Got Fired!
Sep 5th 2012, 2:31 pm
#16
advocatus diaboli
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Re: Got Fired!
I did not apply for my wife to come to the UK from the beginning because I was put off by the strict criteria now in place for the application process, plus my wife wanted to be with her mother for the first six months after the childs birth.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
Sep 5th 2012, 2:43 pm
#17
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Got Fired!
I did not apply for my wife to come to the UK from the beginning because I was put off by the strict criteria now in place for the application process, plus my wife wanted to be with her mother for the first six months after the childs birth.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
Thats my attitude to my ex employer anyway...
Sep 7th 2012, 11:56 am
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall
Posts: 432
Re: Got Fired!
Sorry to hear your unfortunate news and I wish you well to get something else. This may have been said before, but when you work for a temp agency and then the company hire you full time, they normally have to pay the temp agency a premium... sometimes up to three months worth of your pay as a one-off payment. So even though you aren't fully aware of it, for a while after you're hired it's like the employer are paying a double salary and if something like this happens it's a tough situation to resolve. If you sign up with another temp agency, be careful how you present what happened. Good luck to you.
Sep 7th 2012, 3:00 pm
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Location: Nebraska by the Sea
Posts: 987
Re: Got Fired!
Sorry to hear your unfortunate news and I wish you well to get something else. This may have been said before, but when you work for a temp agency and then the company hire you full time, they normally have to pay the temp agency a premium... sometimes up to three months worth of your pay as a one-off payment. So even though you aren't fully aware of it, for a while after you're hired it's like the employer are paying a double salary and if something like this happens it's a tough situation to resolve. If you sign up with another temp agency, be careful how you present what happened. Good luck to you.
Sep 8th 2012, 9:06 am
#20
advocatus diaboli
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Re: Got Fired!
Yes, Im well out of it now, I only wish now that I should have screamed at this guy, shouted out to let his staff know what a real bastard he was, embarrass the hell out of him, but instead I went quietly, in shock speechless.
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Sep 8th 2012, 10:12 am
#21
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: Got Fired!
Yes, Im well out of it now, I only wish now that I should have screamed at this guy, shouted out to let his staff know what a real bastard he was, embarrass the hell out of him, but instead I went quietly, in shock speechless.
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Having worked on dozens of search committees and interview panels, there is a big investment on the part of the employer when hiring full-time staff. You've said you took the job under false pretenses, I'm not sure why you are surprised that when it sank in what you had done, they decided to move on and find someone else. If the circumstances had been unexpected, most employers would have been more understanding but if you look at it from their point of view, it's a logical consequence that they were p*ssed off at losing someone they thought had taken on a permanent position.
It's rarely a good idea to fly off the handle like that in a job situation. You never know when it will come back and bite you. Plus in these days of social networks, what goes on in the office no longer stays in the office, it's a much smaller world.
p.s. Having said that, if you were on a permanent contract, you should read it (the contract). It's pretty unusual that an employer or employee can terminate a job with immediate effect. You may be due some salary in lieu of notice. The main exception is professional misconduct or the like, but even given the circumstances you describe I think it would be difficult for the employer to establish professional misconduct.
Last edited by dunroving; Sep 8th 2012 at 10:32 am.
Sep 8th 2012, 2:44 pm
#22
advocatus diaboli
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Re: Got Fired!
No - you might have then been landed with a lawsuit to claw back the employers' expenses for hiring you from a temp agency, under false pretenses.
Having worked on dozens of search committees and interview panels, there is a big investment on the part of the employer when hiring full-time staff. You've said you took the job under false pretenses, I'm not sure why you are surprised that when it sank in what you had done, they decided to move on and find someone else. If the circumstances had been unexpected, most employers would have been more understanding but if you look at it from their point of view, it's a logical consequence that they were p*ssed off at losing someone they thought had taken on a permanent position.
It's rarely a good idea to fly off the handle like that in a job situation. You never know when it will come back and bite you. Plus in these days of social networks, what goes on in the office no longer stays in the office, it's a much smaller world.
p.s. Having said that, if you were on a permanent contract, you should read it (the contract). It's pretty unusual that an employer or employee can terminate a job with immediate effect. You may be due some salary in lieu of notice. The main exception is professional misconduct or the like, but even given the circumstances you describe I think it would be difficult for the employer to establish professional misconduct.
Having worked on dozens of search committees and interview panels, there is a big investment on the part of the employer when hiring full-time staff. You've said you took the job under false pretenses, I'm not sure why you are surprised that when it sank in what you had done, they decided to move on and find someone else. If the circumstances had been unexpected, most employers would have been more understanding but if you look at it from their point of view, it's a logical consequence that they were p*ssed off at losing someone they thought had taken on a permanent position.
It's rarely a good idea to fly off the handle like that in a job situation. You never know when it will come back and bite you. Plus in these days of social networks, what goes on in the office no longer stays in the office, it's a much smaller world.
p.s. Having said that, if you were on a permanent contract, you should read it (the contract). It's pretty unusual that an employer or employee can terminate a job with immediate effect. You may be due some salary in lieu of notice. The main exception is professional misconduct or the like, but even given the circumstances you describe I think it would be difficult for the employer to establish professional misconduct.
