Can work sack me for looking for another job?

[Maze31]

My job is giving me intense anxiety, and it's beginning to affect my health. The managers are controlling, they watch our every move, monitor our internet use, and don't trust us to even go to the toilet without logging it with them first.

I feel I am in a prison sometimes, I am forced to do things I find uncomfortable, and they know this, and then criticised for doing it wrong.

I have told them I am feeling stressed, so they say I have to have weekly one to ones with my manager, who has told me they are concerned I am going to quit. They don't want people leaving as they feel it looks bad to customers and makes others think maybe they should leave too

I am applying for jobs, but as I work full time I have to book holiday to go to interviews. When I book this, my boss is suspicious, and outright asks me what I need the time off for, and if this is for an interview. She told me, if I am serious about leaving they may fire me as they don't want someone sticking around who isn't all in. I haven't been there 2 years so I understand they can do this?

Well in theory they can sack you for anything providing they don’t breach the Employment Act. If you’ve been there over two years you will have more rights.

In practice, larger companies / organisations have procedures and stages of managing disciplinary issues. Looking for another job isn’t a reason to start the management process! Smaller companies will find it much easier to dismiss staff I imagine.

It sounds like a crap job! I’ve never worked anywhere like that. Imagine being that manager who wants to sack someone for daring to look at other jobs. Completely bonkers and how sad to be so emotionally in their job.

www.gov.uk/dismissal/reasons-you-can-be-dismissed

Yes they could I’m afraid. Any half-decent or sensible employer wouldn’t. But they don’t sound either of those things.

Might be just an empty threat though, to try and put you off.

If they sack you, then at least you'll have your notice period to throw all your efforts into finding something else. If you've accrued any annual leave you can use a few of those days to attend interviews.

If staff have been using the internet for personal reasons (even in rest breaks), then your employer has the right to monitor usage, as it's a company resource. Check what their IT/internet policy states.

That sounds absolutely hideous, what utter moronic management. You must do an exit interview after your references clear!

Avoid using company internet and Wi-fi. Many companies record everything you browse and retain it and use it against you if they want to get rid of you. Pay for more data on your phone and use that to browse.

Most companies monitor internet usage these days, if not actively, then at least by blocking social media etc. Indictment of the times rather than the individual- how many people post on MN "from work" for example?

So you could probably be disciplined for looking for jobs in your work time, yes. Depends on your contract.

Lots of places also have set times for breaks including toilet ones and some log them.

If they have called you in on what sounds like the precursor to a disciplinary then you should get proper legal advice (union?) Because calling you in and saying they think you're going to leave is not on. They haven't been contacted for references have they?

Because calling you in and saying they think you're going to leave is not on

Fact is, they aren't breaking the law. Agreed they won't get awarded Employer of the Year for how they treat staff, but from their POV, they would argue internet usage is covered by policy, rest breaks are allowed but if they're a call centre type environment they want to control absences, etc. Arguably staff surfing the web in work time on work IT equipment is a careless thing to do, if they aren't meant to.

None of it sounds pleasant or motivational, staff are just numbers on a spreadsheet, and their staff retention is probably appalling.

”So you could probably be disciplined for looking for jobs in your work time, yes. Depends on your contract.”

You are right, however OP hasn’t said she is doing the job hunting in work time, the query is whether or not they could terminate her employment because they feel she is not committed enough due to looking for other jobs. And the answer is yes.

Have you been looking for jobs using the company computer / internet? I think this is the factor that makes all the difference.

You have every right to job hunt but as an employer I'd be really miffed if you were doing so during work hours using company equipment / services as it's unprofessional and cheeky.

But looking in your own time and booking time off for interviews as annual leave I wouldn't have a problem with and don't have the right to question!

Unfortunately even if you've been doing everything in your own time and through proper channels, I believe before two years they can dismiss you legally unless you can show they're doing so based on a protected characteristic.