I'm going to lose my job...

[ReallyJustBloodyDidThat]

...and I'm happy about it - sort of. I posted about this horrid, toxic working environment on a previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3095159-To-tell-them-to-stuff-their-bloody-job?msgid=73582993.

Things are getting worse. The boss actually shouted at me across the office, telling me off, and even my manager looked shocked. I quite literally cannot do anything right. I was told that if my work doesn't improve in 2 weeks, I would be given notice.

The last straw came today. Last week I was asked to update a document. It took me a few days to get hold of all the people, but I did, and updated everything I had to. I know for a fact I did. What earthly reason could I have to not update one person's details and pretend I had. All our documents are saved on a shared drive that anyone can access. I had a few days off last week, and my manager sent out this document to our whole network, which is quite large. Got into the office this morning and got another telling off because some of the dates on the document were wrong. Now I know for a bloody fact that I put the correct information in there! I was told that she was very disappointed, as she had hoped I wouldn't make any mistakes. I bloody didn't!

I've had nightmares about work for four consecutive nights now. My mental health is really suffering and my antidepressants aren't even helping any more. I hardly even blink when they tell me off - it's become such a regular thing. I really want out of that horrible, toxic place. The boss has made it quite clear he wants me gone, and too many things have happened and been blamed on me to be co-incidence. It's not a persecution complex if they're really out to get you.

I know I can't walk, as that will look bad on my record/CV. I know for a fact I will be given notice this or next week. If they sack me, I'm assuming that will also affect my CV, or can I just say the contract ended early. And can they give me a bad reference?

I've been searching for another job, but this time of year, and finding a part time job is impossible. I'm going to study again, but still need a job to keep me going.

What do I do? Please, any help/suggestions will be much appreciated.

Resign and don't let them fire you. Christmas season and the incoming year would allow for new job openings for sure.

You can get some software called Workshare which does a comparison between documents and shows where changes have been made. I think there is also this functionality within Word. I would be so incensed if this was happening to me I would want to gather evidence. I think you can get Workshare on a trial - it's used by lawyers if that gives you any indication to how clever it is. It tracks changes etc.

You can do that on Word, too, Blodplod. It's the Compare icon on the Review toolbar.

The boss is having a 'chat' with me tomorrow, and he's going to sack me, I'm 100% sure of it. I shall have my resignation letter ready and beat him to it. I've spoken to my Jobcentre work coach, and she said that either way, I'll have to go through a review process if I apply for JSA again, and it can take from 4 weeks to 6 months. However, as it is affecting my health, it will probably be dealt with quite quickly. My job coach also has a history of me talking to her about my problems with the job (she's the one who recommended me for it), so that'll also help my case.

I'm almost excited about tomorrow now lol - the sooner I get out of that hellhole the better, even if it means I'll have to live on dry bread for a few months.

Sounds like a nightmare. You will be better off out of the place. Hope it all works out tomorrow and you get your resignation in before you are fired.

I’d try to get any evidence available and go in armdd so you can at least look back and see you went out fighting

If you have a shared drive you can usually pull back earlier versions of the folder and the files it contained.

Navigate to the folder but don't open it, right click - properties - earlier versions

You should then have a list of all the save points over the last couple of months. Move down the list to the date you competed the document, click on that folder, find your file and open it. Then you can compare it to the current version.

Also a good way to find a document if you accidentally delete itg from a shared drive. [Wink]

How did the meeting go?

Horrible situation for you, hope it goes ok today.

You mentioned you had a few days off last week - were they sick days?

I'm just wondering if you take a lot of time off sick and as it's only an 8 month contract anyway, they are tiring of it and wanting to find a way you get you out.

You may well have a case for constructive dismissal

No, the OP does not have even a remote case for Constructive Dismissal. There has been no repudiatory breach of contract, the OP has not had 2 years unbroken employment at the company and they would need to have resigned by now citing CD and the reasons why, plus a Grievance to highlight why and give the employer a chance to respond.

Surely you can write documents and password protect them

With the minutes, do you have a copy of the correct version atrache to any emails? You could then show the correct version along with the incorrect one to show that changes were made after you and it points to a pattern of someone else amending your docs incorrectly (or potential sabotage).

We use Google drive, I can see who last viewed and who last updated a document, are you able to do this?

I would hand in my notice. You are allowed to leave, and it won't look bad if on your CV you give a good reason.

