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Original poster

Failed probation now dismissed but should I resign?

40 replies

Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 12:27

If anyone has seen my previous posts on this - I'm working as a 1 year PA within a charity/academia and have failed my probation period. I received a letter today saying I'll be dismissed but they can have further meetings with Head of People etc.

I've found since working there that I've had very little support from other PAs and also it's taken ages for me to be given work.

I've worked for 6 and 5 years respectively in previous permanent jobs and for the past few years have worked for 18 months and shorter contracts in various private companies and government departments.

So my question is, should I just resign now rather than be dismissed? My resignation notice period is 2 weeks. I don't want to face yet more meetings, should I do this though?

I will hold my hands up and say I'm not interested at all in the area in which they work - it's just not me. But I don't think you have to be interested in the work where you work, if you're a PA/admin.

I'm just venting/typing this out too, to get this off my chest. I stupidly thought maybe I'd be kept on but it's just stringing things out.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 22/03/2022 12:36

It does make a difference if you are interested in the work you do, theres no need to tell them anything. If you dont want any more meetings or want to stay in the job just resign if you can. Have they given you 2 weeks notice, can you contact them and tell them you wish to resign asap and see what they say.

Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 12:44

@BlanketsBanned - My direct boss (head of EAs, an EA herself) is recommending dismissal based on my failing the probation.

She is now saying the final decision rests with the Director of People and state that a further meeting will be arranged with the Head of Culture and Engagement and a HR official and then a decision will be made on the outcome of that meeting.

I have never said I'm not interested in the work I do and have expressed an interest in it, so far as I can do that.

But I do not want to attend this meeting and simply wish to resign.

I want to ensure that I get paid my 2 weeks notice pay and also ensure I get a reference (should be dates worked I presume?) if that is possible.

I wish I had never started there to be honest, it's been awful from start to finish (been there 8 months) and I only accepted the job as it sounded interesting, was more pay and was almost 100% WFH. Plus I liked the people I met when interviewing etc.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 22/03/2022 12:53

Ah sorry but I thought you said in your opening post you are not interested at all in the area they work in. Maybe I misunderstood. It doesnt aound like its the job for you.

nearlyspringyay · 22/03/2022 14:05

I'm confused, have you been dismissed? If you have that's that. Why did you fail probation?

Hoppinggreen · 22/03/2022 14:13

I resigned years ago while on suspension for Gross Misconduct (I was guilty but I’m not accusing you of any wrong doing)
I was paid my full notice and my reference was generic and just said I worked as a .......... between these dates and resigned
I had no issue getting another job and I have never looked back

ArianaDumbledore · 22/03/2022 14:26

I would resign and just try and pick up some temp work etc so this job can just fade into the background.

Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 14:26

@nearlyspringyay - no I haven't been dismissed yet - I've been recommended to be dismissed. It's basically a lot of little things and to be honest quite picky things around my being slow to take up some tasks etc. The reasons behind one of these were it was a new programme I had to learn and I wasn't confident in using it (I am now).

Honestly, you would not believe how picky they are. I got accused of not being disrespectful re a task because I replied 'yeah me neither' to someone (this person has never had a PA before). They also seemed to go over again and again the things I hadn't done well before and now seem to drag this up again ignoring what I've done well so far.

@Hoppinggreen - I think I might wait to ensure I get my month's notice pay and if necessary any notice pay attached to it.

I've not committed anything Gross Misconduct or anything like that.

If anything I'm a bit angry and upset because I've worked for the past 3-4 years on contracts and not once had criticism, or the one time there was - it was because someone was micromanaging me (also being really picky re lunchbreaks being short etc!) and I simply asked for another contract! If there's been anything a bit off - then maybe sometimes I've not clicked with certain colleagues but that's bound to happen from time to time.

In my previous contract (18 months) me and the other 2 PAs (one higher level) had such a good working relationship - despite in our department there was also an ongoing culture/investigation of bullying, discrimination etc which happened way before we joined! But with them I had great 1:1s and catch ups, was trained perfectly by the higher level PA and I had to train the other PA who started after me. I now wish I hadn't left there!

I'm also wondering now, why they're dragging this out here - I know they're following procedure and protocol but this is upsetting me and stressing me out.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 14:27

@ArianaDumbledore

I would resign and just try and pick up some temp work etc so this job can just fade into the background.
@ArianaDumbledore - I am planning on doing that! I've even got someone interested in me for a permanent job which is good.
OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 22/03/2022 14:32

Don't take this the wrong way but they are probably dilly dallying in the hope you resign so they don't have to make that decision.

I recommend you resign, it sounds like you and the company are just not suited to each other.

FridayBluezzzz · 22/03/2022 14:34

They’re obviously just trying to follow protocol so you have no comeback. I would resign. You’ll pick something else up and this will just become a line in a CV. Good luck.

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 14:34

I would resign. Be as nice as possible about it and they'll hopefully give a good reference.

LIZS · 22/03/2022 14:38

Can you afford to resign? You might be sanctioned for benefits.

enjoyingscience · 22/03/2022 14:44

Just resign. They’ll be relieved, and you’re more likely to be able to leave gracefully. It won’t make a difference long term - admin is always in demand and your CV has long enough stints not to raise eyebrows.

Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 14:46

@KatherineJaneway @FridayBluezzzz @EmmaH2022 - I can see they're probably trying to get me to resign which is fine. I will do this.

