Advice - not working notice

sonny252

Hi Everyone!

I'm hoping I can get a bit of advice.

I've had some experience with bullying in the workplace (between my colleagues - it's a small office with lots of women and a very !!!!!y atmosphere) this has included changing my job role and also fabricating mistakes to get me in trouble - meaning I am not in favour with the manager at the moment.

I have handed in my notice, I've had quite a few offers for interviews for the next week or so, I'm quite hopeful that I will get a job at some point.

My doctor has said he is happy to sign me off due to work-related stress because of the anxiety issues this has caused (I have previously had 1 possibly 2 days off work due to sickness so this is very unlike me)

I guess my main question is does anyone have any experience with this when looking for a new job? I am happy to explain to a new employer the situation and would be happy for them to put me on probation in order to prove myself I guess? I just wondered what everyone elses experience is?

elsien

IMO it would be a mistake to tell a potential employer that you were leaving due to bullying, !!!!!ing, or fabricating things to get you into trouble.
If you do need to say something, you need to keep it impersonal and find something that is less likely to get you perceived as a potential cause of friction. (Might not sound fair, but in today's job market you don't want to give them any reason to wonder if the problem is you rather than the previous employer.)
You're likely to be on probation in the new job regardless, btw, and have few employment rights for two years with a couple of exceptions.
Are you genuinely not well enough to work, or is it more wanting the time off to be able to attend interviews? Do you have any idea what your reference might be like, given that you say you're not in favour with the manager at the moment ?

chrisjdw

Elsien lists some very good points!
You say it's a small office, is it part of a larger company where you could request a reference from the HR Dept. Wouldn't come directly from manager then.
References on request on CV and hope they don't ask.
My favourite line when offering advice to people going for interviews in your predicament is call it management restructure and you were forced out (if prospective employer digs into why)

sonny252

Yes I'm suffering from palpitations and other symptoms which the doctor believes is due to the current working conditions.

The company are known for not providing references so I'm almost certain I won't receive one.

sonny252

@Chrisjdw there's no HR office unfortunately it is just my manager (who is part of the reason I have resigned) that provides the references. I have no issue with my managing director and he is very happy with my work, however I have a feeling he will pass the reference on to the manager as he doesn't like to deal with issues like that.

I do have another reference from my previous work who I know would be a great reference, I'm hoping that this will at least count for something! I've put 'references on request' on my CV and haven't had anyone ask for any yet. I think it'll be more if I'm made an offer of employment.

If I say management restructure and I was forced out is there any way that I could be caught out in this? The jobs I have applied for are a bit different to what I currently do, so far I've said that I was looking for a change of career but it's just if later on down the line they request details of my sick dates etc?

chrisjdw

I would honestly go and speak to MD (managing director) and nicely just request a reference on the grounds that your manager isn't going to give you a fair one.
Career change is a good thing to put aswell, i think the main priority is to sort a reference from md if you can though, if you had a good working relationship with him/her im sure they'd oblige

sonny252

Well Chrisjdw I can definitely try I guess! I think it's highly unlikely that he will, he ignores all forms of contact at the best of times but fingers crossed I guess. I know that I have one good reference ready so hopefully that will help.

Undervalued

sonny252 wrote: »

The company are known for not providing references so I'm almost certain I won't receive one.

Except for a few regulated occupations I'm afraid there is nothing that you can do to force them.