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Fired for joining the army.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:01 pm
by jstagg
Hello every one, just a question on the subject above..

When i started the application process my employer had no idea i was leaving, until my recruiter phoned for a reference, from that point forward my boss became sour and tried to fire me for all sorts of reasons, with no viable reasons to 'get rid' of me it all died down, then i had to have various days off for interviews and tests ect witch he then tried to 'get rid of me' for but couldn't because of the law.. and then! ADSC came and i had to pull a sicky for those two days off so i couldn't give him another reason for 'getting rid of me'.. a week after ADSC i get a letter for a meeting with the Upper boss of the company where they both said ''Give us a notice, or we're going to have to make you leave because we can't afford to pay you when we could be paying some one who's staying on to work''.

So on to the question..

A cousin of mine is now joining and is having the same problem but worse, he's being bullied out off work in short.


Can an employer do this? can the army offer guidance? is there some form of employment protection he can have to sustain him until he joins?

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:20 pm
by MSI64
The short answer is Yes he can ask you to leave and No there aint nothing that can be done about it.

Your applying for another job after all!!!

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:22 pm
by AJtothemax
I don't think they're not allowed to do that.
Call your AFCO and explain the situation, take it from there.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:24 pm
by jstagg
When i explained what was happening to me whilst i was joining he did say theirs not allot we can to apart form call them and tell them about the joining process, i would have thought the army would look out for young new blood.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:27 pm
by OrcinusOrca
This may be of some use:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10026692

who is it you work for?

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:31 pm
by jabcrosshook
I wouldn't name your employer, but that's just me personally.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:32 pm
by jstagg
jabcrosshook wrote:I wouldn't name your employer, but that's just me personally.
I don't understand you're post, and no i won't mention the employer or company name.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:34 pm
by OrcinusOrca
Well he doesn't have to name the company, but whether its a big multinational or a small local firm, they may have codes of conduct for a dismissal.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:34 pm
by jabcrosshook
Jstagg wrote:
jabcrosshook wrote:I wouldn't name your employer, but that's just me personally.
I don't understand you're post, and no i won't mention the employer or company name.
I was replying to OrcinusOrca.

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 6:50 pm
by england08
hello mate, first off they cant sack you without proper cause. And from what i see you havent done anything wrong, youve not even signed anything saying youve accepted a job in the army. I suggest you read through your contract with them, see what you can find. Or go to the union if you have one? Because if they do sack you, and it was unlawfull, you can do them for unfair dismissal.

I can see why there not happy, but thats not your problem. As for notice,
I would just tell them, youre going to leave on the 22nd. If theyre not happy, then just drag it out and p1ss them off 8)

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 8:32 pm
by jstagg
jabcrosshook wrote:
Jstagg wrote:
jabcrosshook wrote:I wouldn't name your employer, but that's just me personally.
I don't understand you're post, and no i won't mention the employer or company name.
I was replying to OrcinusOrca.

OK sorry.
england08 wrote:hello mate, first off they cant sack you without proper cause. And from what i see you havent done anything wrong, youve not even signed anything saying youve accepted a job in the army. I suggest you read through your contract with them, see what you can find. Or go to the union if you have one? Because if they do sack you, and it was unlawfull, you can do them for unfair dismissal.

I can see why there not happy, but thats not your problem. As for notice,
I would just tell them, youre going to leave on the 22nd. If theyre not happy, then just drag it out and p1ss them off 8)

Yeah, this isn't regarding me it's my cousin but i'm passing all the information onwards, any more would be a bonus.. it seems allot of people have had this problem.. would there be any way to inform the military of this to make them aware of the problems joining can cause... and maybe shorten the joining time..


How would the forum go about recruiting for the army?

Posted: Mon 08 Dec, 2008 9:21 pm
by druadan
The joining process is already fairly streamlined, considering the various stages etc involved. Of course it could be improved, but then can't everything? At the end of the day it's a lot of paperwork, and no-one likes paperwork.

Employers can dismiss you for accepting another job, if such is written into your contract of employment. At what point your application to join the forces becomes an offer/acceptance of employment would probably have to be argued in court, if it has not been done so in the past. From my study I 'believe' if written into contract that simply applying for other jobs may be grounds for dismissal, but that may come under unfair contract terms.

In short, check your contract!

Posted: Tue 09 Dec, 2008 10:25 am
by flighty
Have a look at this site and give them a ring.

http://www.gmemploymentrights.org.uk/

They are excellent.

Posted: Tue 09 Dec, 2008 5:14 pm
by jstagg
Flighty thanks for the post, my cousin has now officially lost his job for joining, so i've told him to check these out, and maybe go to citizens advice and see what they say. thanks for you're support all. he's in hard times and needs allot of help/cash.. (he's been at my stash of cash already.. T minus £10 and counting!!!)

Posted: Tue 09 Dec, 2008 7:13 pm
by flighty
Don't bother with Citizens Advice. They are too busy with benefit claims and so on. And they do a great job.

The site I've shown you does what it says on the tin! A ten minute phone call to them will answer most, if not all of your questions.

I have been a union rep for hundreds of years and have picked these guys' brains for accurate advice. They have never failed me. :wink:

Jayne