'Reason for leaving'

[ElektraLOL]

What do you say is your reason for leaving when your employer has made your working conditions intolerable?

I have an interview this week for a new job. My boss is going to be mad if I leave now because they are very busy around Christmas. But I've done a 3 month probation period and she's not willing to renew contract despite glowing reports about my work.

Original contract says I have to give one weeks notice if I'm on probation.

The working conditions are another matter.

Texts at 7am complaining about revenue targets on days I don't work

Animals soiling at work

Lying to customers

Do you mean what you say to your potential new employer at interview or what you tell your current employer?

Sorry, I mean what do I say to my new possible employer?

Just say it's a temporary contact that you've reached the end of, which is true.

About to reach end of current contract, looking at other options

I would just say you left because your contract had ended. If you imply any criticism (however justified it is) of your previous employer, it will mark you out as a potential problem employee to future employers.

'Looking for permanent contract

Or

'To work in x industry'

Or anything positive about the new job. Do not mention anything negative about the old job. Employers don't need to hear it. Just sell yourself for the new one and ask questions about them. Good luck.

Thank you. Yes, SV I wouldn't dream of bad mouthing current boss. But I suspect if I leave she may try to cause problems for me.

Do you mean you work in an industry where your boss would have influence within different organisations?

I think she might phone up the new employer and bad mouth me to be spiteful. She lies about anything that suits her - I've seen her lie many times.

I'm not sure what influence she would or wouldn't have.

There's not much you can do about that, unless you could prove you'd been slandered. The best 'defence' is probably to speak very positively about her if you get the chance; that will suggest she is the spiteful one and you are the nice person.

Thanks SV

Surely at this point you don’t need to say. You just explain why you are really keen on the new job? Opportunities etc or whatever.

Good luck OP - hope you get it!

The new job will be more hours and therefore more money. Do I give that as a reason too?

I can give plenty of positive reasons - the new job will be more of what I'm best at.

On the application I would just say that your contract has ended.
In the interview you can mention why the job will suit you but you don’t have to compare it to your previous job to make that point.

New challenge always goes down well.

”But I've done a 3 month probation period and she's not willing to renew contract despite glowing reports about my work.”

Is it a temporary contract that your employer is not renewing or a probationary period on a permanent contract and your employer has decided to let you go instead of confirming permanent employment?

Sorry I haven't explained this well. My original contract that I and she both signed says that I will have a 3 month probation period then will either be confirmed as a permanent member of staff or will continue to be on probation.

When I asked her about the review for this as 3 months is up she said I don't have to worry because of course she wants me to stay but that the contract won't be reviewed for another 3 months.

So it seems to me that it suits her to keep me in limbo.

Employment is a two way 50/50 relationship. If you don't feel you're getting 50% because it's all take and not give, then leave and don't look back.

Keep your motives for leaving bland and difficult to argue against. There is nothing wrong with saying you wanted to seek new career advancement opportunities that weren't available with your previous employer. The new employer is hardly going to dig into the details, they just want to know you weren't dismissed for incompetence or misconduct.

Yes daisy After all, the new employer will presumably put me on probation initially as well. So if I turned out to be rubbish they can get rid of me. Whereas with this current employer I have proved myself and still she can get rid of me with a weeks notice. The new employer is a much bigger business.

She has also said that we are not to take lunch breaks in December and that if we have to work overtime she won't pay us for it and we need to claim it back in January. Which probably wouldn't happen. Im struggling financially and I need to earn more.

I’d go for the “I need a permanent position” lime. Are you working more than 6 hours per day!

I wouldn't put anything on paper, I'd say to her face, I hate you and this awful fucking job. I have done this before, it felt great

lol mad 🤣

Yes I work 9-6 usually

The other worry I have is the effect Brexit could have on small businesses. She took on another person at the same time as me and since she didn't like her performance she was out the door immediately! She won't be worried about me and my family.

The job I've applied for does actually have potential for progression in the area that I specifically want so I can focus on that.