Need employment help

jme020467

I would like to ask for some advice regarding employment matters.

I have recently been laid off from my last job because the management felt I had not achieved a satisfactory probationary period.The period would have finished by December last year but was extended until April 2018.

My skill set and performance were fine and there were no complaints until one day I told my line manager that shouting at team members in front of everyone was inappropiate. From that moment on She made my life impossible and was bullied a couple of times. She intemidated me and embarrased me in front of the team and customers.

I then thought of discussing the issue with her manager and his manager,s manager. This decission did not do well within the mnager's team and before I knew it I was engaging in trade unions representatives and meetings which ended up in my termination of contract. The union representative even recommended I put a grievance in which I did. The grievance was upheld and I am now out of work.

I may have made a couple of mistakes but don't think I deserved the treatment I received.

I now find myself looking for work and having to explain why I left my last job. This is of course very difficult because although I want to be transparent and truthfull, my story may sound like I am a trouble maker. I am not a trouble maker!

I honestly thought that reporting bullying or challenging bad practices in the work place would be the honourable and decent thing to do? In the letter it says I could appeal but should I? What if a potential new employer asks for references?

Please help me, I am struggling to find words to explain why I left my last job?

Looking forward to hearing from any of you.

Jme.

JennysDad

Hello @jme020467 and a warm welcome to the community. Glad you have found us, but sorry to hear about your situation.
I'm not qualified to tell you how to resolve this but I would ask you to click on this link to our Support to Work team. There is a good deal of information on the page, including a contact a phone number and links to other services if they are not directly able to help you.
In the meantime I am sure other members will get back to you on this, so bear with us.
Warmest best wishes 
Richard @JennysDad

Zaid_Alumni

Hi @jme020467 there are ways you can use positive language to put across why you left your last job. You shouldn't be discriminated against because of a grievance with a former employer but in reality that can happen.

Support to Work might be able to help you with ways to raise this with prospective employers. Info here: https://www.scope.org.uk/support/services/employment/support-work
Or call 0300 222 5742 

I hope this helps!

Sam_Alumni

Thanks @Zaid_Scope

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jme020467

Thank you

jme020467

Thank you

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debbiedo49

Have you been on any courses or tried to access counselling about bullying? It happened to me as well and I self referred to local charitable organisation who helped me to overcome my fears. Also I did access employee counselling at the time. It happened again and I decided to become a workplace rep and I was trained to help overcome workplace bullying. Unfortunately that made me a target for bullying and it’s harder when it’s you that it’s happening to. It’s very common for reps to be bullied. Anyway now you are away from the situation you should focus on being the best you. I tried voluntary work and free online distance learning and other learning to boost my c v and this helped boost my confidence. I get help from a charitable organisation working with the job centre who help me with employability. Good luck

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debbiedo49

It is a Scottish mental health charity doing a pilot scheme