Asked advice about overpayment.... today they fired me!! ?

hellopigeon

Hello again!
I recently asked advice about an overpayment.
I asked if I could arrange a repayment plan as I am in financial difficulty at the moment... wasn’t really sure on the legalities of the whole thing but just assumed in the meeting we would talk about it, then it would all be arranged and I could get on with work...

Well... I had my meeting this morning and the manager told me I was no longer needed at work. I have to say, I was pretty shocked. It’s not a big job to me, just a stepping stone while I finish my degree but it has really irked me that I have never done anything wrong at work, in fact I have been praised many times for being more competent than others doing the same job as me!

I’ve only worked there for 8 months, does this mean I have no rights and I’m allowed to just be dismissed over this?? The manager made it clear they were not happy I hadn’t made more effort to arrange to repay the money ASAP and said my attitude wasn’t great and therefore felt I wasn’t a person the company wanted working for them (NHS GP surgery). I asked who I could make a complaint to and she gave me the name of a manger who is also well known as her (secret) boyfriend..... clearly any complaint I make about her to her boyfriend isn’t going to get taken seriously!!

Can I complain to anyone or do I just need to accept that she is obviously a mean spirited human?

TELLIT01

With only 8 months employment you have no job security unless dismissal fell under one or other areas of discrimination. On the face of it that does not seem to be the case. Reading between the lines it suggests you received an overpayment but didn't do much about trying to repay it until your employer asked. If you kept quiet and spent the overpayment despite knowing it wasn't your money, I'm not that surprised that they have 'let you go'.

spadoosh

TELLIT01 wrote: »

With only 8 months employment you have no job security unless dismissal fell under one or other areas of discrimination. On the face of it that does not seem to be the case. Reading between the lines it suggests you received an overpayment but didn't do much about trying to repay it until your employer asked. If you kept quiet and spent the overpayment despite knowing it wasn't your money, I'm not that surprised that they have 'let you go'.

Read the other post first before making your judgements.

I dont know who exactly you should put in a complaint to but you should definitely put in a complaint. Im sure the other NHS folks will have a more of an idea where you complaints will be best heard.

It seems like, whilst we dont have the full story, a lot of things havent been carried out correctly here.

Undervalued

spadoosh wrote: »

Read the other post first before making your judgements.

I dont know who exactly you should put in a complaint to but you should definitely put in a complaint. Im sure the other NHS folks will have a more of an idea where you complaints will be best heard.

It seems like, whilst we dont have the full story, a lot of things havent been carried out correctly here.

Even if that is so it doesn't stop the OP from being dismissed. As we discussed yesterday, there may be grounds for paying the money back in reasonable instalments but that is all.

spadoosh

Undervalued wrote: »

Even if that is so it doesn't stop the OP from being dismissed. As we discussed yesterday, there may be grounds for paying the money back in reasonable instalments but that is all.

No it doesnt, but it will highlight bad practice.

Again you know yourself that the employer hasnt acted reasonably here. Called in for a meeting and got sacked due to a payroll issue, c'mon.

The employee has be treat with complete contempt.

Undervalued

spadoosh wrote: »

No it doesnt, but it will highlight bad practice.

Again you know yourself that the employer hasnt acted reasonably here. Called in for a meeting and got sacked due to a payroll issue, c'mon.

The employee has be treat with complete contempt.

No, you are completely overstating this.

Why would they dismiss an employee unless their work was unsatisfactory or they were no longer needed? If the job still needs doing they now have to find and train somebody else. If they were needed and valued the payroll issue would have been resolved.

Finally, as I said yesterday, the OP is as much responsible for checking their pay as the employer.

polgara

spadoosh wrote: »

Read the other post first before making your judgements.

I dont know who exactly you should put in a complaint to but you should definitely put in a complaint. Im sure the other NHS folks will have a more of an idea where you complaints will be best heard.

It seems like, whilst we dont have the full story, a lot of things havent been carried out correctly here.

Well generally a GP practice is a business and technically not part of the NHS - its an independent contractor providing services to the NHS. Any complaints will be a per their in-house policies

spadoosh

Undervalued wrote: »

No, you are completely overstating this.

Why would they dismiss an employee unless their work was unsatisfactory or they were no longer needed? If the job still needs doing they now have to find and train somebody else. If they were needed and valued the payroll issue would have been resolved.

Finally, as I said yesterday, the OP is as much responsible for checking their pay as the employer.

How am i overstating this?

Its blatantly obvious that the employes hasnt been treat fairly from what theyve put. I think they have every right to feel aggrieved and as such a complaint is warranted.

Ive not said they need to expect much out of this, ive not said they cant be sacked, ive not said they should sue for millions, ive said i think theyve been treated unfairly and i believe it warrants putting in a complaint.

You might just accept and move on, for me, id have to highlight the poor practice shown irrespective of a positive outcome.

spadoosh

polgara wrote: »

Well generally a GP practice is a business and technically not part of the NHS - its an independent contractor providing services to the NHS. Any complaints will be a per their in-house policies

On that basis then i would put my complaint to the CQC which would hopefully be picked up on in their next inspection. As well as in house.

NIcechap_3

hellopigeon wrote: »

Hello again!
I recently asked advice about an overpayment.
I asked if I could arrange a repayment plan as I am in financial difficulty at the moment... wasn’t really sure on the legalities of the whole thing but just assumed in the meeting we would talk about it, then it would all be arranged and I could get on with work...

Well... I had my meeting this morning and the manager told me I was no longer needed at work. I have to say, I was pretty shocked. It’s not a big job to me, just a stepping stone while I finish my degree but it has really irked me that I have never done anything wrong at work, in fact I have been praised many times for being more competent than others doing the same job as me!

I’ve only worked there for 8 months, does this mean I have no rights and I’m allowed to just be dismissed over this?? The manager made it clear they were not happy I hadn’t made more effort to arrange to repay the money ASAP and said my attitude wasn’t great and therefore felt I wasn’t a person the company wanted working for them (NHS GP surgery). I asked who I could make a complaint to and she gave me the name of a manger who is also well known as her (secret) boyfriend..... clearly any complaint I make about her to her boyfriend isn’t going to get taken seriously!!

Can I complain to anyone or do I just need to accept that she is obviously a mean spirited human?

It might have been helpful to keep to one thread.

You were overpaid about £700 over 4 months, so 20+ hours each month.

You worked in an GP surgery - its become more common that these are private businesses.

You were also on a zero hours contract, so very easy for them to not offer you any more hours - is this what happened or were you actually sacked? Did they ask you to make up the hours overpaid?

You have been offered the chance to complain, so i would take it, but I wouldn't couch it in those terms as a complaint, I would look at the NHS values, and the NHS constitution concerning expectations for staff, and rephrase the problem - and your proposed solution for paying back the money.

antrobus

spadoosh wrote: »

On that basis then i would put my complaint to the CQC which would hopefully be picked up on in their next inspection. As well as in house.

The OP has already been informed of the in-house procedure.

As to the CQC;

Complaints to providers – and why we cannot take them up on your behalf

https://www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us/how-complain/complain-about-service-or-provider

You take your complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, but they can't help with personal employment matters.

Any more ideas?

P.S. The PHSO suggests,

Please talk to your organisation's HR department or your union or professional organisation.

Alternatively, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) or Citizens Advice may be able to help you.