I have just been told by my employer that i am no longer needed.?

Question

I was employed as an operational manager and have had no one 2 ones or appraisals. i have been working for the company for 5 months. No notice or warning. Can they do this?
The only reason they gave me is that i did not have enough business knowledge. No job description was signed.

Answer 1

Yes, they can fire you just because they do not like the color of your hair.

Answer 2

Almost the same thing happened to me last week. I lost my job and was told that my position had been eliminated-- I was simply not needed.

Yes, you can be let go for any reason.
Employers don't give notice or warning because they are often protecting thier assets. They don't want to risk having you on the job for 3 more weeks and give you the opportunity to sour business deals, delete files, or otherwise screw up the business they have going. So, they sweep you out as fast as possible. Once you know you are loosing your job, they consider you a threat.

However, you need to figure out if you were laid off (they don't have work for you or they no longer have a position for you) or if you were fired (they don't like you, or you did something wrong). If you can get some sort of a letter of reference, or even an email confirmation that you were let go because you "were no longer needed", this would be excellent back up when you try to get a new job if questions ever come up.

If any of the above apply, with the exception of you doing something against policy or illegal, you should be able to file for unemployment right away.

Good luck on your job search.

Answer 3

I agree with dasielady, happy and Tufty Porcupine. But to add to what they said, even though you say you didn't sign a written contract, if a written document exists that was intended to be signed or there was a verbal agreement, these are almost certainly just as binding.

Even if nothing was mentioned at all, I am sure that you would be entitled to reasonable notice or pay in lieu of notice. I don't know if this is governed by a particular statute, but my guess is that the minimum you would be entitled to is not otherwise agreed is 1 pay period - eg a week if you are paid weekly or a month if you are paid monthly.

Answer 4

Yes, they are well within their rights to do this. Most companies these days are protected by "at will' or "right to work" laws which mean that the employment relationship can be terminated at any time, by either party, with or without notice or cause. With only 5 months of service, you don't really have a fallback position here.

Answer 5

If you live in the UK then employees do have some basic rights - what the HELL is the labour movement in the US doing?? - get a backbone guys!!
Unless they are terminating your contract for gross misconduct or because you misled them/gave false infromation in your job application, then they have to give notice as outlined in your statement of particulars. Failure to do so would mean you can take them to an employment tribunal for wrongful dismissal.

Answer 6

Whenever I've started a new job its always been a 3month appraisal, where if i'm not suitable for the job by the end of it they can just dismiss me. I've had friends who have had a 4month appraisal so possible you can get 5month ones aswell.

Answer 7

If you are in the US, in close to all states they yes they can lay you off for any reason or for no reason as long as it's not due to things like race, age, or gender or unless you have a contract that says differently.

Answer 8

Sorry, but if you work in "at will" state, you can be fired for anything or even for no reason. Usually, most companies have a trial period to see if you can cut it before they invest too much time in you.

Good luck

Answer 9

if you are in the UK and have worked less than a year they can get rid of you without any explaination contract or no contract. You have to have been working for a year before you can claim unfair dismissal unless its on the grounds of discrimination.

Answer 10

yes they can do that........unfortunately.......

they can let you go at anytime and dont even have to give you a reason , if you want to make an issue of it they can say they are just cutting back their workforce , just really sucks ...because if you were to quit on them and not give them 2 weeks notice they would probably not give you a good reference to a new employer and would probably call you unreliable......but theres nothing you can do if they get rid of you without notice.....just sucks....

sorry



B.

Answer 11

Was it supposed to be a temporary position, like an as needed? Unfortunately they can do this, but I would speak with a representative from the department of labor just to know your rights.