Performance and conduct chat

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

So I started a new part time admin role in May. 6 month probation. Very different industry to where I have worked before, lettings but within housing association.

I’ve today had the above chat. I’ve worked in law firms before and this just sounds quite heavy handed to me, in fact there’s never been a need for this chat! I’ll have weekly catch ups re this.

Any advice?

I was also told by people here it’s very much a sink and swim environment (that’s the organisation’s way) and that lots of people leave.

Well what did they say?

Performance and conduct are two different areas when considering whether to pass probation.

What were the comments around your conduct?

It’s around dealing with people, getting things like ID for viewings. Some of this I find a bit well not clear.

Okay so you’re not doing a critical part of your job?

So assuming you have clear things to improve on? An action plan of next steps?

You’re not making it very easy for people here to help you - your post is vague, you’ve not given much information yet you expect people to be able to give advice. I hope for your sake that your communication at work is better than this!

It might help if you explained:
Who this chat was with - was it just your line manager or was anyone else there
If they said you were not meeting expectations in probation
If you have been given specific, measurable ways you need to improve
How often you were having catch-ups before this
If it’s due to one or more specific incidents or more a general pattern

Basically though, it’s not good if you’re having a ‘performance and conduct’ chat four months into your probation. You need to improve on everything mentioned and should probably also start job hunting.

If you are not clear about what you need to do so that you follow process you need to ask. You can only meet their expectations if you know what they are.

You must have notes from the meeting - I would sit down later and go through them. Then tomorrow you can go back and ask for another meeting for clarification / further training or whatever it is you need. Then at the catch up next week you can hopefully demonstrate you've done xyz thing as a result of that.

I will have notes from the meeting tomorrow. It was with my line manager.

Like I said a lot of it isn’t clear. We are a small team of 4, 2 part time lettings assistants and lettings manager andmanaging director.

The other lettings assistant says things change there all the time. There’s very little training around key parts of the job. The lettings assistant who’s been there 18 months says she was left to get on with things by herself so therefore I should do the same. I had to suggest to re implement weekly team meetings as I think they’re crucial for our team.

The previous lettings manager was there 2 years but left suddenly giving no notice.

I’m one step away from handing in my notice.

I’ve also come into this job after being out of work for approx 2 years due to mental health issues.

There really seems very little positives for me. Rarely am I told, “you’ve done a good job”. Apart from my colleague, the other lettings assistant, she will say I’m doing a good job. My main boss, she’s nice but not big on praise. Not that I expect that, praise. And I have done a few things that have been very good and one was praised a lot.

I would want some written down processes and a checklist of documents required for viewings etc. for example. I would expect training before this level. You need clear instructions.

Not happened so far. They said they’d do it for viewings.

It has literally been:-

train me on lettings database (not hard, online learning)
train me on lettings procedure (this takes time as things to read)
Small bit of training from my lettings assistant colleague but very hands off. Once when I came in for training by colleague and she was annoyed I wasn’t early, yet I was in early that day (and most days) and I start at 1pm anyway.
my manager hadn’t even checked property inspection reports i’d started back in May and only found fault with them end of last month. Basically making changes that should have been explained back in May. Meanwhile any other reports (same) I’ve done have been cleared in the past few months by other lettings admin assistant colleague, she undertakes property inspections too.

it really isn’t clear. I’m told things change all the time (for whatever reason i don’t know).

i really think I’ll start job hunting.

Yes I would but try not to take it personally. Just sounds chaotic and maybe your face doesn't fit. Sounds like poor training along with unclear expectations. You could try running your inspection reports through copilot against a template.

I’m going to say this gently, but if you’ve had to have a chat about performance and conduct, then a lot isn’t going right, is it? To be honest if I was in a team with someone who wasn’t getting the basics right, I’d not expect for them to be praised for every little thing.

Things like making sure you’ve identified the people you’re showing round someone’s home are the basics.

I don’t think that sort of thing needs a written process?

This is exactly it. Poor training and unclear expectations. It’s very chaotic.

So what do I do now? Just knuckle down to the work and do it? I have to put in place a Wellness Action Plan as I disclosed I suffer with anxiety and depression. The template on the Mind website doesn’t work though.

I would ask copilot or chat gpt to do the wellness form. I would ask it to produce step by step instructions for your role incorporating legal guidelines for lettings and what you've been asked to do. I would make sure all my folders were set up. Set up any trackers to help you. I would run all my reports through copilot asking it to emphasise whatever it is you need. I would book some time in for training and shadowing. Sorry, just thinking of all the admin type things I would do.

Here are concise answers you can paste into the Mind Wellness Action Plan: 1
What helps me stay well at work?
Clear priorities, regular communication, manageable workloads, breaks, and a supportive environment.
How can my manager support me?
Regular check-ins, clear expectations, and help prioritising work when needed.
Early warning signs
Increased anxiety, low mood, poor concentration, fatigue, or feeling overwhelmed.
What support helps when I'm struggling?
Clear guidance, workload review, flexible appointments, and additional check-ins.
Workplace triggers
High workloads, tight deadlines, unexpected changes, and unclear expectations.
Signs I'm becoming unwell
Withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, increased anxiety, low mood, and reduced productivity.
What should my manager do?
Speak with me privately, listen without judgement, and discuss practical support or adjustments.
Adjustments that may help
Flexible working, time for medical appointments, regular wellbeing check-ins, and clear priorities.
Additional information
I manage anxiety and depression and work best with early support, clear communication, and a supportive approach.

Just from copilot. I often find that its a good starting point even if you end up deleting most of it.

Thank you so much for all your help! Really appreciate it.

She’s already been told she’s not doing a good enough job. And you’re telling her to do less work and use A.I.?!

I'm advising her to use AI to clarify her work expectations and processes. If she cant see the wood for the trees it can order your thoughts/instructions and help you focus on what you need to do and in what order. She says she's had conflicting instructions so she needs to try and sort it out herself in the absence of sound training. Its just a simple starting point. I set up complex processes at work within legal frameworks and it really helps. It sounds to me like one colleague is half arsed but the other one wants it done to the proper higher standard. No need to be snippy. Of course op could just be shit at her job, but I was trying to help from afar and help her get the basic job role straight in her mind.

Realistically though you should be able to do that alone. A.I. isn’t going to know.

Red flag 🚩 Sounds toxic - I don’t think the problem’s you OP! @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain

I worked for a Housing Association once, after many years of experience in the private letting sector. I was well respected in my field (and had had
grown a thick skin many years before, its not the easiest sector to work in) but this was the worst job Id ever had. Bullying was rife, my manager was the most unproffessional person id ever worked for and the work load expectation was absolutely crazy. I regularly came in 2 hours early and left an hour or so late just to try and stay on top of my work load. After 8 months the bullying from my manager got too much, i started being sick before going in to the office and realised life is too short so left and made a formal complaint to HR with evidence, which HR encouraged. They later interviewed the manager and told her her behaviour was unacceptable - don't do it again - that was all . Over the 8 months i was there, our team of 4 had a huge turnover of staff amd had gone through almost 10 temps in 12 months. One had put in an 18 page complaint to HR about the manager, the manager was proud of this and showed it to me a few days after i started!
Leaving was the absolute best thing i did, i went back to private lettings and never looked back. I still have a level of anxiety thinking back to the period and it was 15 years ago. I would never work for a HA again. Get out while you can!