There was no false pretenses, they never gave me any kind of terms and conditions for me to read and agree to, if they had done so then I could have atleast agreed or not agreed.
In many ways it was they who withheld the important employment contract terms and conditions from me, dont you think?
Sep 8th 2012, 2:58 pm
#23
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,006
Re: Got Fired!
This was an unskilled job, I dont see the investment they could have made, I did ask for a terms of contract but they would not give this to me when I asked (twice), they also told me you would be fulltime permanent only after three months, in that time they could terminate my position regardless of how good/bad my performance was.
There was no false pretenses, they never gave me any kind of terms and conditions for me to read and agree to, if they had done so then I could have atleast agreed or not agreed.
In many ways it was they who withheld the important employment contract terms and conditions from me, dont you think?
There was no false pretenses, they never gave me any kind of terms and conditions for me to read and agree to, if they had done so then I could have atleast agreed or not agreed.
In many ways it was they who withheld the important employment contract terms and conditions from me, dont you think?
As for the investment, I think someone already said if you hire a temp agency person on a permanent contract, there's a price to pay ... so there's at least one investment.
The false pretenses I was referring to were what you described - taking on a permanent position when you knew you would be taking extended leave, without mentioning it. I can see your reasons, but can also see why, when the penny dropped, they switched from an agreeable "see your 5 weeks out" to "Out the door" (though it sounds like they could have dealt with it more tacfully). That's why it's called "business" rather than "pleasure" - and why getting a work contract is so important.
It may still be worth contacting CAB, to see if you have any rights of redress. Even without a work contract I'd have thought in the UK that employment law covers full-time jobs, and that the situation you're describing may mean you are entitled to some salary compensation. Worth looking into, at least.
Sep 8th 2012, 3:26 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,654
Re: Got Fired!
I did not apply for my wife to come to the UK from the beginning because I was put off by the strict criteria now in place for the application process, plus my wife wanted to be with her mother for the first six months after the childs birth.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
I not being domiciled in the Uk for close on 20yrs thought it would be a good idea to come first and establish a new home, to become domiciled in the UK, so as to make her application process successful.
I had managed to do that, although I have lost my job, though I could not complain about that only the way I was treated!
Its been said that I should have made them aware of this situation before hand, though if I did I probably would not have got this job, and I would still be slaving it for the agency, on the other hand I choose to hold that info back, hoping that good hard work would atleast give me a foot in the door on my return.
This is the real world!
There may be a lot of things I should or shouldnt have done though, if being 30 minute early everyday for work, working hard, carrying out every request to the word, sometimes working through my lunch break, basically doing the job without fuss etc, this correct attitude to work seem to pass them bye when they brandished the hatchet!
They were just down right nasty.
That's downright nasty - but in the business world at the end of the day, management put the company's interest first, and then the employees. Sounds brutal but that's how it is.
You were still on probation, in the first three months of your job, and you then tell your boss that you want extended leave?
What did you expect? They were well within their 'rights' to let you go.
Sep 8th 2012, 4:07 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1,654
Re: Got Fired!
lesson learnt - always be honest and upfront! Another point is that they may have been able to go back to the agency that supplied you and either get a part refund or a replacement for you at reduced charges within the probation period.
What they did is common practice and has been for the last 15 years, I saw a colleague ( upper management) have the same thing happen to him, he was on 3 month probation, they called him in, gave him his severence pay and he had to leave immediately without speaking to any of us and was escorted out the building!
Not nice, but in the circumstances they are running a business. Time to put it behind you and enjoy the upcoming birth of your baby and make plans with your wife for your life together wherever it may be. Good luck
What they did is common practice and has been for the last 15 years, I saw a colleague ( upper management) have the same thing happen to him, he was on 3 month probation, they called him in, gave him his severence pay and he had to leave immediately without speaking to any of us and was escorted out the building!
Not nice, but in the circumstances they are running a business. Time to put it behind you and enjoy the upcoming birth of your baby and make plans with your wife for your life together wherever it may be. Good luck
Sep 9th 2012, 9:19 am
#26
advocatus diaboli
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Re: Got Fired!
I think it was the coldness of it all, before hand it was all smiles, hand shakes etc, but this turned quicker than a Usain Bolt!
Ive never been escorted out of a building before, is was a real jaw dropper, am I really that out of touch or maybe im just plain naive.
I spoke to acas, also cab, acas said I didnt have a leg to stand on and cab told me I could have a case but generally they were within there rights to do what they did.
In many ways Im glad Im no longer working there, a real dead end position, though with now 4 weeks to go before I leave to be back with my wife the last thing I wanted to do was be hanging around doing nothing, I thought about going back to the agency, but unsure of the reception I may get.
