- Original Poster
- #1
Hi there,
I'm hoping someone here can give me some advice, as I really don't know what to do.
In the 1st week of November I was called into a meeting with my departments director and a manager (but not my line manager). I actually missed the time of the meeting as it clashed with another meeting (I was out of the building) and hadn't actually noticed it- i think it was added maybe the day beforehand at most. I had no idea what the meeting was about, went in and was told it "was a very serious matter" about my performance. they then told me that I hadn't been performing well enough, my productivity was too low and that some of my work wasn't up to standard and that I had the choice of either being fired or to resign. At this stage I was pretty much in shock- I had no prior warning. (the worst thing about this is that I sit in between these 2 people- 1 to my right and the other behind me.). I asked why I hadn't been warned and was told "that's not our management style". I was told if I was resigning they needed to know in the next 2 days.
I then spoke to HR (4:15pm, the same day). They seemed pretty shocked at the state I was in when I arrived and told me "no one should end up at this stage and be so shocked". They told me that there was nothing bad in my file and that they would give me a good reference. Since then they have also offered to send my CV out to other places in the same field that they and the CEO have connections.
I was given the Wednesday off to think about things and let it sink in, then on Thursday I had another meeting with HR again. HR tried to see if there was any way we could work around the situation (A probationary period for example), and set up a meeting with me and the department Director. In this meeting I was told my attitude was bad and that I didn't seem to enjoy work as much as the stuff I did outside of work ( it's in the same field and I it do for fun. This is a bit like complaining that someone enjoys football more than their work). After a few hours of back and forth, the decided it was unfeasible as it would be "a horrible situation for [me]" and I would need to be "micromanaged". I have had pretty much no management for the past year- My line manager is only part time and in my monthly meetings with her I was NEVER told my work was unacceptable. I was praised for the good things I had done and I think was once told to focus on another area now (Can't remember exactly- it was a good few months ago).
As I said, I was never given any verbal warnings or written warnings about my work not being up to par. I was allowed to tour the country over the summer, representing my work and I was also sent abroad on a different project, only returning 2 weeks before this happened.
i handed in my resignation on 9th November (my last day being 7th December, 1 year, 2.5 weeks after I started), after discussing with HR and the Director, who both told me it would look better for me if I did that. they also both told me that I shouldn't bad mouth the company or stir things up as I work in a small industry and if I did that it could affect my future job prospects.
They didn't follow any of their own procedures in doing this, according to their staff handbook.
I've now discovered I probably can't claim job seekers allowance because I resigned.
I really can't believe this is happening to me. I feel completely lost and so any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance,
C.
I'm hoping someone here can give me some advice, as I really don't know what to do.
In the 1st week of November I was called into a meeting with my departments director and a manager (but not my line manager). I actually missed the time of the meeting as it clashed with another meeting (I was out of the building) and hadn't actually noticed it- i think it was added maybe the day beforehand at most. I had no idea what the meeting was about, went in and was told it "was a very serious matter" about my performance. they then told me that I hadn't been performing well enough, my productivity was too low and that some of my work wasn't up to standard and that I had the choice of either being fired or to resign. At this stage I was pretty much in shock- I had no prior warning. (the worst thing about this is that I sit in between these 2 people- 1 to my right and the other behind me.). I asked why I hadn't been warned and was told "that's not our management style". I was told if I was resigning they needed to know in the next 2 days.
I then spoke to HR (4:15pm, the same day). They seemed pretty shocked at the state I was in when I arrived and told me "no one should end up at this stage and be so shocked". They told me that there was nothing bad in my file and that they would give me a good reference. Since then they have also offered to send my CV out to other places in the same field that they and the CEO have connections.
I was given the Wednesday off to think about things and let it sink in, then on Thursday I had another meeting with HR again. HR tried to see if there was any way we could work around the situation (A probationary period for example), and set up a meeting with me and the department Director. In this meeting I was told my attitude was bad and that I didn't seem to enjoy work as much as the stuff I did outside of work ( it's in the same field and I it do for fun. This is a bit like complaining that someone enjoys football more than their work). After a few hours of back and forth, the decided it was unfeasible as it would be "a horrible situation for [me]" and I would need to be "micromanaged". I have had pretty much no management for the past year- My line manager is only part time and in my monthly meetings with her I was NEVER told my work was unacceptable. I was praised for the good things I had done and I think was once told to focus on another area now (Can't remember exactly- it was a good few months ago).
As I said, I was never given any verbal warnings or written warnings about my work not being up to par. I was allowed to tour the country over the summer, representing my work and I was also sent abroad on a different project, only returning 2 weeks before this happened.
i handed in my resignation on 9th November (my last day being 7th December, 1 year, 2.5 weeks after I started), after discussing with HR and the Director, who both told me it would look better for me if I did that. they also both told me that I shouldn't bad mouth the company or stir things up as I work in a small industry and if I did that it could affect my future job prospects.
They didn't follow any of their own procedures in doing this, according to their staff handbook.
I've now discovered I probably can't claim job seekers allowance because I resigned.
I really can't believe this is happening to me. I feel completely lost and so any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance,
C.
