suspended from work?

Question

Hi i need some advice, i work in a insurance company and iv been there for 14 months, iv never had a discplinary, informal meeting, or never been given a warning, i have recently been depressed as my farther needs a kidney transplant.ii have also had a few other famliy problems, my doctor is aware of this and has given me a letter stating my depression, i have not give my 100% to my work due to depression for 2 days, i work in a call center, i have been taking short amount of calls tranfering them to the relevent department, then staying in after call work for 15-20, they have been monitoring me for 2 days, without giving me a warning and then suspended me from work, i know what i have done is wrong but i think getting suspended is a little bit hash, i have my disciplinary meeting tomorrw and im really worrid about the outcome, can someone give me some advice as im desperate to keep my job

Thankyou

Answer 1

Firstly does your company have a union as this would help. Take your medical notes etc.. with you and as much explanation as you can. Try calling citizens advice for more information.

Answer 2

I work in HR so I can only assume you are suspended at the moment while still receiving full pay. This is just to allow the company time to gather all the facts they need before they have a meeting with you. It is not a punisment at this stage as no decision has been made, but obviously the company feels what you have done is serious enough that you cannot remain in work until a disciplinary meeting is held. If you've been doing as you say you have and just transferring calls to relevant departments, i.e. ones that you have not been trained to deal with yourself then you should be fine. If however you have been "dodging calls" that you should have been taking then this is very serious. It all depends on how the company may have dealt with similar issues in the past, but if it's your 1st offence of any kind within your job and you take responsibility and apologose for it, explaining your personal circumstances at present, you may get a written warning and keep your job. It will all come down to how hard a line the company you work for have taken with similar issues in the past. I would advise you to be honest with them at this stage, if they find out you are lying or withholding facts they may be less likey to give you a second chance. Also, if you don't understand anything while in there ask them to explain further. You should have been made fully aware the reasons you are currently suspended up to now. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Answer 3

Ok, first of all remember that most call centre managers are young, not so bright, arrogant, climbing, and scared. They tend to be poor people managers and base all their decisions from "statistics" on a computer screen. So what I'm saying is, they are no better than you, remember that. As you are in a customer facing role they were probably correct to suspend you, although it should have been on full pay. Also remember you have been an employee for more than 12 months so you have full employee rights under the law. Stay calm in your meeting and just state the facts of your problems, do not get into an argument. Take a notepad and write down what they say, better still, if you can hide an mp3 player with a voice recorder in your pocket record the meeting. If they try to intimidate you just imagine them sitting on the toilet taking a dump, that's a great leveller. Unfortunately very few people really understand depression so don't expect them to have too much empathy with your position. If you get a hard time from them go back to your GP and ask to be signed off for a month with stress. First your employer will have to pay you, and second you have concrete 'proof' of a recognised medical condition. Good luck, and remember you are not in the wrong.

Answer 4

Well, it does indeed seem harsh, but to be fair they are expecting you to do the job you're paid for, and call centres are cut-throat businesses. Had you discussed your problems with your boss? I'd guess not, or you would have mentioned it.

From the company's point of view you've been under-performing for no apparent reason, so tomorrow is your chance to explain what has been happening and produce your doctor's letter. Hopefully, when they realise the situation they might be able to find you less taxing work to do for a while, or give you "gardening leave" to sort yourself out; however I'm sure you appreciate that if they cannot accommodate you they do need someone in your post who performs up to requirements.

Wish you luck.

Answer 5

Hi,

As a kidney patient myself, I am very sorry for your troubles.

Employers are b*****ds, unfortunately, they don't care about your personal problems, and they are not legally required to. Having said that they still have a duty of care, and good employers should recognise this responsibility.

Having worked in a call centre, I know it can be an extremely stressful and demanding environment to be in. Getting call after call, with no breather in between, chained to your work station, and expected to deal with a high volume of calls, even if the callers are irrate. You are very much treated as an object and not a person.

