Any Advice? Work is trying to screw me out of redundancy

[sas85]

Long rang . . sorry am just emotional right now.

I don't know whether I'm madder or more teary right now. The rundown - when I left my job as Accounts Manager to have DD my arrangements to job share with a bookkeeper were pulled out 2 months before my maternity leave because my boss apparently felt that my job needed to be a full time position, even though I'd only done full time for a few months to catch up on missing a months work while I was overseas and had been part time for a couple of years before that on my own without any issues - it was just a farce - he was trying to hold me accountable for things like if their was a loss at the end of the month, or the warehouse stocktake having major differences to the in and outgoing stock sheets from the warehouse, neither of which I had ANY control over, I just entered the data, processed and analyzed it and presented the information, it was total crap and the replacement manager had exactly the same problems until they finally found someone who was capable of running the warehouse etc a couple of months ago. Basically the way I was pushed out of my rights to return to a reasonabe flexible working arrangement then was illegal and I knew it, but had to keep my mouth shut as my husband does their tax which is a big account for him. My boss obviously realized this (not that he admitted it) after the same issue with the new accountant so was happy for me to come back part time but only for what work they had.

So, I started working part time again as a bookkeeper for them (not as the manager as that role now filled by my replacement) a few months ago. Now, due to potential expansion they are hiring a accountant / financial controller as well as the accounts manager - Now there is just enough work for the full time manager and me working 12 hours a week so it doesn't take a genious to wonder what they're planning on doing in two weeks when they bring him on board.

Today I come to work and there's a letter on my desk with a list about how I've had numerous warnings about attention to detail and not making errors with regards to double entering invoices, entering under wrong supplier, entering in wrong company (there's 4 all with same first name) and how the manager is supposedly spending several HOURS each DAY checking my work etc!!! Basically culminates with unless this is eliminated this will result in termination of your position.

Now I am by no means perfect, but I am actually very accurate even with having been sooo sick the last couple of months, any errors I may makes with regards to MYOB is easily picked up at the latest by the end of the month when you check the statement to the invoices, earlier if paying from the manual invoice, or doing reconciliations (ie, I do the rec's so I often pick up and simply correct the manager's deposit input errors, it is very quick and I thought to be expected). So even if I have input some info in the wrong place, it is only ever temporary - there is no need to check my work every day as any (and they are few) errors will be corrected come end of month rec's - it's not even worth a verbal warning let alone a threat of firing over and it is impossible to believe anyone could spend several hours a DAY checking what I do in 12 hours a WEEK and it just goes on and on for a page.

The thing is I KNOW that this is what my boss is like, I've seen him do it to many managers over the years and I KNOW I am Damn good at my job and this is without justification - but it still feels makes me feel like worthless crap, and there is nothing I can do about it. Basically they are sitting back WAITING for me to make ANY little mistake so they have reason to terminate me without paying me the redundancy they would need to if there's not enough work for me with the new financial controller who just so happens to be coming on board in 2 weeks, and conveniently they don't have to worry about maternity leave come end of financial year time. So now the thought of going to work just makes me feel panicky and teary because it has become a place where all I have to look forward to is knowing I'm unappreciated and feeling stress since I apparently will be fired the next time I make a minor input error.

[sneakysparkle]

oh hun I'm so sorry. I don't have any advice, but I really hope this gets sorted out for you! Its so not fair.

[UntoldAngel]

Oh hun that sucks!
Working as a bookkeeper myself, I know how much attention to detail I do and still I can make mistakes sometimes, but it is very rare and only minor. Luckily you use MYOB and data entry errors are fairly easy to fix - I use Attache which isn't very forgiving but I do love it for that reason as it makes you pay attention to detail IYKWIM. I don't see that your boss would actually be monitoring your work for several hours a day each week, otherwise they wouldn't be doing their job and should be doing yours - which I am sure they wouldn't know how to do nearly good enough . If they are having the same problems with the new accountant, then you know it is all a cop out
Also, with your hubby doing their tax, that can become a tricky situation. Professionally they shouldn't pull the account from him if you were to say something, but that doesn't mean it is the way it will happen. We put on a new staff member a couple of years ago, and then had one of our biggest clients threaten to pull their accounts from us if we didn't let her go because she worked for one of their friends and left that employment under very bad terms. Unfortunately, we had to let her go strictly from a business position (if we'd kept her we would have lost half our workload and there wouldn't have been a position for her anyway, but we still felt really bad about the situation) and then they pulled the accounts from us 6months later to go with an 'internal' position as a cost cutter
I'm sure you are more than competent at your job, sounds like your boss is just trying to push you out, or at least make it difficult for you
Good luck and I hope everything works out for you

[Nettie]

Are you in the union? What do they say about it? Or there should be an ombudsman or something you can ask.

hope it turns out ok for you and you get a better offer elsewhere before they get the chance to sack you!

[fionas]

Darl, go and speak to your union even if you're not a member already. That's what they're for.

I would even consider writing them a very brief response saying something like, "I have received your letter dated x and am taking advice from the union."

[Meercat]

I went through something similar to this recently (I ended up being fired, now have a lawyer and several complaints lodged)

If they have given you this warning, they cant use it to dismiss you! They have to prove that the error was a sackable offence and also that you did not make an effort to fix the problem (If there even is one!)

Contact the Human Rights Commission as well, if you believe they are setting up a way to dismiss you and take away your entitlements, they can help you lodge a complaint.

[Nai]

Do they have any record of these 'supposed' warnings and errors? I would ask to see your HR file to see what is in there as well - it is your right to do that. If they are saying that you have had previous warnings then there needs to be records of them and documented evidence.

I would also contact HREOC - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commision to find out if what they are doing is illegal or unfair in realtion to getting you dismissed (depends on the size of the company what laws apply to them - and these changed on the 1st Jan so they may also not be aware of this!).