Notice period, workload and stress

[rainbowwelly]

Hi,

I've recently had my contract terminated and am currently working my notice period. The reason my contract was terminated was because of poor performance due to bullying and lack of support from my employer. Everything that happened had been raised and brushed off and working directly under the big boss there was nowhere else I could go. No HR etc.

I've accepted what's happening and trying to move on but my workload is insane. I'm employed say 3 days a week but I've got the workload of a full timer. I have nobody else to help with this load and I've been told I have to do x, y and z (tasks covering a three month period after I leave) to help the person who they've employed to take over from me (been done very quickly and seems pretty shady).

I'm stressed out, have a mountain of work I need to complete that only I can do. My employer is telling me I have to still go out and see clients which will involve even more on my workload. When I raised this I was basically told I'm being paid until x so continue on as normal. I'm currently waiting for a call from the doctors about my panic attacks and extreme anxiety, and if this were any other job I would just throw my hands up and get signed off.

However I work in an incredibly small and intimate industry. My employer is very well connected and while there isn't a blacklist, a bad word to any other places and individuals about me could spell the end of my career.

I'm in a union but again, even by going this route I run the risk of gossip and word getting out.

I've slogged my guts out to break into my industry and I'm absolutely at a loss of what to do. Do I do over and beyond what is expected to leave on a good note or do the bare minimum or go off sick.

Just don't know what to do.

Sorry OP, what a stressful situation for you. I understand why you want to keep things amicable, but if they have dismissed you for poor performance then, to be blunt, you aren’t really leaving on a good note anyway are you? On that basis, I would be tempted not to let them take advantage any longer (whether that means leaving sooner or getting signed off).

How long do you have left of your notice period?

If you are determined to stay and work your notice, then I think your only option is to set out in writing that your current workload is not manageable (and why) and state what you will reasonably be able to complete before you finish. There isn’t really much else they can do now if they don’t like it is there.

And I’d encourage you to have a confidential conversation with your union, they are there to protect you and it sounds like you are in a very vulnerable position. You don’t necessarily need to take any action if you don’t feel comfortable but it would be good for you to understand your options at least. There may be a way for you to leverage some more power in this situation e.g. if you threatened an unfair dismissal claim and ended up negotiating a settlement agreement you could ask for a clause to be put in there to prevent them from speaking negatively about you. You’d need some legal support to help you to manoeuvre to this position but a good union rep could help. This is only really an option if you have 2 years service though (and therefore the right to bring an unfair dismissal claim).

Thanks @YakkityYakYakYak I've been prescribed some meds from my GP which are helping already and I've had a chat with a few people about my situation. It's all a bit sad really and the financial pressure is immense as well.

Doc has offered to sign me off but I'm going to try and push through as best as I can. My main thing is to try and tie up loose ends, I can't really make it so that I don't get bad-mouthed (and that says more about the people that would do it than me) and I just need to focus on what I can do moving forward rather than worrying about any external influences.