Published on 12, July, 2020
Continuing with my problems at work.
And the incidents that annoy me.
I work as a support worker with people having both physical & mental disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviour.
Last week I got a severe reprimand from a senior support worker for using my smartphone at work. I was checking the weather forecast on the BBC site. A couple of hours later the same support worker was spending hours on her smartphone playing solitaire, while her colleague was on social websites. I hate hypocrisy.
I still haven't been sacked. But I am facing a formal disciplinary hearing in two weeks time, where one option is dismissal.
New charges against me include, that at one meeting I was moving about on a rotating chair playing with it. I was actually stimming while under stress and trying to relax.
Just finished with my disciplinary meeting with company chief executive, two managers and two people from HR.
On my side was a mental health employment specialist.
I'VE BEEN FIRED. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!!!!
I'm so sorry to read this, Robert. Take it from me, though - it is not a slight against you. From what you've described, you were fighting against a culture all too familiar to me. I'm not sure what you're feeling right now, but don't be down on yourself. You've done the right things. You were treated appallingly. It sounds to me like you're better off out of there. It certainly doesn't need to hinder you in getting something else. But take some time and take stock. And take care. There are much better and more understanding employers out there, and you will find one.
If the weather is nice tomorrow, I'm of on one of my long walks through the country doing some photography and trying to forget my troubles and relax.
Good plan. Have some good time for yourself, doing what you like. You need time to recuperate from this. Something similar happened to me about 20 years ago. I went sick until I was ready to face things again. Put this behind you and move on.