How Would You React to This Ominous Last Minute Letter from Employer?

400ixl

debtslave2024 said:

I will also add, I just could not continue working in a hard job for an employer, that left me in mental limbo for many weeks with regards to the continuation of my employment (I actually thought it showed total contempt for the welfare of a member of staff.)

How was that the case. You were on a 3 month probation with no doubt 1 weeks notice either side.

Therefore they would be expected to inform you of the outcome by 1 week before the 3 month probation or at the end of the 3 months. It may have been earlier if they had seen what they wanted too and wanted to keep you, or a long as possible if they hadn't but wanted to give you as much time as possible.

You were asking from the end of the second month, which would be unreasonable for them to be giving you the answer you wanted.

7 days before the end of the probation period is not an unreasonable time to notify you of the meeting as this would have been around the expected time and the invite is clearly a generic template. 2 days notice is a little tight, but not out of the bounds as you knew your probation is coming to an end and there would be a discussion of some sort.

Sorry, but it doesn't sound like the company is in the wrong here. Understand they may not be the most desirable of employers but they have followed a reasonable process. 

You appear to have higher expectation of yourself than they have seen.

Sometimes jobs don't work out, but seeing it out like an adult is the least you should do. You have behaved far worse than they have.

As to the answer to your question. I would have attended the meeting, listened to what they said and if I didn't agree, politely countered, whist understanding it would be unlikely to change any decisions. If it was to result in termination, then agreed the end date, final pay and what they did about references in this situation. Then thanked them for their time and left.

You may not want to be employed by them, but you never know when someone who came across you leaving in the way you did may pop up in another organisation where you do want to work.

Nothing can be changed now, and unlikely your mind will be changed on how you acted.

Good luck with any future roles and hope they are a better fit, both on the tasks and the management.

General_Grant

debtslave2024 said:

@Sarahspangles. “ They may have let you go with a couple of days paid leave. ” I phoned a manager last night and confirmed that they had to pay me for work done to date. Maybe I am misunderstanding you, but are you suggesting that they could legally pay me, a fraction of the amount I am owed?

To add to the reply you received:

They could have given you a week's notice (which is your legal entitlement) and told you to take accrued holiday during that period.  If you would have accrued but not taken more holiday than the length of the notice they would have had to pay for the excess days.  (There are rules about giving notice for holidays but that may not be relevant, depending on the wording of your contract.)

However, as you simply walked away, if they had employed someone else in your place for your notice period, they could have deducted from your final payment any extra cost to them of employing the other person.  And, of course, there would be no entitlement to pay for the notice period as you did not give any notice and didn't allow them to give you such notice.

Marcon

debtslave2024 said:

I was recently employed on a 3 month probationary contract, for a major retailer that has significant underlying financial issues. The contract was given with the view of possibly going permanent after 3 months. I thought my personal performance was not bad, I was not the slowest person in a very physical job, with early rises of 3 to 4 am for minimum wage. However, some managers did express that I was “too slow,” in their opinion (which I disputed.)

Maybe the managers were better placed to decide whether or not you were too slow...?

debtslave2024 said:

Towards the end of the second month, I started to ask multiple management staff members if my employment would be extended or terminated by the end of month 3. Nobody, would give me a straight answer, but I did get a tip off from a lower level sympathetic manager “probably not.”

You were on a 3 month probationary period, so surely it was premature to start asking for confirmation after such a short time?

debtslave2024 said:

Anyway, barely 7 days before my contract ends I get a very ominous letter, at the very last minute. Here are some key points that raised immediate alarm:

- The purpose of the meeting is to formally review your performance and capability during your probationary period.

- Please be aware that a potential outcome of the meeting could be an extension to your probationary period or the termination of your employment.

-  You may bring someone with you to the meeting if you wish. This could be either a work colleague or a union representative. (very difficult given that I received the letter only 2 days before the meeting.)

- A note taker will be present.

- I therefore suggest that you prepare carefully for the meeting. (very difficult given that I received the letter 2 only days before the meeting.)

