Hi, i work at a large transport planning consultancy in the UK. They’ve always been awful employers and mistreated me. This has not been good for my mental health (understatement of the year). I am still on probation but my 6 months ends on 7th May (so going into 7 months). My contract states my probation review has to be on the 6th month – but no penalty or anything described for going over.
I have had multiple review meeting where they have twisted it to make me look bad. I have been to HR multiple times but they’ve done nothing. I have refuted and not signed any of the meeting minutes.
They have compiled evidence against me, all of which I can refute. They shared this information with me today, ahead of the scheduled probationary meeting tomorrow.
However, this meeting has now been rescheduled (and rebranded) for next week. Previously it was just going to be my probation meeting but this has been changed to a ‘capability hearing’. The attendees to the meeting are two people trying to get me sacked and someone from HR – I don’t know who decides the outcome but if it’s an equal vote I’ve already lost irrespective of what HR thinks. I feel if I resign there’s a chance I might just get a basic reference, whereas I’m screwed if this meeting happens as they’ll just say I’m incompetent and I will never be employed by anyone who receives this. The meeting is scheduled for next week but it shows as cancelled on one of the managers calendar, so I believe there’s a chance it may be pushed into the 7month threshold.
Also, my contract states that if my employment is “terminated” (ie they sack me) I cannot work for a competing transport planning firm for three months. Is this legal?
My manager is very controlling with holidays and must be approved by him – if I resign can I use all my holiday for notice period or do I have to have that approved? If have to go to the meeting I will be sacked and my life forever ruined. There is also a small fear that if I used my holiday as my notice period they would hold the ‘capability hearing’ and rule against me in my absence. My notice period is one week.
Can I resign with immediate effect without my notice?
I feel their goal is to force me out but I think I have to resign.
Any advice welcome, I’m gagging for help and very much in an awful place right now.