So... Today I got sacked.

[Robyn]

Hi all,

I am more of a lurker than a poster but I am just after some advice if possible please.

A bit of background info; I have been employed by a company since November 2014, previously to that I worked on a self-employed basis for them since March 2014. (Supervisor position - it did not follow self-employment guidelines but I guess it was just better for them to take me on as self-employed).

So today I left my colleague looking after things this morning and I was going in to cover the afternoon, my manager is on holiday so I got a call from her manager at 14:15 asking where I was. I told her that I would be there at 15:00 as I would be covering the afternoon, she sounded a bit sharp but said that she would see me there. (At this point I thought that there might be something odd because she rarely visits).

I left for work straight away and arrived at 14:50. I went into the office and the manager from another site was there. He told me that the boss wanted to see me in the canteen. I went in to see her and she instantly told me that she had heard from 'sources' that I was starting my own business, therefore, she was dismissing me (a business doing the same as the company that I work for). That's it, no warning. She then said that she had received complaints that I had not been at work when I should have been, however, me and my colleague share and the boss doesn't know who does which shifts and when (it is agreed between ourselves on a day-to-day basis really) so it must be my colleague missing her shifts because I am absolutely there when I should be.

It was a fairly brief conversation, 5 minutes or so. I was a bit surprised so I didn't say much, to be honest.

I have never signed or received a copy of my contract, even after asking many times.

I was told on Monday by my manager that I was doing a brilliant job, to keep it up, etc. So for this to happen has come as a bit of a shock.

So, what on Earth can I do now?

[MCN]

Citizen's Advice tomorrow morning. Speak to a councillor and they can advise.

You never intimated if you 'are setting up a business or not'.
That is background.
Mostly, it is good and decent practice for any meeting for a disciplinary matter to be pre announced to give you some time to prepare.
It is wholly unfair to be shit on from a height when you have not had time to get your defence together. Especially when there is a third party involved. (your colleague)
That boss is out of order. There is also scope for appeal.

The deal is do you want to work for a despot?

It's not usual for the company to discipline their managers as it make the company look stupid for employing whankers.

You may get some compen for loss of earnings etc. As you should/may have been suspended on pay pending enquiry.

But it depends on what you contract states.

I work for companies who issue a contract but if your line manager takes a dislike then you are run off without reason.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[hellkat]

People get weird ideas in their head, and if they don't talk to you, the ideas pretty much get set in stone.

You should be entitled to give your side of the story, but in reality: do you really want the job now that you know someone has it in for you that much?
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[CaNsA]

[Robyn]

Thanks for your replies.

The thing is, I have worked very hard for the company. Literally 80 hour weeks. I have also relocated twice for this job, the first time I was sent to create a new team, this was then taken over by the bosses brother after I had established everything and it was running well, then I was pushed out. I was then moved to sort out an under performing team (110 miles away), I am the fifth manager at this place in the space of a year.

I am going to start my own business. Is there any way that this could be used as a reasonable argument to instantly dismiss me? Especially as there is no proof of this, it is still a rumour.

It's not that I would like to continue to work for the company, I just wouldn't like for them to get away with doing this to me.

[Robyn]

[iooi]

[bugeye_bob]

So you're approaching the 2 year mark when it becomes harder to get rid of you ?
Do they have a reputation for this kind of thing ?

[Rogerborg]

You've been there under two years, they don't need any reason to turf you out.

If you want to go via grievance and tribunal, you need to find an automatically unfair reason for dismissal from this list.

https://www.gov.uk/dismiss-staff/unfair-dismissals

[hellkat]

[bugeye_bob]

[ScaredyCat]

[hellkat]

Hmmmm OK so s/he is the 5th not 6th ... still, bit of a dodgy record manager-wise.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Raffles]

So, OP, do you think that it's OK for you and a colleague to take it in turns to skive-off and cover-up for one another whilst management aren't around? Do you also think it's right and proper to be paid by a company whilst actively setting up a rival, competing company?
For what it's worth, I don't think that either of those things are right and proper. You deserved the boot.
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[panrider_uk]

[Rogerborg]

[Raffles]

[Itchy]

Pfft what do you think we are China?

UK workers have no rights.

What you want to do is find a new job. Myself I would set up a rival company and if possible poach their clients. You did steal their client list right?

Babyyam is dead set against this but I keep my own records of clients and I am completely happy to poach them. In fact in accountancy this is a way of life!
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Itchy]

[Raffles]

[angryjonny]

[Rogerborg]

[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

Fair enough, OP is a supervisor. And Warped. And Blau. And Hitler.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Nobby the Bastard]