Where do I turn to now?

Claribelle

Hi there. I have just been dismissed from my job with a weeks notice and payment for a month.

I wonder if anyone could give me some advice please on what I do now? I've never been in this situation before and obviously it's all a little scary as I'm a single parent with two children (one disabled) to support, a mortgage and bills to pay. Obviously I'm looking for something else, however, where do I go and what do I do about claiming anything that I might be entitled to in the meantime?

Any help anyone can give me would be very much appreciated - thank you so much.

alwaysonthego_2

How long have you been working for the company? Why did you get dismissed?These are relevant questions.

Claribelle

I had been with the company since April and the reason for dismissal was performance related.

ohreally

Were you adequately trained, did they give you a chance to improve or be mentored?

Claribelle

It was admin - so it was assumed I could type etc, which was fine, however, my downfall came when a new manager joined the company about three months ago and took a bit of a dislike to me. After that, everything I did was wrong - didn't meet deadlines, didn't do what was asked - however, she would quietly inform me of what she wanted done (one to one) and then when it was delivered - make sure everyone heard her telling me that I had not done what was asked and that it was late or whatever. To be honest I'm relieved not to have to go back there as it was most humiliating and very intimidating. I brought this up at the disciplinary hearing and said that I thought I was being bullied as this was not happening to anyone else, however they said there was 'no proof' of bullying and dismissed me anyway.

I'm more worried now though of how I will cope with no income until I get another job, if anyone could guide me please.

DUKE

Sorry to hear about your troubles - sounds as if you're well out of it. Go to your local Job Centre as soon as possible (I think that's the way it still works), they'll be able to give you the relevant advice there. There'll be loads of forms to fill in but don't let this put you off. With any luck you'll be working again soon.

cattie

Do you claim dla for your disabled child? If not, then consider applying for it. It isn't means tested.

It might be an idea to give your mortgage lender a call & see if they can make any arrangements for a payment holiday or reduced mortgage payments until you are fixed up with a new job.

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus on Monday & they should be able to tell you what your entitlements are.

rachnbri

If you're a single parent (and your kids are under 16) you should be able to claim Income Support. Presumably you're already claiming child tax credit? If you go into our local jobcentre they'll be able to give you the number you need to ring to claim. If you rent your house you should be able to claim housing benefit and also council tax benefit.

rachnbri

Sorry just re-read and saw that you have a mortgage not rent. You should still be able to claim council tax benefit. Do you have any insurance for your mortgage as you have to be claiming for some time before you get help with your mortgage from income support.

Do you get any DLA for your disabled child? If so you may be able to claim carer's allowance.

Claribelle

Hi again. I want to thank you all for giving me this advice. I really havn't a clue what I'm doing as it only happened yesterday and need to get sorted obviously. I will get to job centre on Monday to see what I have to fill in etc and discuss it all further - thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction. I do already claim DLA for my son, so this will continue and I will look into the Carer's Allowance also - I used to claim this before I got my last job.

One more thing, what advice would you give me when at future interviews, I'm asked my reasons for leaving my last employer? What do I say? Do I come clean and say that I was sacked for 'poor performance' or do I skirt around it so that it dosn't sound so awful. I'm sure no prospective employer will look twice at me if they think that I can't be bothered or am not up to the job especially if a company has already dimissed me for this in the past. I'm very worried about this. Also when a prospective new employer requests a reference from my old company, will my reason for leaving be outlined along with details of a disciplinary hearing? As you can imagine, these are very real concerns for me at the moment and I just don't know what to expect. If I tell the truth - I will be seen to be 'slagging off' my old employer which new employer's don't want to see and if I don't tell all, then maybe thats a reason for future dimissal if it ever comes to light?

What do you think?

Many thanks for your help.

kelloggs36

Get a reference that you can pass on to another employer - it may also skirt around it and you can use it to work out your story - not a lie but it seems to be that you were bullied and i know exactly what you have been through, as i had the same thing. I left before I was pushed and as another staff member had been pleased with my work, he gave an excellent reference, so I never had to ask them for one. You could forget about that last job and get references from other places you have worked and just have been a single parent for that time?