Are you sure you really want to keep this job? To be honest, they don't seem all that great to work for. After all, they could of warned you that they would be monitoring you. As for suspending you, well you have passed your probation, it's your first offence, if it's not been going on for very long, then they could have warned you, even formally, and then advised you, that they would be monitoring you at intervals. It seems to me they have given you no opportunity to change your behaviour, and are going down the gross misconduct route.

I think that you need to put your hands up, tell them exactly whats been going on, in particular the issues with your father, and that he needs a kidney transplant. Tell them a number of times that you are sorry, it will not happen again, you understand the actions they have taken, you have had difficulty concentrating, but you now realise that you HAVE to clear you mind of everything else, and concentrate 100% on your work. Tell them it will never happen again, and impress on them, how much you enjoy your work, and that you do not wish to lose your job, as you enjoy what you do so much.

If you tell them all of this, they will think you are keen, and enthusiastic, and will hopefully lift your suspension, and perhaps just give you a formal warning of some kind.

Best of luck with everything.

Answer 6

Hi,

I'm sure that if your company decent they will accept your reasons for behaving the way you have. Unfortunatly, you do not need to complete the 3 warning stage as they are allowed to dismiss you for Gross Misconduct if they feel you have done something REALLY bad. Ifyou explain that you are not just lazy and shirking your responsibilities but actually ILL (depression is classed as an illness) I'm sure they will accept this and allow you back to work, probably with a verbal warning. I'm sure that you are also allowed a member of staff to support you in the meeting. Your best bet is to call the CAB and ask them but don't go in tomorrow with an attitude as you will probably end p worse off. Show you are sorry and make them understand you will not act in this fashion again.
Good luck!

Nicola

Answer 7

You should go to the meeting and apologize for your past performance, then explain what has been going on in your life and show the doctors letter if needed. The main thing is they are going to have to know that you are going to be able to put this aside while you are at work and concentrate on earning your paycheck. Perhaps they will give you a couple of days off to make this transition. It is really up to you and decide if your attitude is any way going to help the situation. If not, pull yourself up and get on with the things the best you can.

Good Luck.

Answer 8

Hi - Sounds like they have suspended you (with pay) pending an investigation. What reasons did they suspend you! thats important, In your meeting you need to inform your employer of your current situation and highlight that dispite your current empotional state you have continued to come to work and do yuor job - despite not doing it a 100%. You need to focus on your good record and that you are going through a difficult time.
If you have a union within your workplace I recommend that you seek counsel from them and for them to attend your meeting as you have a right to be represented.
Also bear in mind that you have worked with thm for more than 1 year so if you feel hard done by you should raise this with an employment tribunal.
Good Luck

Answer 9

I do not think you should attend such a meeting with little to no notice. Inform them that you are unable to attend due to ill health and would like the meeting postponed until you are up to attending. They cannot do much if you inform them either in writing or by email.(Get a receipt) Then when you feel up to it, rather than search for legal representation at such short notice (you could end up with an idiot as my husband did) Go to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, they will be able to tell you your entitlements. They cannot sack you for being depressed, Best of luck.

Answer 10

I'm not sure what it is that you've done wrong here. However, putting that aside I would just the meeting to explain the circumstances as you have explained them here.

The meeting should be as much an opportunity for you to explain yourself, as it is for them to 'discipline' you.

I would also draw attention to the good or even outstanding work (if that is the case) I have done over the past 14 months. Reassure them that you are an asset and not a potential, ongoing pain in the bum.

Answer 11

Firstly I am sorry you are going through such a bad time both personally with your unwell father and work.
I think you are pre-occupied with your family problems and it is clouding your ability to work/function properly at work.

I would strongly suggest you take someone to the meeting to be a witness. If you belong to a union then they will attend the meeting with you and offer their support.
A disciplinary does seem a little harsh and indeed hasty of them.
I would reiterate to the bosses at work that you are struggling with family problems too. Do not let them bully you.
I think a spell off work sick to help you deal with your depression may be helpful too.
I wish you luck.