Can you be fired for going to an interview?

OU812

Currently working in sales. Not a fantastic job & not quite keeping the wolf from the door.

Spotted a better position with a competitor & went for an interview this morning.

Five minutes after the interview I got a call from my boss asking where I was. Told him I was chasing up some stuff (kinda true). He said he & the GM wanted to see me this afternoon.

Got that sick to the pit of my stomach feeling I was spotted earlier on.

I'm still probationary, so I guess they're covered in terms of letting me go, but legally would they be entitled to?

SBWife

If your still on probation they can let you go without cause.

DarkJager

OU812 wrote: »

Currently working in sales. Not a fantastic job & not quite keeping the wolf from the door.

Spotted a better position with a competitor & went for an interview this morning.

Five minutes after the interview I got a call from my boss asking where I was. Told him I was chasing up some stuff (kinda true). He said he & the GM wanted to see me this afternoon.

Got that sick to the pit of my stomach feeling I was spotted earlier on.

I'm still probationary, so I guess they're covered in terms of letting me go, but legally would they be entitled to?

Have you mentioned to anyone in your workplace that you were attending the interview? It's possible they've been informed of it or have overheard it in passing conversation. Also, had you called them to let them know you were going to be late?

aodhan2

OU812 wrote: »

Currently working in sales. Not a fantastic job & not quite keeping the wolf from the door.

Spotted a better position with a competitor & went for an interview this morning.

Five minutes after the interview I got a call from my boss asking where I was. Told him I was chasing up some stuff (kinda true). He said he & the GM wanted to see me this afternoon.

Got that sick to the pit of my stomach feeling I was spotted earlier on.

I'm still probationary, so I guess they're covered in terms of letting me go, but legally would they be entitled to?

They might be making you permanent ! You could be doing a great job. Chill out until you know why they want you. Not much you can do if your probation isn't up.

OU812

DarkJager wrote: »

Have you mentioned to anyone in your workplace that you were attending the interview? It's possible they've been informed of it or have overheard it in passing conversation. Also, had you called them to let them know you were going to be late?

Didn't say anything to anyone, but I've just checked one of the interviewers onmlinkedin & he's connected to my bod & GM & used to work with one of them...

mark renton

Either get fired or get offered more money

The Big Red Button

Are you saying that you did the interview while on work time?

Because that's kind of unethical and stuff ...

ABajaninCork

Oh dear...

OP - Did you take a day's leave or did you just go and not tell anyone? Like the others say, there's no point fretting about it until the meeting.

Next time, be more discreet. Take a day's leave and advise the propective employer that your existing one is NOT to be contacted until the reference stage!

OU812

It's sales. It's hardly ethical to begin with, & I normally have to work way beyond my 40 hours any given week so they're good for 45 minutes. But well done on trying to stir things up.

seamus

If you went to an interview while you were supposed to be working, then of course you can be disciplined. But no, you cannot be disciplined if you went to the interview in your own time.

ABajaninCork

OU812 wrote: »

It's sales. It's hardly ethical to begin with, & I normally have to work way beyond my 40 hours any given week so they're good for 45 minutes. But well done on trying to stir things up.

Look. You asked for advice. We gave it to you. I'm sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but all of what you've been told was helpful. I don't understand why you think we're stirring things. Being defensive is strange attitude to have given you may very well have a problem.

passremarkable

seamus wrote: »

If you went to an interview while you were supposed to be working, then of course you can be disciplined. But no, you cannot be disciplined if you went to the interview in your own time.

what seamus said

edanto

Curious passer by here, did things work out OK for you?

doolox

Is to request time off. You do not have to specify what it is for but this can give rise to speculation regarding health, family circumstances or a host of other emergencies which can be more damaging than going for another job interview.

You must request the time off in order to stay legit and not incur disciplinary action on possible discovery.

AlmightyCushion

doolox wrote: »

You do not have to specify what it is for but this can give rise to speculation regarding health, family circumstances or a host of other emergencies which can be more damaging than going for another job interview.

This is nonsense. If you ask for a day off no one is going to assume any of that unless there is something more going on. People take days off for all kinds of things. If you're really worried about it you could just make something up, that's plausible.

MadsL

OU812 wrote: »

It's sales. It's hardly ethical to begin with.

You probably want to fix that attitude if you want a proper career in sales.

meepsmith

I agree the above...so how did it go with your boss?

OU812

As it happens it was unrelated, however I was recruited into a different position through LinkedIn & handed in my notice yesterday having accepted.