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Fired on my 4th day at work

Raggamuffin

Well-Known Member
V.I.P Member
Based off what I had written on my FB art page over the last 3 days I was fired from my job today.

They told me even though I didn't mention the company by name - it portrayed the company in a bad light. They said it was a high stress job, and so I asked if they thought my mental health struggles would mean I wouldn't be capable of doing the job. They said it's not the kind of role where you can make mistakes and it's stressful.

Funny really. Not only did it come as a shock, but I felt that this job was a lot less stressful than other jobs I'd had. A guy moved desks to sit next to me, and people kept calling him "a machine". He was highly valued because he was capable and did a good job. The irony is, in every job I've ever worked - I was called "a machine" as well.

Yes, mental health struggles have been very real, and yesterday I confided in HR, I saw a mental health first aider. I broke down in tears, I admitted 20 years with anxiety/depression. ADHD and awaiting an autism assessment. But I told her I wasn't giving up, and that I wanted to do a good job, and overtime. I wanted to help. She said she could tell I'd be an asset to the company and I was clearly a hard worker...and the next day I am fired.

I don't know. I'm sure people will have mixed opinions. Personally, I think it's their loss. I always put a lot of my self-worth into jobs. I try and go above and beyond, because I'm a people pleaser. I shouldn't have to censor my struggles or opinions, and whilst I know that companies can monitor social media posts - I've never encountered this sort of treatment before.

I wasn't saying it was a crap job - I just admitted facts: high staff turnover, a lot of people stressed, feeling lonely, feeling quite overwhelmed etc. But that doesn't mean I wasn't going to stick it out. Companies make a point that mental health is important, and to reach out - so I find it ironic that my mental health seems to be the main reason I am let go. Surely saying a high staff turnover and people being stressed out isn't enough to get you fired? I guess they're minimising risk.

Still, it's nothing personal - well; it is, but I'm not going to be petulant about it, and I'm going to do my best not to feed this to the inner critic. I've needed rest for a long time, so I'm going to take 2 or 3 weeks out. Then apply for another job I suppose.

It is what it is. I'm not going to apologise for speaking my mind, and I don't think they should judge me on my mental health struggles and assume I'd be a liability to them or the company.

Ah well, onwards and upwards eh. Single as of last night, and unemployed as of this afternoon. Just need to lose my marbles and we've got a hattrick.

Attached is what I posted over the last 3 days:


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Ed
 
could it be that they fired you because you said that you have mental problems? I would never say that to an employer. I would always say "I feel fine, have no diseases or psychological disorders." sure I would mention that I have autism, but only very short and only presentate in a positive light. and more as a marginalia.

I think when they realize that you feel bad, especially when very new, they fear that they could hire someone who is permanently ill or something like that and so they rather fire you maybe.

even when having mental problems, I would never say that. also not that someone makes a therapy (when possible).

when someone asks I would always say "I feel fine", no matter how I really feel.

my therapist even favored me to conceal my autism, but I think that´s a bit too much. at least authorities usually don´t react autism-hostile or disability-hostile. in companys it depends on the companys.

I don´t think that a company is a good place to speak about any problems or about health. even when they say it, they don´t mean it so. co-workers and supervisors are no friends and usually don´t help and are usually not interested in how you feel or in your person.

I would conceal mental health problems to everyone, except this forum, a therapist, very close friends or family.
 
That sucks. It seems wrong and an invasion of privacy that an employer should follow and react to what an employee writes on their Facebook page, but it happens all the time. Perhaps better to have 2 Facebook accounts; a professional one for Art by Ed Foulds, where you post things related to your art on which you don't mind the general public reading, and another private one only for close friends and family where you write more personal stuff. Provided you don't use your own name and adjust the settings for privacy, this should be safe from prying eyes.
 
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Sorry, companies warn you about social media. We will look at what you post. So just don't post until you leave company. Are you sure that you wanted to work there? If l said any of that, HR will see me as a liability, and show me the door. Not telling you what to say, but asking if you understand the consequences of your actions?

Sorry to hear you are feeling down. Maybe a few weeks off will help. Sorry about your relationship turmoil. This month was rough for me. I stayed home for almost four days, just reminding myself what l am trying to achieve and how far l have come. Hear you there, crying does release some of it.
 
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the best is to have no social media. when you have one, then use not your real name or a fantasy name and when the employer asks you, say "I have none." I never used social media and don´t need/want it. and I never would use my real name.

I even heard of a case where someone was ill and made a status in whatsapp where he/she was at a restaurant. the employer was in a whatsapp group (work group) and so could see the status of the person. the employer thought that he/she would be in a restaurant while he/she was ill and so faking the illness. but the person made this photo months ago.

so better have a different number for work or fade out whatsapp status for the employer.

just one example why privacy protection is important.

and not use the business e-mail for anything private or the business smartphone or pc... no private messages. in theory the company can read all these messages and monitor you. and some companies spy out their employees. in technically way or with human spys (no joke). they hire some of your co-workers and they spy and sound you out for the employer. so be careful what you say at work and to whom.
 
