Suspended. need advice

[cassoli]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice.

Last fiday i was called in to the office by my manger for a 5 min chat, once there he told me due to production targets not being met on the line i am responsable for (I am a maintenance engineer) I was suspended for one week while they review my position. I take this to mean if I am to be dismissed.

Prior to this meeting i was given a 2nd written warning 12/01/09 for the General level of compitence. the first written warning given on 16/09/08.

On both occasions i was just called into the office, without warning, for a chat then handed the warning at the end of the meeting. I have disputed all the claims made in the meetings but to little effect. The letters were already typed, so in effect i had been tried and hanged before the meeting.

 

Friday 13th. After repeted attempts was able to contact the manager who suspended me, asking what they planned to do next, also pointing out that not contacting me or giving me anything in writing was unfair. he replied that a letter has been sent requesting a meeting on wed 18th feb to discuss the matter. Should have the letter monday, till then can't be more specific.

Just want some support and advice,

thanks Cassoli

Also, I have not been informed if this suspension is with pay. Can they just suspend me without pay?

Edited February 15, 2009 by cassoli
further info

[godpikachu]

hang on, surely its the production operatives fault that they didnt meet targets, not the maintainance engineers!.

 

ok, so a stoppage of the machine can cause the operatives to not be able to work, but its not anyones fault if a machine breaks down. also, if you have to wait for parts etc, thats not your fault either.

 

if they were suspending you, you should have been given written confirmation of it at the time and been told wether or not it was with pay or without, unless it says anywhere in the company hand book that suspensions are always with or without pay.

[cassoli]

Thanks for the support godpikachu, will add more details when i recieve thair letter.

[loantime]

Did you get a verbal warning first? I'm pretty sure that you need to be given a verbal warning before you get a written one. Check through your contract and look at the conditions for redundancy. For example; if it says you have a 2 week notice, they are not allowed to stop paying you for any reason until that 2 weeks are up.

[cassoli]

Hi,letter not arrived thismorning, so i got them to email it, why they could'nt do this in the first place i don't know?

 

Further to our meeting last week and in line with the xxxxxx ltd Disciplinary procedures, I would appreciate if you could attend a review meeting at xxxxxxx on Wednesday the 18th February at 10:30am.

 

If this time is not suitable I would appreciate a call as soon as possible to allow us to reschedule.

 

In line with our disciplinary policy please refer to your employee handbook section E-6

 

You maybe accompanied by a fellow employee of your choice.

 

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

 

I have never had a copy of the employee hand book, so am trying to obtail one today, but the manager dealing with this is not returning my calls.also I need a copy of my contract, still don't know if i'm being paid .

 

Will keep you updated when i know more.

Edited February 16, 2009 by cassoli
Deleting company name

[loantime]

You mean you didn't get a copy of your contract when you signed it? That is definitely illegal. Also, if your contract refers to the employee handbook, you should have been given that as well.

[cassoli]

Latest update. The meeting went like this: The companies stand was that my performance was'nt up to scratch. they then provided details of examples of when breakdowns etc had taken in their opinion longer than expected. (none of which i had been provided of prior to the meeting ) i was able to demonstrate on each point with facts that blame could not be proportioned to myselfe. Infact, his main argument involved the fitting af a large new roller and the machine subsiquently not working after installation. I reminded him that i was not involved with this job until installation and it was him who ordered the roller and planned the job. also that I informed him prior to installation that he had ordered the wrong part and it was unlikley to work. His response was, he was only using these incidents as an examples and i should not be to specific.

 

At this point he changed tack and asked if i thought there were any other roles in the company that would better suit my skills. this left me a little baffled so i replied i would have to think it over.

 

He then ended the meeting saying he would contact me when he had considered what had been said in the meeting. At this point I raised the point that so far communication had been very poor. And would like it recording in the minuits. also if they were having problems with the post, I did not object to them commuting by email so i would in future have enough time to consider the facts prior to meetings.

 

Again ten days without any communication so i rang the manager involved,On Friday 27th. only to be told again that a letter had been sent out inviting me to a meeting on Wednesday 4th Martch. Again followed the same routine, he would email copy that day. Not recieved so rang monday and still not recieved by Tuesday. What are they playing at????

 

In the mean time , while all this has been going on i have not been idle. I recieved an offer of a new job yesterday, more money and less hours which i have accepted.

 

Will go to the meeting tommorrow but not sure how to play it. should i try to gain a compromise agreement. or wait to see if they sack me. I don't want to just resign. I would feel i have let them get away with treating me poorly.

Any ideas?

[kelbag]

Infact, his main argument involved the fitting af a large new roller and the machine subsiquently not working after installation. I reminded him that i was not involved with this job until installation and it was him who ordered the roller and planned the job. also that I informed him prior to installation that he had ordered the wrong part and it was unlikley to work. His response was, he was only using these incidents as an examples and i should not be to specific.

 

HAHAHAHAHA you couldn't make it up, that is such a good example of an idiot.

 

Cassoli, if I was in your shoes i'd be tempted to go to the meeting, call them the biggest bunch of w*&kers the world has ever seen, slap your notice in their faces and walk out. Making sure you give the appropriate notice of course ;-)

 

How they can blame you for things not being fixed quickly enough and give an example of one of the manager's dropped b%ll%cks to prove it is absolutely laughable.

Being in IT, I know that not everything goes to plan and you have to make allowances for it.

 

Only you can make the decision to go, I had the problem a while ago where I was getting bullied at work and I decided to leave. Unfortunately my decision was a little too hasty and I ended up picking an even worse company to work for... but that's another thread.

 

Good luck and don't let them get you down, they ain't worth it

[cassoli]

HAPPY ENDING.

 

here's what happened. went to the meeting and was told again it was a serious matter and was given two options.

option 1: Return to work as a machine operator 5x12Hour shifts at min wage.

option 2: Return to work in current role and be assesed for one month.

 

I declined both offers and had a job not laughing. My manager was a bit perplexed at this point and explained he was sure we could work it out. He ajourned the meeting to consider! He promised I would have his decision by friday, in writing. True to form, no letter arrived by Friday. checked my bank and my wages had been paid in and up to date.

 

As i was starting my new job on monday, i gave him a ring to see what was happening. Said they had not come to a decision yet.

 

to cut a long story short, i called in and gave him my resignation It was accepted and he wished me good luck for the future and was sorry to see me go and was sure we could have made a go of it blah, blah, blah. also I wan't expecting it but they have also paid me a months notice and owed holiday pay.

 

Apart from the stress caused to me and my wife , it couldn't have worked out better. I've been looking for a new job for ages, it's hard work when you work for a company that hates giving peolpe a day off without two weeks notice. Being suspended concentrates your efforts, I Know i was lucky to find another job with better money and conditions within a month, so as i say "It couldn't have worked out better"

 

Hope all the others on the forum have a bit of luck,

 

Cassoli

[godpikachu]

congratulations there cassoli, for both finding a new job and for showing them who is boss.

 

lets hope soem of your good luck rubs off on me

[kelbag]

Yeah congrats from me as well, send a bit of luck my way if u would.