I'm wondering about comeback though - what comeback would I have - nothing, it's a contract. It's not like it's a permanent job where I've worked there 2 years.

I'm just a bit confused as to why they're following protocol re comeback as I literally have no rights. They can dismiss me for failing probation and that's that.

I suppose if I were to be difficult I could quite easily state in a further meeting that I had improved by x, y and z and the EA in charge of all the EAs and PAs knows that, she's just trying to be difficult. I also think the other Director (K) I work for, for whatever reason, doesn't like me much but she's one of those who says one thing to your face and then another thing behind your back and I've had this first hand from her (someone else told me something she'd said about me) - but I'm not prepared to quibble over this.

I had to have a few hours or mornings or afternoons off in January/February for emergency work on an implant and also root canal and basically one of my other colleagues was chatting to me on Teams and mentioned that she'd heard that my boss, the Director (K) wasn't impressed with the last minute dentists appointments and didn't believe me! Don't know why my colleague told me that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 14:47

@LIZS

Can you afford to resign? You might be sanctioned for benefits.
@LIZS - I can afford to resign luckily. I have savings etc.

But what with energy bills increasing a lot lately - and food bills etc I don't want to be out of work for too long.

OP posts:
Rosehugger · 22/03/2022 14:50

It can be a knock to confidence but sometimes it's really just a mismatch of expectations or clash of personalities.

It has happened to me twice - once when I was somewhere six months I disliked from the off but thought I would give it a chance. DD1 was very little and the job really did not fit with having a young child. I started applying for jobs in the last month and ended up with three job offers, and went into a role that was much better, much less stressful and was there for a good few years.

Then a weird one, when I'd had a career break, the employer was aware of this and that I would need training in the role. When I started they wanted me to "hit the ground running" which was just impossible as it was a different area for me and their business was quite specialist. I was there for a whole two weeks, the whole thing felt like they were trying to get rid of me from the start. I wonder if someone acted without proper approval from higher up to recruit me or make the final decision in the first place, as it was just such a weird atmosphere to be automatically on the back foot.

Anyway, it led to a much better role which rebuilt my confidence.

Resigning does sound like the better option. Onwards and upwards, OP!

Rosehugger · 22/03/2022 14:53

I would put the feelers out for temporary roles, OP. It can help you decide what sort of organisation you really want to work for and give you some interesting insights. I did interim roles on purpose for about three years of my career which suited me then and did my career no harm at all.

BlanketsBanned · 22/03/2022 14:54

They have to follow the procedure so it does seem to drag on but you might just get the 2 weeks notice pay on top of your monthly salary plus any accrued holiday.

Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 14:58

@BlanketsBanned

They have to follow the procedure so it does seem to drag on but you might just get the 2 weeks notice pay on top of your monthly salary plus any accrued holiday.
@BlanketsBanned - I think I might try to resign either at end of this week or start of next week so I do get my monthly salary plus any accrued holiday - have hardly taken any this year. I understand they have to follow the procedure but it just seems so cold and they have taken nothing from what I have done well.

@Rosehugger - this is a different area for me too - academia and charity - I was expected to hit the ground running which I have no issue with at all but with very little support/training.

OP posts:
Butteryflakycrust83 · 22/03/2022 15:04

I would resign. All references tend to be generic now so I wouldnt worry about that, but it seems like a toxic atmosphere.

SilverMakeUpBag · 22/03/2022 15:52

I’d resign if it were me. It sounds as if your face didn’t fit…this has happened to me twice in the past. Get some temp work if nothing permanent comes up and it will fade away. Good luck OP.

Original poster
Gonnagetgoing · 22/03/2022 16:02

@Butteryflakycrust83 and @SilverMakeUpBag - funny you should say this.

I messaged an ex-colleague at lunch today, she left recently but had been there about 2 years I think.

The ex-colleague asked for a brief rundown of what happened so I told her - and guess what she said? Her: "J our EA boss (head of EAs/PAs) isn't very nice and is very picky, she's been known for doing this before, picking on people." me: "Are you sure?" Her: "Yes, she tried to do similar to me which is partly why I looked for another job and left".

She got a good perm job in academia too.

I think it's partly my face didn't fit and Ms Bitch is being nasty but nothing I can do about that!

Thanks to all re good luck and for all the reassurances that it's happened to them before. It's amazing - we just don't speak about this - if your face doesn't fit - tend to try to brush it under the carpet!

I'm seeing a friend for coffee Brew and a walk after work so that will be nice.

OP posts:
ProfYaffle · 22/03/2022 16:05

"I'm just a bit confused as to why they're following protocol re comeback as I literally have no rights"
There are still potential risks for them, you may not be able to claim unfair dismissal but you could still claim for discrimination or wrongful dismissal. I'm not saying you necessarily have grounds but that's what the company is protecting itself from in general terms.

fwiw, I think resignation is the right way to go.

maddy68 · 22/03/2022 16:08

Pros and cons

If you are dismissed yout are entitled to benefits if you resign you are not

If you are dismissed you can't really use them as a reference so I would just omit them from any further CVS

If you resign you may be able to negotiate a good reference depends if they are open to that

TitoMojito · 22/03/2022 16:24

I failed probation in a previous job (except I didn’t really, the head of HR had a vendetta against me and forced me out under the guise of failed probation). I just told them straight up that that was fine, I was happy to leave and didn’t need any further meetings. Left 4 weeks later and that was that.