Mentioning, writing anything about your work on Facebook is always opening yourself up for all sorts of things. Many physicians, managers, supervisors, anyone in "leadership" positions just cancel their FB accounts. I don't use it.
 
As per Facebook, I have an account but I watch my tongue with my posts, I rarely if ever say anything about political viewpoints (and I do have some), ditto my Christian faith, and I don't think I've said anything about my work on Facebook (that I recall)

My account is used to share my photography and that's about it
 
If you must use FB or Twitter etc., then have a public profile where you do little other than like pics of cats your friends put up. Have an anonymous account where you can post/comment about anything remotely political (run them in two different browsers to be sure that you don't get confused and post in the wrong one).

Never forget HR work for the company, not you. Their primary function is minimise any possibility of the company getting sued by the workers.

Your comment about the 25 errors in the document probably wasn't received well, you might have been better off just casually saying that you noticed a few spelling mistakes, emailing your boss about them may have just created a lot of work for him (documents aren't easy to change in some workplaces, requiring a "change list" at the end of the document).

It's tough and unfair but for at least six months or until your "probation period" is over you need to do everything right in a new job. It's too easy to be fired both legislatively and also because your skillset hasn't become fully apparent to them.
 
Sorry to hear of that.

It is pretty well established that anything you say with your name attached to it will be open to scrutiny, and for me, the last comment appeared to be a sarcastic reference to the employer's resources, and making a negative remark about one's employer openly is generally something that would result in disciplinary action, and when in a probationary period, could lead to immediate dismissal. While you did not name your employer, it is generally assumed that the people reading the post may know who your employer is and thereby draw the inference.

I understand you like journalling - and have done some here, and I understand some find it (at least I do) to have therapeutic effects - perhaps as with here it may be best where you do so without attaching your full name to it (or to simply write in a personal journal without posting).
 
It sounded a bit like you were trying to make it sound as bad as possible. I can see why they were alarmed seeing as you actually talked about dying of a heart attack any minute, breaking down, etc. It really doesn't sound like you should be working at all.
 
I would say to be careful in believing how businesses present themselves. They project acceptance, diversity, being green, investing in training & coaching etc in order to attract the best job applicants. In reality, all they expect from a hire is low investment, low maintenance, low cost , high performance and max output drones. Do not assume that your manager is working for the benefit of the company or the well-being his/her employees rather he/she is working to optimize the perception of their performance kin the very short term.

Pointing out errors or shortcomings to a boss, in my experience, is rarely a good idea. Managers (in larger businesses) used to be specialists in their field with a few people skills. These days managers have read books and followed specific training purses to teach ‘management skills’ but they are rarely experts in their fields. So they often feel threatened by their employees that do know what they are doing and the consequences of certain actions. As a result pointing out errors/shortcomings destabilizes the boss and often results in negative reactions: ‘you’re not a team player’, … On the other hand, manipulations used by managers to steer their herd are so incredibly transparent that they irritate the heck out of me, all those high energy motivation boosting vapid team meetings and rousing speeches…Try questioning your boss about how this year’s performance targets were arrived at and if there is an actual strategy to achieve them. He/she won’t be happy. Their statements are often like vapid illogic balloons waiting to be popped, which I inevitably end up doing as I have no tolerance for illogical reasoning and trying to dress up pigs to resemble princesses.

To make things short, I always end up in conflicts at work, and I haven’t found a solution.
 
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Honestly your health is your business, NOT your companies.
They may pay for much of your insurance and they can suck all that up as they should it's in their best interest.
But you should NEVER show weakness.
In business, war and courtship you only show weakness in order to draw your enemy into a killing field.
People and Companies may SAY they want compassionate and sensitive people but that is a LIE!
It's a filtering technique.
 
Consulting legal advice on Monday. Spoken with friends and old work colleagues. A lot spoke of discrimination, as well as highlighting how hard a worker and an asset I was in jobs I'd previously worked. This morning my dad passionately told me they broke multiple laws, and to take them to an industrial tribunal.

Ed
 
Well, you have learned a lot about companies in less than a week. Next time you will do better.

I do agree with most posters. Working in a company is masking.
 
I sent all the info to my friend who's wife is a barrister. He rang me back. Said not to let these f'ers get away with this. He said I have a strong case. He's won 2 unfair dismissal cases for his fybromyalgia. He told me what to write to HR and request. Told me to ring him when they reply.

But - he said he will cover all the legal fees, and work on this for free.

Tears of joy. I messaged a bunch of friends who reply to me online very rarely. Like once every few months. Yet all these people replied to me when I reached out the past day. They reached out when I needed them, and I'm welling up right now. Because I actually feel like I'm being listened to, and it means a lot.

I'm not after money, I just want vindication.

Ed
 
In America, it's hard to find an attorney to take a case using the American disability act. My spouse was dismissed after coming down with diabetes, and all the attorney did was blame my spouse, and just negotiate for a weak severance package.

So maybe this company will settle.:)
 
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