AstridWhite - no, I haven't taken a lot of sick days. A couple of days for an injury during a work outing when I was told by A&E to stay home, that's all.

I've written my resignation letter and will have it ready for 'The Chat'. I'll let you all know how it goes. I'll be happy to see the back of that place. I do love the work - it's very interesting and I've learned a lot, but the people? Not so much.

I hope it went ok.

I was so happy this morning - my DDs asked me why lol. I told them I'm quitting my job today and I'm sooooo happy. And then...

Interesting turn of events... 'The Chat' didn't happen! My manager told me this morning (a number of times) that she saved my bacon (but wouldn't tell me how). However, if I make one more mistake, I will be getting a letter instead of a chat. She apparently told the boss that she's happy for me to stay there 'till the end of the contract (another 3 months). Five minutes later I was being accused of something again, and when I tried to defend myself, got told that I always argue when I'm corrected, and that I should just keep quiet and listen to her. This happens every time I try and explain why I did something - I get accused of arguing.

Never mind, at least I'll be there a bit longer earning a wage while I actively look for anything, and I mean anything, that'll get me the hell out of there!

Glad that you're happy to be staying, hope they get off your back until your contract ends.

Five minutes later I was being accused of something again, and when I tried to defend myself, got told that I always argue when I'm corrected, and that I should just keep quiet and listen to her. This happens every time I try and explain why I did something - I get accused of arguing.

What do you mean by 'accused of something' though? Is it possible that you are highly sensitive to perceived criticism and really bad at taking direction from your boss? Do you respond appropriately when asked to re-do something in a slightly different way, or do you immediately decide that you are being attacked and go on the defensive?

My DH has a staff member like this and it's very draining, trying to manage someone who is ultra defensive and resents being managed or guided in any way.

It sounds to me as though this job is just a really bad fit for you and I think you'd be happier if you just resigned now as I don't think this is going to go away.

Glad for you that you have kept the job. I wonder if the "saved your bacon" reference was that the manager knows something about how the additional mistakes creep in?

Follow the advice up thread about using pdf format and logging the exact time when you finish work on a document, so that if further mistakes are found you can either show that they were added after you last had the document open, or you may find that you did make a mistake - there is no such thing as a person who never makes mistakes, we are all only human.

If documents being 100% error-free is so business-critical for this company, they should invest in a proper document management system. My DH works at an organisation that uses one. No documents that aren't 'in the system' are trusted/allowed to be circulated. Documents are double-checked by at least two team members and then uploaded into the system once verified as accurate. Once uploaded they cannot be edited except by logging a revision with a detailed history of what changed when and by whom.

Most organisations don't bother with something like this but most organisations don't threaten to sack someone if a document contains a mistake.

@iceni is absolutely right. I mentioned software earlier that does a comparison - this comparison of document changes is on a different league to MS Word. Additionally a document management system with version control should be being utilised if documents are that business critical. If I were in your position I would be getting much more sophiscated at saving docs/emails in a specific location location separate from a global network so that when or if something ‘changes’ I had proof. For professional integrity more than anything else. I haven’t noticed in your posts that you’ve made efforts to take on this advice that’s been given by many other PP’s. Which does make me wonder whether @Astrid is correct.

Hi OP, sorry that you are going through this.

A couple of things - as others have said, make sure you are saving local copies of everything, and if you can convert to pdf before you circulate, do so, then you know you've circulating YOUR version.

On the "not listening" issue, note down what your boss is saying to you and when she's finished summarise what she has said back to her. She then either has to agree with you, or will clarify. After that, if you still think you've not made a mistake (or it wasn't you) you say, can I please put my view to you and then put across your point of view. I did a course a few weeks ago and the summarising back to someone who is talking to you was presented as a way of making sure you do listen, and make people know you are listening. People don't listen, they wait for their turn to speak, so it's a really good way of slowing down the conversation and making sure that you do listen.

And then I went into a meeting with my boss last week and totally forgot to do it! I have my annual appraisal next month though and will write it on my hand if necessary LISTEN AND SUMMARISE.

I haven’t noticed in your posts that you’ve made efforts to take on this advice that’s been given by many other PP’s.

I've been in back to back meetings most of the week, and haven't had a chance to have a good look. Also, the network was down yesterday, so I couldn't get onto the shared drive. The fun just never ends.

As to the telling off - my manager made a change to my minutes that was incorrect. When I showed her what I had written down, she conceded that she didn't have the correct information, but I still got a telling off .