Fired yesterday now tricky boss wants 2 hour meeting!

[NotMyDust]

Very badly managed project, no busonness plan, unclear goals,anager has fallen out with a lot of people. Previous post holder walked out, his targets transferred on to me with no real handover process, losing money fast, so yesterday I was called on to. a meeting with the CEO and my line manager and "let go". I made it easy for them as the writing was in the wall for a while and I've been applying for new jobs right left and cente.

BUT line manager now wants a 2 hour meeting this morning! juat handover stuff officially I guess which part of me cba to do after being treated so badly, but otoh I am a decent human being and like to be professional.

However she has said some pretty horrid/immature stuff to me in the past eg I give her a negative feeling every time she sees me.

Please can i have some tips for how to deal with this, what to say, boundaries etc? ideally I would channel Michelle Obama rather than pissed off teenager (which is secretly how I could be triggered after everything she's put me through) .
thanks

ergh sorry typo - meant business plan!!

Don't go in unless they are paying you.

Personally, I wouldn't go in at all.

and "manager" omg sorry I dodnt sleep well

@CornishPorsche it's on Teams, they are actually paying me one month without me having to work. so...

You are upset that you have been dismissed. You had limited sleep. So decline and suggest next week (if they are paying you your notice period).

How do you know they want this meeting. Fired is fired. Why would you go back in? If you have had an email or text, ignore it. Why waste your diesel getting there just to do them a favour.

Agree with pp don't go at all unless they're paying you. I'd probably say you can only spare them 30 mins as well.

Assuming you are private sector (cos it usually takes months to fire people in the public sector) and probably not unionised, otherwise I'd definitely be taking a union rep along

Tell her to jog on. No way would I be doing anything to help her.

Just don't go.

Seriously, why bother making things easier for them after they fired you?

If you do go in because they say they'll pay you for the time, don't forget to insist on consultancy rates as you're no longer their employee.

sorry I should have said its on Teams. they are paying me. I need tips on how to deal with manager without spiralling, there's a danger we trigger each other! also I need a reference from her.

Imagine Alan Sugar: “You’re fired!…. But can you just come back next week and tell the next team leader how to do it…”

Nah if they've fired you on the spot with no notice or pay equivalent - which they will also note in any reference I assume - I wouldn't bother going in unpaid to make things easier for them.

If you do I would be making it clear it was at least for a decent seen reference.

Keep your head high. Be polite but businesslike. Have a few phrases in your back pocket to deal with any rude or inappropriate remarks. If things get bad, say something like I don’t think this meeting is getting us anywhere, let’s leave it for now and leave.

By the sounds of it you haven't been fired with immediate effect, so you are in your notice period. They could be making you work the whole lot but aren't, so I'd go to the meeting but be very clear that anything inappropriate happens (comments etc) you'll get up and leave the meeting

thanks @TigerLilyTail . I am sometimes in danger of being blunt and she doesn't appreciate honesty, likes flattery. any suggestions of phrases? "I'll bear that in mind ' just obviously means f off imo!

But that is not what they are doing, the OP says that they are being paid for a month but don't have to work it....

Postpone the meeting.
Ask for a reference first, before the next meeting.
Ask for an agenda.

Is there anybody else in the meeting, or just you and angry boss? I think that I would like it witnessed how helpful I had been. Elsewise she will bad mouth you after you are gone (to deflect off her).

Can you do most of it in writing? Email a handover first, ask for written questions, only have a face to face if necessary?

On that basis I would do it. BUT I'd probably put it off till this afternoon to give you time to get sorted out. (Only because I'd want it do t and fi ished before b/h otherwise I'd say next week) I'd also ask to see a preapproved reference so that they don't screw you.

Write some key phrases down.
'I don't accept that.'
'That's your view.'
'Let's move on so you get the information that you need.'
'I have a clear view on the issues around this project.'
'I can't comment on that. Let's move on.'

How long have you worked there? is there a case for taking them to an employment tribunal? if you were handed out a project with no clue of what to do, unrealistic or unclear goals/targets then you were set up to fail. Also any good line manager would have shared their concerns early that your were not performing and agree a plan to rescue the project. The fact that the person who was previously handling this just suddenly quit confirms that there were ongoing issues. I would get in touch with HR and your union if there is one in writing and start making noises about making a claim against your employer for unfairly dismissing you. It sounds line your line manager has put the blame for the failure solely on you while they actually should take the responsibility. You don't have to just take it!

@myuterusistryingtokillme yup not being adequate to work notice. thanks for your suggestion. also maybe try and 'own' the meeting a bit e.g ask what she wanted to cover at the beginning.

@myuterusistryingtokillme Just not typing quick enough to keep up!

Literally just stick to facts, don’t engage with anything emotional. If anyone says anything personal don’t entertain it -‘can we focus on the handover’. If you can, I would offer to provide a handover sheet (key contacts, instructions) instead of going into details on the call.