Is Walking Out Classed as Gross Misconduct or Official Resignation?

Marcon

debtslave2024 said:

@Grumpy_chap I have held down countless jobs since my youth - many hard and physical. Others mentally challenging. I am getting older now. It was not that long ago, that I was “celebrated” as the longest serving employee of a company that liked to get rid of one person after another. I tended to do more “mentally challenging” jobs for years, but now I am getting older, I am literally being pushed into physical jobs that are rapidly shrinking in numbers. From last check of the UK stats, around 9 million economicaly  inactive of working age, and over 1.7 million and growing of working age “unemployed.” Only in the region of 700,000 vacancies available (shrinking,) with hundreds chasing each single job.

Anyway, enough of the ill-informed “personal judgement,” based on what you do not actually know, and personal biases. I am done with this supposedly “helpful forum.” And all I can say to the “judgemental others,” is that as you age I hope that you are not subjected to the brutal job market of 2025, or the other side of the coin - the punitive benefits systems designed to push people like me who have paid into the system since a teenager into poverty.

My advice to others on this forum seeking help with regards to employment and “benefits” issues on here - do not post here. Seek professional and compassionate advice from expert organisations genuinely in the know of your personal situation, circumstances, and capability.

People can only answer based on what a poster chooses to post.

Sometimes sight of previous posts can be enlightening - eg not the first time working speed has been an issue: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6560592/how-would-you-react-to-this-ominous-last-minute-letter-from-employer/p1

soolin

I am aware of the OP supposedly not returning to this thread, and also aware of the history of not managing to hold down a job. 

OP, I suspect you might read this , even if you don't reply on this thread again - but for compassionate advice might I suggest you seek practical advice about coping, perhaps work related as you may find this is a self repeating problem unless you work out what the underlying issue is. For many of us who have worked for decades and still work past retirement it is easy to say ' get a job' but some people, and I have met some in the course of my career, struggle more than others in the actual ability to do a full time job- of whatever sort. This can even effect someone who has previously had no issues- but suddenly starts to struggle. There is often an underlying cause. 

There must be courses, or professional advice to find out what it is causing your issues and your reactions, and perhaps help you move past them so you can find a job that suits you . 

ButterCheese

I feel sorry for the OP, maybe based on previous experience they are walking into jobs already thinking the worst.  And when you don't feel supported in a job, you end up thinking they're all the same.

I had a similar experience with a "career" job i.e. one that I thought would be my launchpad for earning £40k+ a year (15 years ago).  I was told I wasn't performing, I need to do X and Y, and when I tried to do X and Y they said Y was slipping and I needed to concentrate more on it.  So I did that, and was then told I was letting X slip.  I had numerous disciplinary meetings, and their solution was to make me go off site and do Z for one day a week, so now I have to do X and Y for 4 days/week which they already said I was struggling to do in 5 days.

Eventually I had a breakdown and was offered an Admin job for £10k less a year.  I was so anxious and demoralised that I just took it (rather than being booted out of the NHS which is actually very hard to do, and even harder to get back in).  Then to my surprise, the job that was so important to them that I wasn't doing it right, was gone.  Not advertised again, not covered by other people.  They later told me that the job, which was a new post, failed natinoally.  I could have argued constructive dismissal, but as they actually gave me another job I don't think I had any recourse.

After 15 years I have worked my way back up, but I still have a very large chip on my shoulder which I'm trying to get rid of.  In that time, I have seen many new people start, and start very badly.  But if they take all the advice they are given i.e. on how they can improve, they usually stay on and become valuable members of the team.  

With regard to the OPs comments on "the long-timers stand around chatting" - yes that happens when you know all the rules and know when to play the game and when you can slack a bit.  But as a new starter the first 0-6 months are usually the hardest.  You have to do the job, prove that you can be trusted, learn all the official and unofficial rules, and generally be patient.  

itsthelittlethings

Try and get an ok reference.

itsthelittlethings

I would also say, know your skills. I am not great at jobs that demand speed and accuracy. I am good at jobs that demand people skills and customer service. I tailor my job hunting accordingly.

born_again

debtslave2024 said:

elsien said:

That does clearly say that you need to work faster though? 

Yes I agree in your situation I would be very upset but  this isn’t completely out of the blue. 

It stated only 8 days ago overall positivity with ongoing support - I was given none, only threatened today I would probably have only 4 days work left. Have you ever experienced anything like this?

So rather than walking out. You should have asked at that point, can I have some support to help bring my speed up.

