Boss trying to get rid of me after returning from maternity

livalicious

Hi,

Ive returned to work after maternity leave a few days ago, and since the get go, my boss has been making things very difficult for me at work.

I was told how disappointed he was with how I left last year (I was 8 months pregnant, had a viral infection and was signed off sick two weeks before my maternity leave and didnt return. He wasnt happy that there was no handover, no training or notes to the cover person who he only got in two weeks before my maternity leave. I trained another staff member prior to that, I gave him a copy of my training notes too and cant help falling ill.) He wouldnt give me a chance to explain, just said im not discussing it any further. Then proceeded to tell me I made loads of errors, I have to share my parking space and park 10 mins away two days a week, my desk is now in the corner isolated from most of the office. The maternity cover girl has been made permanent now too, and Im to answer to her now.

A month before I started I was sent a letter saying that I have to come back full time, even though we agreed before I left I could come back part time. Yesterday I was given a verbal warning about the errors I made (only 10 errors out of the 3000 documents I had to handle). And was told to reach an impossible target whilst also doing extra work my colleague normally does. I got called in again at 9.15 today with him saying he is not happy with the amount of work I have done so far and we need to have a meeting about this, Ive only just started and havent done this for over 10 months, so of course it will be a bit slow going. He seems to be nitpicking at me constantly, being told about signing in correctly, not checking my emails regularly enough, etc. Just really petty things, it just seems really excessive and as though he wants to me quit.

He done this to two other employers just before I got back, made one so upset she cried and quit on the spot, and the other suffers from anxiety now because he is on her case constantly too. We have quite a high staff turnover, and almost every single employee (who were all women by the way, only one bloke ever worked here, only for 3 months though) has left here under a cloud, because they have been pushed out or sacked.

What can I do in this situation, I know it may not seem like much of nothing to you, but Im starting to feel anxious because it seems like it will be only a matter of time that he will find a reason to sack me, and I cant afford that with a little one. Ive been job hunting months before I was due back because I didnt want to come back, its not a pleasant place to work in, but unfortunately Im not finding anything. Ive worked here for many years, and I think I was a good employee, so I dont think I deserve this, but I just feel now I just want to arm myself just in case.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I am going to contact ACAS as well, just wanted to get as much advice as I can.

Thank you

maninthestreet

Do you have a HR dept? Was there a disciplinary hearing prior to you being givne a verbal warning?

livalicious

There is no HR dept, its a very small firm with about 8 employees and the company director. So cant take up my grievance internally. There was no disciplinary hearing, my third day back and Im given a verbal warning which I then had to sign??

maninthestreet

How long have you worked for this company?

livalicious

8 years now and always had glowing recommendations from the director before this. However last year when I went off sick and brought in my sick note to work a week later, he basically just blanked me when I tried to explain why I was off ill. I had an inkling he wanted to get rid of me when he sent the letter about not being able to do part time, it would have served the company better as they made the cover person who was doing my work, permanent. I been doing this job solely for the last 5 years or so, so why would they need two people full time.

gibson123

I was sacked when pregnant! My boss up to then had been very complimentary and I had received an additional bonus / payment from the same boss a fortnight before the sacking for saving a lot of company money. Anyway i digress.

I think you have to accept that you will be sacked from your job, your boss sounds like my ex-boss, he is trying to bully you out the door.

Start keeping a diary of what happens when, dates, times, witnesses etc. Anything that is aimed at you because of your pregnancy, barbed comments etc. Get ready to go to tribunal of you are sacked. I didn't get that far, my solicitor got me an out of court settlement, which included a credible reference based on my actual performance and a significant pay-out covering 6 months wages. Check your home insurance to see if you have legal protection for employment matters.

livalicious

Im glad you got the result you wanted in the end, not a very nice thing to have to go through whilst pregnant. Im not pregnant though, Ive just got back from maternity leave. But before I left I worked myself to the bone trying to clear up a high volume of work as I was promised a bonus, but of course, didn't get what was agreed. So the stress of that I believe caused me to fall ill. Therefore I don't think it is fair that my boss gives me a hard time now after all the work I put in before.

I spoke to ACAS, and they said to write a grievance letter to my boss addressing all my issues with him and feeling harassed. I will wait before I do that to see if things cant be resolved informally, if not, then grievance letter it will be, along with keeping notes of every conversation, every letter, etc.

Dumbe

Op.. Suggest you continue to look for a new job
.. Make sure you look every week at least .. Easy to get busy and not check and miss that dream job!

In the meantime do your best to be a model employee.

I get your boss is being unfair.. But instead of complaining or defending yourself when he nit picks or is unreasonable.

Smile sweetly, thank him For bringing the mistake to your attention and rectify it.

Regarding volume, when he says you need to do more .. Do it.. Smile and look like you are relishing the extra work. ( for a few weeks quietly bring things home/ stay late) but look like its the best thing in the world

Regarding the car parking.. Depends if everyone else has to park 10 mins away .. Or if it's just you but don't rock the boat ..

In any case for that .. If its ever brought up say something..like great I will get some exercise walking to the car... Likewise any new niggly things look for a silver lining and highlight it.. Looking like what he planned would upset you is actually the most wonderful thing in the world!

Make out like your job is your life and your sole reason for existence! Become the best employee you can be (on the outside)?. Remember the situation is temporary and your goal is to find and new job and get a glowing reference.

Imagine how infuriating it will be for you boss if when he tries to drive you away upset you .. It has the opposite effect

You get the picture!

BUT at the same time Document everything.. Print out emails, diarise everything everyday ..so if you at edismissed before you get another job you can challenge it.

make sure you include times, dates , attendees and exactly what happened each time.

P

MEM62

Keep a very detailed diary of the events surrounding your return to work. And, off course, keep all written communication that you receive. From the information you have provided, should the worst happen, I think your employer would find it very difficult to defend a claim for constructive dismissal.

Takeaway_Addict

MEM62 wrote: »

Keep a very detailed diary of the events surrounding your return to work. And, off course, keep all written communication that you receive. From the information you have provided, should the worst happen, I think your employer would find it very difficult to defend a claim for constructive dismissal.

Really? Is this case going to be one of the only 3% of claims that win at tribunal?

warehouse

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Really? Is this case going to be one of the only 3% of claims that win at tribunal?

What % are settled before they get to the tribunal?