On probation - put on notice

chancer12

My son is a recent graduate, went to London and worked for 8 months before returning home for a sales job. He's with a small company and there have been a lot of staff changes in the last 6 weeks. People coming as 'intern's, staying for a couple of weeks and leaving. All v sudden, no notice of new staff arriving and no comments when they leave. The boss who was initially v supportive has now turned on my son and says he is not happy with his performance. Most of the 'promises' at interview have failed to materialise and he's constantly having his duties changed. No matter what he does, he's criticised. Recruited as 'business development' he's been asked for his marketing plan but he has no marketing qualifications and any suggestions he puts forward are rubbished. There was a meeting yesterday between my son, the boss and another manager where they agreed a 4 week schedule. However, again all his suggestions were rejected, the boss screamed and shouted abuse, calling him pretty awful names. He virtually reduced him to tears. I've just had a text now to say he's put him on notice but don't have any further details. This will make it incredibly difficult for him to get another job. Also, he's due a large commission cheque in August/Sept and I think this might have informed the decision. His confidence on shattered and he's an emotional wreck from the abuse. Despite an outwardly confident demeanour he's a v sensitive kid and is now in a very difficult place. There has been no mentoring, director or guidance just ignorant 'red neck' abuse. Can he literally show him the door or does he have any rights?

davo10

Yes he can, during probationary period and in fact during the first year of employment he can be let go.

_Brian

He has "rights" ok but they don't protect him from being let go for no reason in the first twelve months.
The boss doesn't need to construct and fancy reasons, just let him go and say it's not working out.

My advice is he should be looking for another job. He's either not capable or just not getting on with his employer.

gandalf

Using a lot of interns, alot of staff joining then leaving sounds like they are not in the best financial position. I'd advise him to start looking around for anything else. The one good factor is that this is probably the best time of the year to be looking for a job. He needs to ensure that whatever commission he has earned will be paid as well.

Mrs OBumble

chancer12 wrote: »

I've just had a text now to say he's put him on notice but don't have any further details. This will make it incredibly difficult for him to get another job.

It won't necessarily make it incredibly difficult for him to get another job - harder, yes, but not incredibly.

What the boss is doing is bullying, so you could google for ways to address that.

But really he may be as well off to cut his loses and get out of there.

And I don't want to be unsympathetic - but I'm not sure that sales is a good role for a sensitive kid to be working in. He'll have to toughen up a lot if he wants to survive it pretty much anywhere.

chancer12

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

It won't necessarily make it incredibly difficult for him to get another job - harder, yes, but not incredibly.

What the boss is doing is bullying, so you could google for ways to address that.

But really he may be as well off to cut his loses and get out of there.

And I don't want to be unsympathetic - but I'm not sure that sales is a good role for a sensitive kid to be working in. He'll have to toughen up a lot if he wants to survive it pretty much anywhere.

yes, I think you're right on the sales front but it was the only type of work on offer with a general degree. V worried about trying to get something else without a reference

chancer12

gandalf wrote: »

Using a lot of interns, alot of staff joining then leaving sounds like they are not in the best financial position. I'd advise him to start looking around for anything else. The one good factor is that this is probably the best time of the year to be looking for a job. He needs to ensure that whatever commission he has earned will be paid as well.

Yes, he was going to look anyway, but it seems the decision has been taken from him.

TimeToShine

chancer12 wrote: »

yes, I think you're right on the sales front but it was the only type of work on offer with a general degree. V worried about trying to get something else without a reference

To be honest you really shouldn't be worrying about him at this stage. He's a grown man with a degree and plenty of work experience. He'll be fine.

chancer12

TimeToShine wrote: »

To be honest you really shouldn't be worrying about him at this stage. He's a grown man with a degree and plenty of work experience. He'll be fine.

I know, but do mothers ever stop worrying! thanks all for your advice

To be honest why would he want to stay there, I know you are trying to help but a parent reflecting to him ..only a general degree, it would be incredible difficult to get another job, worried etc, wont help his confidence. He can always go back to the UK much bigger jobs market.

chancer12

mariaalice wrote: »

To be honest why would he want to stay there, I know you are trying to help but a parent reflecting to him ..only a general degree, it would be incredible difficult to get another job, worried etc, wont help his confidence. He can always go back to the UK much bigger jobs market.

I'm venting here because I don't want him to realise that I'm worried. Am being v positive in dealings with him. Yes, he can go to the UK but fact is he wants to be in Dublin, for now

He might be better to resign its more positive for him, got to his employer and tell them he does not think its working out and give a weeks notice it would help his confidence in the long run, he would be much happier in himself than if he was let go, there is no point in hanging on in an place like that.

Mrs OBumble

chancer12 wrote: »

I'm venting here because I don't want him to realise that I'm worried. Am being v positive in dealings with him. Yes, he can go to the UK but fact is he wants to be in Dublin, for now

Ahh, any chance he's a boardsie? Maybe one who doesn't tell his Mammy what his name here is???

Mr. Loverman

He needs to get out of this toxic place ASAP. The longer he stays there, the worse it'll affect him.

You sound like a good mother. With your support, a lot of job hunting and some patience, he'll find another job.

Regarding using them as a reference, he doesn't have to. He could supply his London reference and a college reference, or something like that. He just needs to think of a valid reason why he doesn't want to use them as a reference. (An example might be his manager has since quit and no other managers there knew him.)

Stheno

I'd agree with Mr. Loverman, he can use not use the man as a referee.

chancer12

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

He needs to get out of this toxic place ASAP. The longer he stays there, the worse it'll affect him.

You sound like a good mother. With your support, a lot of job hunting and some patience, he'll find another job.

Regarding using them as a reference, he doesn't have to. He could supply his London reference and a college reference, or something like that. He just needs to think of a valid reason why he doesn't want to use them as a reference. (An example might be his manager has since quit and no other managers there knew him.)

thank you both, and 'yes' he has v good references from London and from college. He text'd me last night to say that he was dreading going in today and didn't know how he'd face it. I don't know why people behave like this, if you don't think staff are what you want then all you have to do is say it, not spend the day shouting, screaming and humiliating them. he's updated his Linkedin profile as this seems to be the way a lot of recruitment is now done. I'll have a mooch around as well today and see if he could find anything else. He always intended going back to London but wanted a year at home as most of his friends are returning from their travels.