Employment advice needed!!

cmh321

This may be a bit long winded but I would really appreciated your help!

I started a new job in August 2016 on a 1 year fixed term contract covering maternity leave. I started off really enjoying the position and I was told by colleagues that I was picking up my position really quick and my manager was impressed with my performance.

Being a new starter, I was having monthly 1 to 1's with my manager to have a catch up and discuss anything regarding my work. On my 4th 1 to 1 it was discussed that my manager and area manager thought that I was doing a great job and had basically guaranteed me a permanent contract within the company on the basis I passed my 6 months probation. They also informed me that there will be a change over in management in January and there will be a new manager in my branch. They reassured me that they will document what was discussed regarding my contract and make sure that my new manager was aware.

6 months later, I passed my probation but there was no mention of a permanent contract. I mentioned this in my 1 to 1 for that month and he had totally twisted it all around and made out that I wasn't performing as well (I was very confused by this and as I feel my performance has only improved) and said that I would need to consider how I perform moving forward if I was expecting to be kept on and then said I would only be kept on if a pernament position was to come up in the area!!

Speaking to my colleagues I found out that my managers wife had applied for my position but was turned down and then in conversation with my manager he told me that his wife worked for a teaching agencies (which turned out to be the one my uncle manages) and she was let go from there aswell. I can only see his comment on my 1 to 1 as a threat and I feel now that he has some sort off personal vendetta against me becuase of his wife, the role and my uncle.

One of my colleagues is friendly with my previous manager and had messaged her through our instant messenger at work letting her know the current situation. She was shocked to hear and even said that he had never been keen on my because I got his wife's job.

And! Just to add, another lady has been taken on on a pernament contact in a different branch in my area. I was never told or made aware of this position!!

I don't know if I'm being petty or if this is totally wrong but like I said I would appreciate any help or advice.

Thank you

dlmcr

Probably not a very helpful set of comments but you are employed on a fixed term contract so if you actually want a permanent job my advice is to apply for permanent jobs. This business about one to ones in a one year temp contract sounds fishy as well, sounds like they want their cake and eat it, a temp who is expected to behave like a perm. Never mind what your manager says, sometimes they will just say whatever they think you want to hear in order to keep you sweet. If I was in a situation like that and depending on whether I wanted a contract or a perm role I would either start looking for a perm role or I would start acting like I was on a short term temp contract ie politely decline "one to one" and "team building" nonsense and I would turn a blind eye and ear to the politics going on.

lincroft1710

Sorry, but nothing you can do. You have been there less than 2 years so you can be dismissed at any time without reason. May be unfair but sadly that's the 21st century workplace for you.

So perhaps start looking round for another job as your contract expires in August.

Undervalued

cmh321 wrote: »

This may be a bit long winded but I would really appreciated your help!

I started a new job in August 2016 on a 1 year fixed term contract covering maturity leave. I started off really enjoying the position and I was told by colleagues that I was picking up my position really quick and my manager was impressed with my performance.

Being a new starter, I was having monthly 1 to 1's with my manager to have a catch up and discuss anything regarding my work. On my 4th 1 to 1 it was discussed that my manager and area manager thought that I was doing a great job and had basically guaranteed me a permanent contract within the company on the basis I passed my 6 months probation. They also informed me that there will be a change over in management in January and there will be a new manager in my branch. They reassured me that they will document what was discussed regarding my contract and make sure that my new manager was aware.

6 months later, I passed my probation but there was no mention of a permanent contract. I mentioned this in my 1 to 1 for that month and he had totally twisted it all around and made out that I wasn't performing as well (I was very confused by this and as I feel my performance has only improved) and said that I would need to consider how I perform moving forward if I was expecting to be kept on and then said I would only be kept on if a pernament position was to come up in the area!!

Speaking to my colleagues I found out that my managers wife had applied for my position but was turned down and then in conversation with my manager he told me that his wife worked for a teaching agencies (which turned out to be the one my uncle manages) and she was let go from there aswell. I can only see his comment on my 1 to 1 as a threat and I feel now that he has some sort off personal vendetta against me becuase of his wife, the role and my uncle.

One of my colleagues is friendly with my previous manager and had messaged her through our instant messenger at work letting her know the current situation. She was shocked to hear and even said that he had never been keen on my because I got his wife's job.

And! Just to add, another lady has been taken on on a pernament contact in a different branch in my area. I was never told or made aware of this position!!

I don't know if I'm being petty or if this is totally wrong but like I said I would appreciate any help or advice.

Thank you

To be blunt yes you are and no it is not wrong (at least not legally wrong)!

The fact that somebody else has been made "permanent" or promoted is irrelevant unless you can show that you have been discriminated against on one of the few legally protected grounds (race, sex etc). Otherwise they can promote who they like, for whatever reason they like just as they can extend some fixed term contracts and not others.

Given that any employee can be dismissed for no reason at all during their first two years makes the length of service or permanence irrelevant for now at least.

Alderbank

What's maturity leave? I'm over 60 and I like the sound of it

OP, you have not actually asked any questions but all the other posters' advice is correct. Your employer has done nothing unlawful. You are on a fixed term contract and have few employment rights. You have about 8 weeks of your contract left now. Keep your nose clean and concentrate on looking for your next job.

cmh321

Thanks all! I just always thought that all employees should be made aware and get information regarding any permanent vacancies within the organisation, especially if they initially said I would be offered one!
But hey ho! I will get looking for a new job

Alderbank

That's the spirit! Once you have a new job you will soon forget about that weird manager and his awful wife who nobody seems to want to employ.

Come back in September and tell us how you are getting on