread removed, you sound as though you are trying to justify your behaviour and it's unwise on a public forum, especially if there is a risk your employer will see it.

Hi there OP,
We have moved your thread to a more relevant board, however if you decide to remove it altogether please report in and we will see what we can do.

How long have you worked there? If it's less than 2 years you have far fewer rights and it will be difficult to challenge unless you can show pregnancy discrimination.

You say others have been pulled up as well - were they also suspended for gross misconduct or were they treated differently?

This doesn't sound like gross misconduct, more like poor performance. If it's poor performance they should have given prior warnings and support/training to improve.

Are you in a union? If so get in touch with them straight away. If not, try ACAS or CAB.

OP if you weren't taking calls what were you actually doing instead?

And how long did these periods last as a proportion of your shift?

If you were doing nothing for long periods I can see why this is being classed as gross misconduct and am not sure what you can do to defend it.

I’m unaware of stats and frequencies and I won’t be made aware until my meeting which is later this week...you’re right I shouldn’t say too much on this forum I am panicking because I know the severity of the situation and I am fearful of losing my job as my husband and I rely on both our incomes to get by
Everyone else has been pulled up for the same thing but I don’t know how their meetings etc will have gone so I can only hope they look at each case individually rather than as a whole

I worked in call centres for over 15 years and leaving back in 2003 was the BEST FEELING EVER!
The OP should resign before they can kick her out. Then maybe find a better job?