Managed out of job, disciplinary,no chance to make imorovements, demotion

[Stormtrooper]

Hi all,

Looking for advice on a pretty complicated story , Ill try and be as brief & complete as possible but please ask for further info that may help.

I began my employment as a trainee - back in 2019 for a rate of £10.00ph with a lot of OT.
I have been in this role up until January 2022, when my supervisor left and I was promoted to his position ( supervisor ).. This was however only because I said I would leave, to join my former colleague at their new employer, as I felt that despite me now training a new starter etc. that new starter was on the SAME money as me ( £10 )

they then agreed a pay rise to £13.80 and an official promotion to supervisor.

recently I was brought in to a meeting to discuss poor performance issues - and was shown images of a job I had completed, but failed to clear up enough afterwards ( I should have hoovered up and done a final check )

so I was given a severe telling off and made to feel completely useless, and then issued a "probation review extension" not a PIP -
every area was listed as unsatisfactory.
from quality of work, acceptance of responsibility, relationships with others. all marked as unsatisfactory.

my trade is a pipefitter, my day typically consists of

turn up to either depot or site. I have no involvement in pricing works so often never see the job , until day I get to site.
we are expected to scrounge and scrimp on fittings and materials, without even knowing what or what quantities of items we would need. as this is not arranged for us.
often timescales allowed are wholly unrealistic and unplanned.
planning and management are pretty poor above me.

when I mentioned before to my managers that I feel time allowances arent enough and Im often short on supplies or incorrect
and cant plan for jobs as I often have no idea of them until I arrive.. I was told well ASK then, I shouldn't have to ask what they have planned surely? not that it would matter as my manager does what he wants as he wants and changes plans/jobs on the fly..and I absolutely do not have any spare time to arrange material lists which I feel should not be my job as we have managers and storemen for that.

- we have a majority 1 day jobs, which I am forever rushing and stressing to complete as without a completion the client has no pneumatic power and obviously can not be allowed to happen.

I also told my employers that the stress is affecting my mental health - ( now I think that is what has brought about the beginning of them managing me out of the door )


My next review is the end of this month.
but Today my manager has basically said I havent improved since the meeting exactly two weeks ago Today ( and I have been on annual leave last week anyhow ) so quite how they can say that within 4 working days is beyond me.
but their justifications are:

1. Monday I was booked into a remote site induction, I was asked to be at another depot by 8am ready.

I left my hotel in plenty of time, however a crash on the way stopped me being able to get to the depot, so I did the remote induction in a carpark on my laptop from the van, completed the test etc and passed )

we then carried on and completed the work as the induction was complete and traffic by then had gone.


2. Thursday, I was 10 minutes late into my depot 8.10, but wasn't due to be on site until 9am anyhow, and on my travel to site was actually contacted my my manager who said , dont head to site yet , I've got a last minute meeting, wait for me to call,

so i returned to the depot. we subsequently left for site as 11,30am!

so my 10 mins late, equated to no loss of any production/work/nor did I leave anybody waiting etc and completed everything asked of me.

3. I have had tools confiscated as apparently I was not taking good enough care of them, these tools I use daily to help me with my job, Ive now been told I can not have them!
this will slow my work down considerably and I am now without tools that I am accustom to using.

I also, apparently should be on site 30 mins before work ( unpaid! ) - this is not what I or anyone has ever done! and it certainly isn't in my contract!

he now states he feels I am not ready to be a supervisor and suggests a step back, and them putting me through courses over 18 months to 2 years or so and then looking again in the future..

meanwhile this will mean:

1. I am still lead fitter on site
2. I will be the responsible person and the one taking any blame and or dealing with clients.
3. I will still have a trainee with me who I am expected to coach and mentor
4. I will still be the one driving the van
and so forth.

I am the only pipefitter.
so a demotion means really, doing the supervisors job, without the title & the pay ( £13.80 now, demoted to £10! )

I feel that he has shown today, that he has no intention of allowing me or helping me "improve" just wants me to leave without them having to go through the hassle.
but he also states that he doesn't want me to go as he need me to install pipe etc. yet he treats me like this.

I dont know what to feel, think or do.
but my stress and anxiety is crippling me now and Ive never been one to suffer from any mental health problems.
truly, I feel so low and useless that I would be doing the world a favour by vacating it.

thank you for bearing with me and I truly look forward to any advice!

[ULA]

When you were given the supervisor's role was this on the basis there would be a probationary period review since you mention you were give a probationary period extension?

If so how long was this for?

Was it explained to you at the time what would happen if you did not pass the probationary period in terms of what your role would be?

When they put you on the extension was it set out what performance criteria you would be expected to achieve to show an improvement in your performance and how this would be measured?

[Stormtrooper]

Yes, all new roles & contracts have a 6month probation period
mine would be up in August.

no, I was not told what would happen should I fail the probation, not when I was given the promotion and payrise, nor at anytime since.

I have had no goals or targets outlined, I am trying to improve blindly , when I asked about how I can show my improvements etc, they said its common sense!

a demotion, would be a farce as my role would not chance in any way, only my pay

I would still be the only experienced fitter in the team
still the driver of the van
still the one to delegate work to my trainee
still the contact between my managers and client
still the responsible person for overall works
etc etc

the only thing that would change is pay.
which imo is completely unfair



they charge gross for my labour per week 40hrs at 3600
and my trainee is at 2400

my gross is 552 and his 408

meaning they make 5000 a week AFTER paying our wages, just on the labour!
hardly short of cash then.

[ULA]

Hopefully your new contract confirmed the higher rate of pay.

I would suggest that you put in writing a request along the lines of "given that I have been put on a probation period extension, then in order for me to have a fair and reasonable chance at improving and to understand the criteria and measurements that will be used to confirm whether I have made the necessary improvement, please can these be set out in writing." In addition ask for confirmation of whether there will be review meetings set up in order for them/you to be able to monitor your progress. Effectively you are asking for a PIP but in relation to what is needed to satisfactorily complete your probationary period.

Let's see what happens as a result of that request.

Hope that helps.