Probation termination

Ybe

So it’s an HR reference that’s needed on a specific templated form. One of the questions is “would you re-employ this person?”  And “if no, please state reasons”. Depending on what my previous employer writes in those fields, I a quite worried I could lose the offer. 

Ybe

They could easily write No due to sub standard performance which is pretty much what they wrote in my termination letter as reason for failing probation. 

lisyloo

Ybe said:

So it’s an HR reference that’s needed on a specific templated form. One of the questions is “would you re-employ this person?”  And “if no, please state reasons”. Depending on what my previous employer writes in those fields, I a quite worried I could lose the offer. 

Hr references tend to say very little due to fear of repercussions.
generally they just say - yep this person worked here for x months.
the personal reference is much more valuable to you.

Brie

What they write and what the next employer wants to see is very dependent on the industry.  If you were an apprentice taking longer than expected to pick up a craft or skill (mechanics etc) then I doubt anyone will really care why you left company A. 

If you are in the finance industry some companies are fussy as to why someone didn't stick at a previous place but the redundancy angle will probably cover it.   

A person I worked with in finance started at a new place and kept failing probation and also hated a lot about the job.  Her friends suggested she walk away from the role as she wasn't happy with it as a job or a location to work but she was determined to see it through.  She eventually was "fired" which meant she wouldn't be considered for roles in some local firms but has recovered well and has a job she really likes now - it just too a bit longer than she'd planned on.  

MalMonroe

Ybe said:

They could easily write No due to sub standard performance which is pretty much what they wrote in my termination letter as reason for failing probation. 

What exactly did it say in your contract of employment?  It's important to check that. If you didn't have one then they have not acted properly. And did they discuss the 'substandard performance' with you or describe exactly what it was or explain why they didn't monitor your performance throughout your probationary period, as they should have done? This sounds to me like a company who has used you for cheap labour and then dumped you (because they can) at the end of what they called your probationary period. Even probationers have rights.

This is what Unison says about probation - 

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/06/Negotiating-probation-policies.pdf

(It doesn't matter whether or not you are in any union, it's the facts that are important here and they do describe them in detail.)

It's entirely up to you of course but I would also contact acas (the link is in the Unison information) to see if this employer has treated you fairly and properly during your probationary period.

And I'd definitely want to know from the employer exactly what I'd done that was so very bad. Especially as they were supposed to be training you and monitoring you for the duration of your probation. And they should have definitely been telling you where you were going wrong. 

All the very best for the future. I hope you can manage to get something sorted out in respect of references because I think you have been treated very unfairly indeed.

All my own thoughts/opinions - but it never hurts to check facts.

Ybe

MalMonroe said:

Ybe said:

They could easily write No due to sub standard performance which is pretty much what they wrote in my termination letter as reason for failing probation. 

What exactly did it say in your contract of employment?  It's important to check that. If you didn't have one then they have not acted properly. And did they discuss the 'substandard performance' with you or describe exactly what it was or explain why they didn't monitor your performance throughout your probationary period, as they should have done? This sounds to me like a company who has used you for cheap labour and then dumped you (because they can) at the end of what they called your probationary period. Even probationers have rights.

This is what Unison says about probation - 

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/06/Negotiating-probation-policies.pdf

(It doesn't matter whether or not you are in any union, it's the facts that are important here and they do describe them in detail.)

It's entirely up to you of course but I would also contact acas (the link is in the Unison information) to see if this employer has treated you fairly and properly during your probationary period.

And I'd definitely want to know from the employer exactly what I'd done that was so very bad. Especially as they were supposed to be training you and monitoring you for the duration of your probation. And they should have definitely been telling you where you were going wrong. 

All the very best for the future. I hope you can manage to get something sorted out in respect of references because I think you have been treated very unfairly indeed.

All my own thoughts/opinions - but it never hurts to check facts.

Well on their part it’s because the client of the only big contract they were working on in the UK, terminated their contract. As they don’t have any other large UK contracts at present, they have no choice but to get rid of most of their UK staff. 

Ybe

MalMonroe said:

Ybe said:

They could easily write No due to sub standard performance which is pretty much what they wrote in my termination letter as reason for failing probation. 

What exactly did it say in your contract of employment?  It's important to check that. If you didn't have one then they have not acted properly. And did they discuss the 'substandard performance' with you or describe exactly what it was or explain why they didn't monitor your performance throughout your probationary period, as they should have done? This sounds to me like a company who has used you for cheap labour and then dumped you (because they can) at the end of what they called your probationary period. Even probationers have rights.

This is what Unison says about probation - 

https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2020/06/Negotiating-probation-policies.pdf

(It doesn't matter whether or not you are in any union, it's the facts that are important here and they do describe them in detail.)

It's entirely up to you of course but I would also contact acas (the link is in the Unison information) to see if this employer has treated you fairly and properly during your probationary period.

And I'd definitely want to know from the employer exactly what I'd done that was so very bad. Especially as they were supposed to be training you and monitoring you for the duration of your probation. And they should have definitely been telling you where you were going wrong. 

All the very best for the future. I hope you can manage to get something sorted out in respect of references because I think you have been treated very unfairly indeed.

All my own thoughts/opinions - but it never hurts to check facts.

In answer to your question, they gave me feedback/targets and then gave me 3 months to improve. So I took on the feedback and aimed towards meeting the targets over the next 4 weeks. I then went on holiday for 2 weeks and when I came back, I was told by my boss that it was my last day with them due to redundancies. The letter said nothing about redundancies and said that i was being terminated due to not improving based on the feedback and also listed examples, some of which were nothing to do with the targets I was set as I clearly met some of the targets. They simply wrote further examples of sub standard performance have been seen. Some of the examples were also very generic - for example one point said although the feedback was taken on, no further action was taken to achieve the level expected. To be honest, I’m quite happy I’m no longer working there if that’s the way they treat employees. Through the grapevine, I’ve heard that this has happened to everyone in probation. Contractors were also immediately terminated. A few unlucky ones were terminated for gross misconduct with no pay in lieu of notice or notice, over social media posts seen by the senior leadership. Everyone else (mainly employees with over 2 years service) has been put into a consultation period but have had no further communication for 2 weeks. Morale was low in the office on my last day and everyone was angry about how the situation is being handled. 

YBR

I may be over-cynical but in that context it sounds like desparate attempts to cut the costs of down-sizing.

It's not personal so learn what you can, and move on.

elsien

lisyloo said:

Ybe said:

So it’s an HR reference that’s needed on a specific templated form. One of the questions is “would you re-employ this person?”  And “if no, please state reasons”. Depending on what my previous employer writes in those fields, I a quite worried I could lose the offer. 

Hr references tend to say very little due to fear of repercussions.
generally they just say - yep this person worked here for x months.
the personal reference is much more valuable to you.

That depends on the field of work. My industry gives tends to give full references. 

Savvy_Sue

Ybe said:

My boss said he was happy to give me a personal reference but I’m just a bit worried that if anyone asks for an HR reference, it might show that I was sacked or something. 

Reading your later posts, will there be an HR to get a reference from?