How did I personally react to the letter? Given the tip off, the last minute timing, and wording, I took it very negatively, and refused to attend the meeting. The manager seemed to hint it was just procedure, and I should return for the meeting. I did return to work, asked other staff on the same contract length if they got the letter. The answer was NO. Oddly, the staff I asked are even slower than me.

After hearing that other staff did not get the letter, I walked out the door in the middle of the cold night, never to return (quit with no notice.)

My brain told me that at the very least I had failed the probationary period, and that the most likely outcome with over 98% probability was termination of contract.

How would you have reacted to the letter in the above context?

Gone to the meeting, of course.

debtslave2024 said:

To the previous posts. I do not want a reference, and do not plan to claim benefits. I will also add, for these type of low level/minimum wage jobs that seem to predominate in the job market these days - they do not normally ask for or check up on references. They are “pump and dump” jobs, easy to fill, easy to fire.

I will also add, I just could not continue working in a hard job for an employer, that left me in mental limbo for many weeks with regards to the continuation of my employment (I actually thought it showed total contempt for the welfare of a member of staff.)

Really? Maybe they were just behaving correctly and waiting to see if your performance improved by the end of the probationary period - a completely correct thing for them to do.

Grumpy_chap

debtslave2024 said:

I was recently employed on a 3 month probationary contract, for a major retailer that has significant underlying financial issues. The contract was given with the view of possibly going permanent after 3 months. I thought my personal performance was not bad, I was not the slowest person in a very physical job, with early rises of 3 to 4 am for minimum wage. However, some managers did express that I was “too slow,” in their opinion (which I disputed.)

There was another thread recently with similar type of circumstances - I can't locate it immediately but the OP may wish to search it out.

I would not have asked repeatedly about contract extension while on probation as that might indicate to an employer that the employee has their own doubts about suitability for the role.

I would have gone to the meeting and stated my case.  

TELLIT01

The letter has pretty standard wording for a meeting regarding performance.  As you had only been there 3 months they didn't need to take that route, they could simply have terminated your employment with no further explanation.

I would actually interpret the letter as you not quite reaching the required performance level but viewed as being capable of doing so.  That is all academic now as you walked out.

sheramber

debtslave2024 said:

@MeteredOut It just wasn’t a job worth defending any more. I mean they asked a middle aged woman with arthritis to stay on (in a heavy lifting position.) In my mind there was no point in trying to get “feedback” from someone with such perverse decision making. I think my downfall was, I defended myself.

Why did you apply for what you now say was an unsuitable job?

Own_Worst_Enermy

Grumpy_chap said:

debtslave2024 said:

I was recently employed on a 3 month probationary contract, for a major retailer that has significant underlying financial issues. The contract was given with the view of possibly going permanent after 3 months. I thought my personal performance was not bad, I was not the slowest person in a very physical job, with early rises of 3 to 4 am for minimum wage. However, some managers did express that I was “too slow,” in their opinion (which I disputed.)

There was another thread recently with similar type of circumstances - I can't locate it immediately but the OP may wish to search it out.

I would not have asked repeatedly about contract extension while on probation as that might indicate to an employer that the employee has their own doubts about suitability for the role.

I would have gone to the meeting and stated my case.  

If you mean someone in March this year working for a charity covering sickness on an rather short term FTC yet on a actual full month’s notice expectation after receiving a couple of extensions so left entirely unsure and who was so bad according to this forum for asking ahead (as repeat they were subject to one months notice either side) and securing another job then I can update you and this thread is nothing like they found themselves in. They worked any notice agreed.

Mid-March they were given notice for end of later that month so they gracefully gave up a couple of weeks worth of pay. They left on the best of bridges (although that doesn’t mean to much anymore as the charity headcount/security of roles have completely changed again!) and worked their notice with the charity employer who breathing a sigh of relief they’d had the sense to get another job lined up. They left with enough flowers to set up a florist and their greatest legacy was to hand the job back to the current role holder who returned from the sick.

They are now over 6 months into their new role. 😉 (ironically another longer fixed term contract)