In shock - I’ve just been sacked

[Zofloramummy]

I’m a single mum with a mortgage. I’ve worked in the NHS for 21 years. I’ve had a really shitty few years, left an abusive relationship, struggles with my mental health and had an accident resulting in several fractures.

I have had three absences since my return from long term sickness (flu, D&V, and a horrendous reaction to antibiotics).
I went to the third formal sickness interview today and I’ve had my contract terminated.

I’m in shock I think. They’ve applied the policy to the letter so I doubt there are grounds for appeal. After years of service and being burnt out by the demands of the job I’ve been sacked.

Not sure why I’m posting I think I just need to hear some positive stories of people who have come out of the other side of this. I don’t think I want to work in the NHS any longer. I’m trying to see this as an opportunity. But I’m scared too. Not sure if relationships is the right place to post, but any advice would be great.

I left due to work related stress and though my employer was obligated to do references, I never asked them. I couldn't work for the NHS again due to my confidence being shattered. Instead I did volunteer work in a hospice for 9 months, which required people I knew to give character references and then used the volunteer place references to get my current job, which is part-time and nothing to do with the NHS. I also trained in complementary therapies and do this part time as well. I learned it is important to surround yourself with people you trust and who love you, namely family.

@Zofloramummy where in Wales are you? I'm an HR advisor and really want to help if I can. PM me if you like. I think you should appeal even if you don't want to go back there, it'll go much better for you in the grievance if you've exhausted the set process.

Kinda stepping on my toes there, confused.

Ok I have been in touch with payroll today and spoken to the leasing dept.

Apparently workforce (personnel) and my line manager have advised them that my termination of contract was under the sickness policy but that I wasn’t dismissed for ill health.

My dismissal letter states I was dismissed under the sickness absence policy capability (ill health). I’m confused. Can someone explain this to me?

The NHS sacks nurses for being too ill? Is this a joke?

Of course it does!

Send payroll a copy of the letter.

They are saying they have been advised by my line manager and don’t make the decision themselves

They’ll take the letter as the formal decision though. I’ve always found payroll pretty reasonable.

They can’t have it both ways. If they’ve dismissed you on capability under the sickness absence policy then that’s what they’ve done legally. They can’t dismiss any other way in this case, and saying they have to avoid paying on your lease car is a joke.

The letter is what you would use if you were to appeal/conciliate/lodge a claim with a tribunal so that’s what payroll should be following. Email them a copy of it.

Thank you titty I will email it to the head of hr and see what happens. It’s just extra stress I don’t need as I’m in the middle of job applications!

Omg!!! I’ve got an interview on Thursday!! Part time job, school hours. Will need to apply for tax credits but it’s doable.

Excited and terrified! Haven’t had an interview in ten years 😱

Awesome news!!! Good luck x

So what do I wear to an interview for a support role in a school? Dress and low heeled shoes??

If you're wearing a dress I'd suggest a blazer/smart jacket.

Good luck Zofloramummy - I would say to go for a sensible, Kirstie Allsop type dress, sandals; basically just dress like a teacher. Smile, a lot, massively do your homework on Safeguarding and the reporting concerns process, read all the policies online for the particular school and work out what their behaviour and bullying process is.

Fingers crossed for Thursday.

Thank you for the advice. It’s been so long since I interviewed I wore a suit last time! (Also seriously doubt I’d get the trousers over my thighs!).
Really good points re homework before hand. Luckily I’ve recently done safeguarding training in my previous role so won’t need to start from scratch.

Please don't wear sandals for an interview.
By all means 'dress like a teacher' but dress like a teacher going for an interview, maybe a promotion.
Nothing wrong with a suit if you have one, you can dress it down with contrasting trousers/skirt or a contrasting dress.
If you're just going to wear a dress it needs to be a smart one, either fitted, plain or sharp pattern. Not small floral type patterns as looks too casual.
You want to make an impression with your appearance as well as by what you say.

I was fired unfairly due to sickness when I was suffering from depression. Acas were amazing ring them xxx

I have rung them, I have three months from the date of dismissal to lodge a complaint. However I have to exhaust all informal routes first. I’ve been trying to to contact my ex line manager but she is ‘unavailable’. So my next step is to write a grievance letter.
I’m not doing that until my final salary is in my bank account.

I also decided not to appeal the decision as I don’t want to work for them again, it makes it more complicated tbh.

@Zofloramummy yeah I went down the three month route. I had a mediator called Debbie who did all the talking between me and the company. I walked away with a few grand because the company had actually given me no previous warnings and they fired me by email... when I was on the sick. They didn't want it to go to court (because I'd clearly win). Good luck, you didn't deserve to be sacked, people are sick! It not like you were having every Friday off to go on a night out! Xx

My main grievance is around lack of communication over the lease car payment. Also that OH had stated they expected my attendance to improve, I wasn’t offered redeployment or a lower band. All are in the policy as possible outcomes. They weren’t discussed.

The more I think about it, the more I’m convinced my post will ‘disappear’ and they’ll have met their cost savings for the year. I’m probably becoming bitter!

I don’t think they’ll accept a grievance relating to the redeployment, occ health etc. They should be argued via an appeal and if you wait 3 months to raise it they’ll deem it out of time.

The lease car thing is definitely a grievance though.

I wasn’t going to wait three months.

Am definitely raiding a grievance for the lease car issue.

Thanks titty your advice has been really helpful

Raiding! Lol raising I meant