Help - return from MAT vile manager !!!

[charadam]

I'm sooo upset. I went on mat leave July 2022 and returned this month. The job I left I loved, lovely people and management.

Manager left after this new manager started - so did all the team so everyone is new and I'm still friends with the people who used to work there but I didn't want to listen to anything that didn't happen to me plus it's my job.

She is vile. Worse than what I had been warned about. There's a brand new team she does nothing but bully them. They are all unhappy and often in tears. There's no HR so she rules the roost. Only a ceo who clearly likes her.

So no option to leave imo. I've applied for two other jobs which one says hybrid working
But only 20 hours so what does this mean ? Half and half ?

I'm sad to go as I love my job but honestly she is so horrid and it gives me anxiety when I'm leave

I'm leaving my baby to go work in a horrid atmosphere- when I gently tried to talk to her to tell her how the team feel she flew into a rage, tears, stomping around the office ignoring me

She's a grown ass adult for god sake

What would you do?

I'm on a fixed term contract so no employment rights if that means anything? ( although this is my 3rd year ?)

Help I feel a bit lost but can't see any other way then look for something else?

X

After two years the fixed term contract has no real meaning in law - you have all the same rights as anyone else with 2+years continuous employment. That said, there are really no "rights" in this situation - you do need to leave. Good luck with the job hunting, hopefully you'll find something quickly.

Having been through a similar experience, speak to an employment lawyer, all will give you a 30 minute consultation for free. Then you'll know your rights. Keep a diary, any records and evidence. But most of all put yourself first.

Good luck

Hi @charadam sorry you're going through this xx
I've been working for about 27 years and i have come across some really horrible managers and poorly managed overworked teams. I have learnt to see this as a positive thing, i know sounds weird but honestly it gave me a push to find something else. I would look all day and fill in applications all night. I've always ended up moving onto better things. This is your push hun xx

Start looking in earnest for another job. The job you temporarily left when you went on maternity leave no longer exists.

I had a sometimes-difficult relationship with my most recent manager, and when the time came to hand in my notice I gave it to the ceo (v small organisation) and was really really frank in my exit interview with her about what needed to change when they recruited my replacement.

@Quveas I thought the same but they've renewed and made me sign each year ? But like you say and I agree there's not really in any point, I'm good as gone.

@NisekoWhistler well....an ex colleague is doing this and my manager told me ' in confidence' ( yeah right )that he is the one who's going to end up with a 50k bill ?! And they are ' fighting dirty ' talk etc So I'd rather avoid to be honest and just get out as quick as I can - I don't need the hassle
Good idea about the diary though
I've already been ' removed ' from certain meetings I should be in to be told oh sorry that was a mistake I was in the meeting in the first place

@Summer2424 @FirstFallopians thank you and these replies have made me feel soooo much better - I checked out the other day when she exploded at me and your right that job I had before is no longer there.

Onwards and upwards for sure
One of the jobs I've applied for I really really want but I know it's a long process

I just wish I could hand my notice in Monday!

But least I know there's no going back

X

So what about when it comes to getting a reference? If I ask for a exit interview with ceo and not her then she will be the one doing my reference 😘

Meant this emoji !!! 😮

I thought the same but they've renewed and made me sign each year ? But like you say and I agree there's not really in any point, I'm good as gone.

Irrelevant. What they might think they are doing and what they are doing are two different things. Broadly speaking (potted employment law version) there are two types of people who work for others - employees and workers. Workers have fewer rights than employees. You are an employee. Back in the mists of time, when I was young, fixed term contracts had different rights - for example there was no redundancy due on fixed term contracts no matter how many years you worked. That is the reason that that the law still states that after 4 years on FTC's you can ask to be made "permanant". Changes in the law over the past 30 years have made that superfluous, but the law still exists - it's just pointless. So is the distinction between temporary and permanent - legally it doesn't exist. All a FTC does now is, effectively, serve employers notice on you in advance.

In reality, all employment rights for employees are now determined by the length of continuous employment. not on the title on a contract. Once you have past the two year mark all rights accrue - you are entitled to redundancy processes, redundancy pay, a fair process for dismissal etc., etc. To the extent that, say there are 5 people doing the same job, 1 is FTC for over two years and the other 4 "permanent". The employer cannot simply terminate the FTC at the end of the term - they must put all 5 employees at risk, run a fair redundancy selection process and cannot just pick the person whose contract is fixed.

But in respect of your problem, there is next to no protection - "duty of care" etc are all irrelevant if an employer is set upon allowing a toxic environment. I'd love to say differently, but whilst keeping a diary / evidence is good advice, there are few laws that provide you with any protection - your toxic environment is the employers "determined management". Courts do not get involved in the minutiae of good/bad management, there are no clear stand alone laws against bullying and so on. Your "best hope" is to either be dismissed and be able to prove unfair dismissal or be forced to resign and be able to prove constructive unfair dismissal (the latter being one of the least successful claims going). By the time either of those things occur, even if you could win (by no means certain) it will have consumed you. That is not what you want for you, and it isn't what a new-ish mum wants for her child.

I hate telling people to walk away. I am personally utterly rubbish at doing it myself. But sometimes it is the best advice, and this is one of those times. There is no win here for you. So stop letting it consume your life and go get a job that you deserve, and who deserve you.

Don't do it. Get a job and move on. "So long, and thanks for all the fish" as a resignation letter, don't get drawn into anything other than you have had a lovely time, sorry to move on but the opportunity is too good to turn down. It might be cathartic to tell the truth but it won't get you a reference, and nothing will change because of it. Only tell people the truth if they can handle it - you tried that already and look at how well that went down.

@Quveas thanks ! Makes sense and yep I am aware how much it has consumed me the last few days. Especially how they are treating that ex employee

Her management style is very scare monger

I cannot wait to get something else so I can leave

Thank you all for your advice x

References are not really a thing now. Most places will just confirm dates of employment.

Hybrid on 20 hours could mean anything. Technically we're hybrid but no one goes into the office.

@hopeishere that's good to know

I'm happy with a bit of hybrid - currently
We aren't allowed to work from home but this other job is a bit of a travel so hoping the hybrid will cancel that out
X

Couldn’t you get a reference from your previous manager if need be? He was your manager for a lot longer than she’ll be.

It’s a shame when managers ruin what would be good jobs. If a place has high turnover it’s quite often down to the manager as it is difficult to deal with and the only real way is to leave.