One small bright note is I got 1 days pay put into my account from that job, I guess they must have had to give me 1 days notice and were fulfilling that obligation.
Ive never been escorted out of a building before, is was a real jaw dropper, am I really that out of touch or maybe im just plain naive.
I spoke to acas, also cab, acas said I didnt have a leg to stand on and cab told me I could have a case but generally they were within there rights to do what they did.
In many ways Im glad Im no longer working there, a real dead end position, though with now 4 weeks to go before I leave to be back with my wife the last thing I wanted to do was be hanging around doing nothing, I thought about going back to the agency, but unsure of the reception I may get.
One small bright note is I got 1 days pay put into my account from that job, I guess they must have had to give me 1 days notice and were fulfilling that obligation.
Sep 9th 2012, 5:30 pm
#27
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Got Fired!
Go back to the agency, they may well have a couple weeks worth of jobs for you.
Sep 10th 2012, 12:51 pm
#28
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Got Fired!
Yes, Im well out of it now, I only wish now that I should have screamed at this guy, shouted out to let his staff know what a real bastard he was, embarrass the hell out of him, but instead I went quietly, in shock speechless.
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Besides, the people that work there probably well know what hes like.
Last edited by iaink; Sep 10th 2012 at 4:03 pm.
Sep 10th 2012, 3:48 pm
#29
Under blue skies
Joined: Mar 2011
Location: East Anglia->New England
Posts: 3,624
Re: Got Fired!
But they did say that I could work the final 5 weeks before my departure and if there was a position with the company when I returned then I should apply.
Then they asked me to write a letter of resignation within the hour, this was late Friday afternoon, I asked if I could have the weekend to do this and give me a chance to talk to my wife about this.
One hour later I was called into the office and told that they had had a meeting and decided that they didnt really need me anyway and I must collect my things and go!
I hardly had a chance to say goodbye to anybody, I was off the premises within 10 minutes.
My family say I should not of told them until perhaps the last week etc, but I told them 5 weeks prior so they would have a good chance to replace me, I thought you were required to give 4 weeks notice anyway.
They the bosses etc seemed so nice, always a smile, a hello, always a good atmosphere, can not understand how it could have gone so brutal
Then they asked me to write a letter of resignation within the hour, this was late Friday afternoon, I asked if I could have the weekend to do this and give me a chance to talk to my wife about this.
One hour later I was called into the office and told that they had had a meeting and decided that they didnt really need me anyway and I must collect my things and go!
I hardly had a chance to say goodbye to anybody, I was off the premises within 10 minutes.
My family say I should not of told them until perhaps the last week etc, but I told them 5 weeks prior so they would have a good chance to replace me, I thought you were required to give 4 weeks notice anyway.
They the bosses etc seemed so nice, always a smile, a hello, always a good atmosphere, can not understand how it could have gone so brutal
...I only wish now that I should have screamed at this guy, shouted out to let his staff know what a real bastard he was, embarrass the hell out of him, but instead I went quietly, in shock speechless.
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
Should I have been noisy? Should I have let off a few four letter words, or was I right to not complain?
Was I a wimp?
I'd worked my last UK job 7 years, was extremely dependable, never pushed the boundaries on sick days the way many others did, always follwed all the rules to the letter. I handed in my notice exactly as stipulated in my contract, & offerred to train my replacement, as my work had become tricky in some ways. Nope, they did not need me to train or even consult with anyone, because they didn't hire anyone to replace me, but broke my duties up & gave them to others without any input from me. Thus the ones that had to take over my work resented my "escape" & probably did my tasks sloppily & wrong. So the business cut off its nose to spite its face, so screw 'em. At least I got references from them.
At the husband's lab, those who've been working for one year all the way up to 20 years have been given an hour to pack up & depart under escort. It's an international company & this has happened in several countries, not just the UK or US.
So no, you weren't a wimp. It's just the way things are these days. Maybe, just maybe, you'll even get a reference from them.
Last edited by WEBlue; Sep 10th 2012 at 3:52 pm. Reason: Clarity
Sep 10th 2012, 5:11 pm
#30
advocatus diaboli
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 320
Re: Got Fired!
I was going to go back to the agency but I couldnt stomach going there anymore, the pay is extremely low and they tend to send you to the other side of London.
Im not sure if I would dare put that company down for a reference, they could get nasty all over again.
The guy who fired me did have a negative rep, I guess I found out the hard way.
I skyped my wife yesterday, she was looking big and wonderful
, Im looking forward to jetting off in October, so now I have more Important things to worry about.
I hope I have better luck when I return, thats after we get over the spouse visa hurdle.
Im not sure if I would dare put that company down for a reference, they could get nasty all over again.
The guy who fired me did have a negative rep, I guess I found out the hard way.
I skyped my wife yesterday, she was looking big and wonderful
, Im looking forward to jetting off in October, so now I have more Important things to worry about.I hope I have better luck when I return, thats after we get over the spouse visa hurdle.
Last edited by Panhandle; Sep 10th 2012 at 5:13 pm.