being dismissed for poor performance

goonarmy

Well? Any news?

ipod_killed_the_musicshop

I can't believe some of the comments in this thread! The OP is so militant, work to rule, unprofessional etc etc that he has worked 100 hour weeks, about 60-70 unpaid hours each week?! I've worked for multi-nationals in the private sector, outsourced to the lowest bidder and all that jazz, and even I've never come across anyone being told to shave daily! The OP is not some militant, immature rebel. He is someone who has worked 60 hours unpaid per week, had it all thrown back in his face and to be quite frank deserves better! I'm no grass but if this continues, I don't want to start reporting posts but...

lobbyludd

Have you had your meeting yet?

I used to work in an industry (academic research) where I routinely worked 100+ hours a week - every one did, our contracts were for 35 hours per week and we had 39 days holiday a year. The last year I worked there I took 1 day holiday (which wasn't christmas day - i came in then too), no-one took their holidays - that was what was required to get the job done and I loved the work. When I could no longer sustain that - having a young child, I had to make a decision to move from a job I loved but couldn't do well enough for my own standards any more. My choices were to move back into pharma research (private sector and far more 9-5! who'd have thunk it?) which required a geographical move for my whole family or take a leap and transfer my skills to a new role.

Of course a role should be do-able within the contracted hours, of course your colleagues should not be sniping if you stick to those contracted hours. However, you need to look after your health, and whilst I am always looking to improve my performance and want to succeed, I also don't want to work somewhere where my colleagues think I am slacking and those who I work for don't think I am up to much: we spend a great amount of time and energy in our working life, staying somewhere where colleagues and employers don't want you sounds like a waste of a life.

So I'd suggest, whatever the legal rights and wrongs, that you go in with ideas about improving your performance, conform to whatever dress code they want and be enthusiastic, asking for specific ways you can improve rather than being defensive and inflexible.

but if that doesn't turn their enthusiasm for you around, try and negotiate a decent leaving time frame and package on the grounds that you are not able to perform in this role for this company to the standards that you expect for yourself, thank them for their understanding of your time off ill, in order to get the reference you require whilst gearing yourself to securing a new role elsewhere: eyes on the prize, which is a role you can excel in, are appreciated for, in working conditions that won't make you ill.

there will be ones out there, you just have to find them.