What is going on with my job?

kate87cafc

I started a new role back in December, having been let go from a job the same month I thought I had really landed on my feet.

However, the company has now just done a deal to merge with 2 other companies to strengthen their brand. Exciting times. But now out of the blue, having had positive feedback in my 1-to-1 sessions previously, I have management saying that I am not meeting targets and expectations for the role (not that these were ever discussed previously) and now I am on a development plan for the next 4 weeks. I haven't been told I have passed my probation nor that it was being extended. I checked my contract and it definitely said 3 month probation period, so this has confused me a little.

I am thinking that now the merger deal is done they are looking to get rid of people? Last in first out sorta thing. Although, because I am on a perm contract not a freelance one, they can't just get rid of me, they have to look like they tried to make it work. However, with no probation being passed I assume I still only need a weeks notice rather than a month.

This is now the 2nd time this has happened to me, last time I got to 11 months before they decided to pull the plug saying that I hadn't passed my probation period after extending it another 6 months because of some really obscure reasons that I challenged at the time. They gave me less than 24hrs notice of the meeting so no chance to prepare anything and they let me go that very same day in the middle of the working day. It massively shook me up and dented my confidence too, hence why when this new job came up and they were quick to get me on board and started, I thought I was really lucky. Now, I just feel like it is happening all over again. Having been out of work for 10 months during the Pandemic and on JSA I can't face going back to that so I have already started looking and applying for new roles.

I suppose I just want to know, am I being crazy in thinking that I am being set up to be let go in the near future and am I doing the right thing looking for a new job already?

Undervalued

kate87cafc said:

I started a new role back in December, having been let go from a job the same month I thought I had really landed on my feet.

However, the company has now just done a deal to merge with 2 other companies to strengthen their brand. Exciting times. But now out of the blue, having had positive feedback in my 1-to-1 sessions previously, I have management saying that I am not meeting targets and expectations for the role (not that these were ever discussed previously) and now I am on a development plan for the next 4 weeks. I haven't been told I have passed my probation nor that it was being extended. I checked my contract and it definitely said 3 month probation period, so this has confused me a little.

I am thinking that now the merger deal is done they are looking to get rid of people? Last in first out sorta thing. Although, because I am on a perm contract not a freelance one, they can't just get rid of me, they have to look like they tried to make it work. However, with no probation being passed I assume I still only need a weeks notice rather than a month.

This is now the 2nd time this has happened to me, last time I got to 11 months before they decided to pull the plug saying that I hadn't passed my probation period after extending it another 6 months because of some really obscure reasons that I challenged at the time. They gave me less than 24hrs notice of the meeting so no chance to prepare anything and they let me go that very same day in the middle of the working day. It massively shook me up and dented my confidence too, hence why when this new job came up and they were quick to get me on board and started, I thought I was really lucky. Now, I just feel like it is happening all over again. Having been out of work for 10 months during the Pandemic and on JSA I can't face going back to that so I have already started looking and applying for new roles.

I suppose I just want to know, am I being crazy in thinking that I am being set up to be let go in the near future and am I doing the right thing looking for a new job already?

Oh yes they can!

"Probation" has very little meaning or significance in employment law. It may, depending on the terms, give you some additional benefits when "passed" such as more pay, holiday or an entitlement to longer notice. But that is entirely a contractual matter.

Generally you are deemed to have "passed" probation at the end of the stated period unless you have been told otherwise or told that it has been extended.

However, you have very little employment protection until you have two years service, so in a way you are on probation for two years regardless!

With a very few exceptions you cannot claim unfair dismissal without two years service, so your employment can be terminated for no reason at all just by giving you the greater of statutory notice (one week) or however long your contract requires.

DKLS

They are "managing you out of the business" which could be for any number of reasons.

As crappy as it is, I would focus your energies on looking for a new job.

[Deleted User]

I suspect you're about to be exited out the door regardless of any improvement.

Get job hunting sharpish.

Marcon

kate87cafc said:

I started a new role back in December, having been let go from a job the same month I thought I had really landed on my feet.

However, the company has now just done a deal to merge with 2 other companies to strengthen their brand. Exciting times. But now out of the blue, having had positive feedback in my 1-to-1 sessions previously, I have management saying that I am not meeting targets and expectations for the role (not that these were ever discussed previously) and now I am on a development plan for the next 4 weeks. I haven't been told I have passed my probation nor that it was being extended. I checked my contract and it definitely said 3 month probation period, so this has confused me a little.

I am thinking that now the merger deal is done they are looking to get rid of people? Last in first out sorta thing. Although, because I am on a perm contract not a freelance one, they can't just get rid of me, they have to look like they tried to make it work. However, with no probation being passed I assume I still only need a weeks notice rather than a month.