EnPointe

debtslave2024 said:

@Grumpy_chap I have held down countless jobs since my youth - many hard and physical. Others mentally challenging. I am getting older now. It was not that long ago, that I was “celebrated” as the longest serving employee of a company that liked to get rid of one person after another. I tended to do more “mentally challenging” jobs for years, but now I am getting older, I am literally being pushed into physical jobs that are rapidly shrinking in numbers. From last check of the UK stats, around 9 million economicaly  inactive of working age, and over 1.7 million and growing of working age “unemployed.” Only in the region of 700,000 vacancies available (shrinking,) with hundreds chasing each single job.

Anyway, enough of the ill-informed “personal judgement,” based on what you do not actually know, and personal biases. I am done with this supposedly “helpful forum.” And all I can say to the “judgemental others,” is that as you age I hope that you are not subjected to the brutal job market of 2025, or the other side of the coin - the punitive benefits systems designed to push people like me who have paid into the system since a teenager into poverty.

My advice to others on this forum seeking help with regards to employment and “benefits” issues on here - do not post here. Seek professional and compassionate advice from expert organisations genuinely in the know of your personal situation, circumstances, and capability.

Your response here tells me and others more than enough about where your issues lay. 

EnPointe

Grumpy_chap said:

debtslave2024 said:

My review stated

Attendance - GOOD (thought it was actually excellent.)
Time keeping - GOOD (I it actually went above and beyond, and I was often seen at my desk working before the rest made a later appearance.)
Working relationship with others - GOOD
Competency in role - GOOD

I would not dwell on the difference between "good" and "excellent" - it is not uncommon for reviews to only have three levels of indicator, so maybe "poor", "acceptable", "good".

Then you had some feedback about rate of work and rather than take that in a constructive manner, you "smelt a rat" and walked out.  That has probably ended this employment.

You have then continued to make comments such as:

debtslave2024 said:

Employers are treating people like expendable dirt. 

I keep reading in the newspapers, millions are dropping out the workforce - I wonder why?

That seems to be rather a negative determination.

I wonder whether the most pertinent comment in the whole thread is this one:

swingaloo said:

That behaviour is never going to see you in long term employment.

Sometimes, if you want to change the world you may need to start with the man in the mirror, ask him to change his ways.

To have one job that simply does not work out can happen.  If that starts to become a regular occurrence, then the ever decreasing circles of opportunity make the cycle ever harder to break.  I thought I recognised your comments and your prior posting history shows:

• Driving job in June ended after one day    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6613352/universal-credit-lasted-one-day-in-driving-job-i-was-not-capable-of-doing-safely/p1
• Pre-empted a job failure in June (possibly the driving job?)    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6612595/what-are-the-rules-on-uc-if-new-job-does-not-work-out#latest
• Made unemployed (with notice) April    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6597185/can-i-apply-for-benefits-weeks-in-advance-of-being-made-unemployed#latest
• Walked out of a job with a retailer after 3 months in October      https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6560592/how-would-you-react-to-this-ominous-last-minute-letter-from-employer/p1

You need to look for a way to break this cycle.  Can the Job Centre offer some guidance / careers advice?

all very  valid, incisive and insightful comments 

also  where an evaluation scheme has 4 levels the  top level may be 'exceptional'  and that may place you in the top 5 - 10 % of your peers  across the entire organisation   ( seen that in a Supply  chain organisation) 

a well known fast food company has a 4 level outcome from review process 

these four levels    are
'exceptional  performance - above and beyond ' ( gets 3 +%  extra pay award - stackable)
'Significant  performance - doing the job well '   (gets 2 % extra  pay award  -stackable)
'Some improvement  required - support  and coaching  required '  (gets  relevant  NMW/ CoL  pay award 
'Unacceptable - not  doing what matters '

for most  grades  there are 20 -24  criteria , one particular grade has 22 criteria 
to get 'execpetional' you have to fully meet 18 or more of criteria  (  you can fully meet 17 and  partially  meet all 22  but  your score  will still be 17 /22   no half marks given ) 
to get 'Significant'  you meet 15, 16  or 17  criteria fully 
to get ' improvement needed'   you've met  13 or 14 of the criteria 
you can still get  'unacceptable' performance  with 12  out of 22  criteria met 

there are narrative boxes  for all  criteria  as well ... 

it does seem the OP  has chosen a  particular ( and arguably perverse ) reading of the evaluation and has completely glossed over the  the performance comment,s ones which are the kind of things that  trainers  and supervisors would be looking for improvement in in weeks 3,4 and 5-8 of a new role 
 
  

EnPointe

@debtslave2024 there are  no 'legal avenues'  based on  the  information you have given us. 

you  appear to be a classic example of someone who  fails probation for  performance issues , compounded by attitude, I've dealt with a number of such cases over the yearsd as a Trainer and/or supervisor. if your  performance issues and  your  responses ot  reviewes and corrective coaching are properly  documented  you have no legal avenues ot explore