Going back

acw123

Hi.
I'm after a bit of advice or insight.

Two and a half years ago, the public sector company i had worked at for 7 years suspended me, citing issues with my flexi clocking.
I had been home based for 3 years, since Civid hit, and had to go to the office only very occasionally, usually for short meetings. 
I had been told by the team's senior manager that I didn’t need to clocking out for my short infrequent journeys to the office as I was predominantly home based. It turns out this was incorrect guidance. So they suspended me, with potential dismissal following. I had only 'gained' and small amount of time over a long time period, but they seemed intent on full sanctions rather than warning. That seemed a massive overreaction to me, given that I was acting in good faith, under direction, and the 'gain' was small and could gave been taken away.

I was offered a job elsewhere during my suspension and left. So no charge was ever brought, no hearing occurred and no sanction ever applied. So I'll never know how it would have turned out.

A few years later, and not enjoying my current job, a nice looking role has come up with the same public sector company that had suspended me previously. 

I have applied and been shortlisted. Interview to follow soon.

Aside from whether it is a good idea or not to go back to an employer that had done this to me, my issue is whether or not they would perhaps offer me this job, I then get my current boss know that they may soon get a reference request for me, and then the my past issues come to light somehow and the offer is withdrawn. That would leave my current job feeling a little weird, telling them I was no longer leaving. 

But mainly I'm fearful that if I rejoin this organisation, my past will constantly hound me, or that ill always fear something being said.

Am I being stupid, either in worrying too much, or in even entertaining going back to them?

If no disciplinary ever happened, my record is technically clear, but I don't know what record there may be of what happened and if or when that may come to light.

Anyone been in a similar situation? And advice/thoughts?

sammyjammy

I have no idea if something remains on your record that someone may become aware of.  How big is this organisation?  Are you applying to the same work area?  

acw123

It's a city council organisation. Technically I haven't directly worked for them before, as I used to work for an arms length branch of the council. But it's the same HR.

I'm applying to a different work area. Different management etc.

EnPointe

did you 'resign under Investigation' or was the process formally closed  ( and confirmed as such ) when you  expressed that you  were going to leave ? 

acw123

I resigned with immediate effect to start my new job. The investigation never completed as a result, so no charge was officially brought.

So it's not a lie to say that I left to take up a new role. There was an incomplete investigation, but i understand that my official reason for leaving is simply "resigned". 

Isthisforreal99

Thing is there is always somebody that knows somebody etc etc.

If gossip would be an issue I would be inclined to let sleeping dogs lie.

EnPointe

acw123 said:

I resigned with immediate effect to start my new job. The investigation never completed as a result, so no charge was officially brought.

So it's not a lie to say that I left to take up a new role. There was an incomplete investigation, but i understand that my official reason for leaving is simply "resigned". 

 they  may   decide  , quite legitimately that you ' resigned under investigation' , why do you  beleive the investigation was not completed and your  guilt determined in your absence ?

Wonka_2

Speaking as someone who had a former employee leave under similar circumstances and a few years later end up back in a different area of our organisation I’ll never forget the look on his face when he walked into a meeting with me. 

He left (again) within 24 hours

Whilst systems might not always have memories people certainly do. 

Uriziel

OP you are very naive and indeed stupid.
You are under the impression that leaving the second you get an email about the investigation somehow makes it go away which is not the case whatsoever. When you leave after receiving an email, even before any hearing or anything at all, they put you down as leaving while under investigation for misconduct and they are legally allowed to send this to absolutely anyone because it is the truth.
You are lucky that this did not happen so I would write this employer off especially if you feel that the reason for their disciplinary was silly back then. Many companies are obnoxious and absurd in their management style which is why the UK is no longer relevant on the world stage anymore. Meanwhile at Google, Amazon and Facebook they have sleep pods at the office and people can take a nap when they want to without this so called "management" telling them how to do their job. Strangely enough those companies are US companies and all UK companies that are big are now either owned by US or China while in the UK they still did not learn that the best top employees are arrogant and cocky and appreciate freedom while they triple the revenue on a whim and they are more than happy to leave for a company that treats them like adults instead of toddlers.

EnPointe

Uriziel said:

OP you are very naive and indeed stupid.
You are under the impression that leaving the second you get an email about the investigation somehow makes it go away which is not the case whatsoever. When you leave after receiving an email, even before any hearing or anything at all, they put you down as leaving while under investigation for misconduct and they are legally allowed to send this to absolutely anyone because it is the truth.
You are lucky that this did not happen so I would write this employer off especially if you feel that the reason for their disciplinary was silly back then. Many companies are obnoxious and absurd in their management style which is why the UK is no longer relevant on the world stage anymore. Meanwhile at Google, Amazon and Facebook they have sleep pods at the office and people can take a nap when they want to without this so called "management" telling them how to do their job. Strangely enough those companies are US companies and all UK companies that are big are now either owned by US or China while in the UK they still did not learn that the best top employees are arrogant and cocky and appreciate freedom while they triple the revenue on a whim and they are more than happy to leave for a company that treats them like adults instead of toddlers.

your ignorance here is significant, most of the 'pointless' and 'silly'  , 'obnoxious' and 'absurd' management  practises are direct imports  from the USA ,  and while  there are various companiesi n the USA that  superficially  treat  senior employees well  it comes at a significant cost to the individual overall.