This is now the 2nd time this has happened to me, last time I got to 11 months before they decided to pull the plug saying that I hadn't passed my probation period after extending it another 6 months because of some really obscure reasons that I challenged at the time. They gave me less than 24hrs notice of the meeting so no chance to prepare anything and they let me go that very same day in the middle of the working day. It massively shook me up and dented my confidence too, hence why when this new job came up and they were quick to get me on board and started, I thought I was really lucky. Now, I just feel like it is happening all over again. Having been out of work for 10 months during the Pandemic and on JSA I can't face going back to that so I have already started looking and applying for new roles.

I suppose I just want to know, am I being crazy in thinking that I am being set up to be let go in the near future and am I doing the right thing looking for a new job already?

Nobody here can do anything but guess. I think you need to pluck up the courage and ask your employer if they can 'clarify your position', given that you are surprised by these issues which are only now being raised. You might or might not get a straight answer, but it could give you a few pointers rather than leaving you in the miserable and undeserved limbo you are in now.

Own_Worst_Enermy

However, with no probation being passed I assume I still only need a weeks notice rather than a month.

My last company specifically issued a letter on passing probation - I was just over their probation time and hadn't had sight of a letter, so a week's notice absolutely wasn't quibbled. Like you there were signs this month I would be out of a job anyhow.  Alongside the senselessness of the entire training group all bar one 'going' the manager was also a goner too having been in the role only months themselves and have announced profits down.  You are doing the right thing to look early so it's on your terms as best as possible even if it's with a heavy heart you do so, only the other day I did a paid work trial for a day and thought people employed wouldn't have been able to do so with such ease - hope you find something better or that you find things improve where you are and maybe you are just panic'd about what happened before, there is always that possibility.  (personally I'm finding the job market really strange so it pay's to have the security of wage whilst you look for as long as possible)

Ath_Wat

In your position they really don't need to do anything underhand or surreptitious; if they want to get rid of you, they could just do so with the same contractual  notice they will have to give you if they decide to let you go after going through a performance management process.  Therefore I would have thought they are doing this for genuine reasons, there really isn't any benefit to them to make it up.  It would just take longer to get you out, if that was what they wanted.

Jillanddy

It's certainly sensible to keep an eye on the jobs market and apply for things you might want to do,  regardless of other factors. And whilst the employer doesn't need to make up things to dismiss you,  many will find some excuse or another.  But since this appears to be the second time it has happened,  there may be some value in asking for a frank conversation about the situation.  

Your previous employer had some concern,  and it may have been obscure to you,  but it clearly wasn't to them.  They extended your probation.  There was clearly a problem from their perspective. But they saw value in trying to fix the issue by extending your probation - many employers would simply have failed you and let you go. Now it's happening again. That may just be bad luck,  but it also may not be.  

You have nothing to lose by asking the question,  but if there is something that you need to resolve here,  it's better to know now so that you can work on it,  rather than losing your job and the unresolved problem carrying into yet another job.  

kate87cafc

Thanks for the advice so far. 

I agree that it does seem strange on paper as to why this seems to have happened twice now. 

My first role was a newly created role and since dismissing me they have not recruited anyone under the same job title. I know this because I still have mates who work there. 

My current role was only meant to be a temp role but they decided to make it perm when I started my contract. Which of course I was pleased with. However, I find it strange that the issues being brought up now were never discussed in the previous few months of me being in the role and now suddenly this merge has happened and I now can't do the job I was doing well at for months previously?

I have had some long hard conversations, maybe I am not good enough. I know my mental health has been poor made worst by being unemployed, financial issues and lots of other things in my personal life since 2020 which I have explained to my work. My anxiety is through the roof atm because of all of this.

I can't afford not to work but keep feeling maybe a career change is in order or going back to uni. I just want to be in a job where I get up, do my work and go home. I hate that I am back in this position again. I feel useless and worthless. 

pinkshoes

I very much doubt there are any issues with your work. They are merging with another company to "strengthen the brand" (aka save money) so people need to go. You are one of those people.

As you've worked there less than 2 years they do not need a reason to get rid of you.

Don't take it personally, just get job hunting and find something else. 

Ath_Wat

pinkshoes said:

I very much doubt there are any issues with your work. They are merging with another company to "strengthen the brand" (aka save money) so people need to go. You are one of those people.

As you've worked there less than 2 years they do not need a reason to get rid of you.

Don't take it personally, just get job hunting and find something else. 

Well hang on. It's perfectly possible that the company have put them on a development plan for 4 weeks to actually try and help them do the role properly.

It's also possible of course that they have adopted a massively over complicated plan to get rid of them, but you can't possibly know which of these it is.

It could be a good company doing their best to keep someone they have hired, or a bunch of cowardly idiots who won't tell them to their face they are sacked and are going through this charade.  Both exist.

Starting to look out for another job is sensible but I wouldn't burn any bridges in the OPs position.