Advice also on how to avoid the sack
10 Ways to get and avoid the Sack
Getting the sack at work is the definite low point in anyone’s career and it is not what you want if you have a lifestyle which your career funds .If it does happen, to have this misdemeanor on your work record is a black mark that will unfortunately shine a bad light for your future career plans and will make your work choices a lot more difficult for years ahead.
But the good news though, is that the reasons for getting sacked are mostly avoidable and below are the top ten instances which may get you fired.
1 Bad Time Keeping
Being late for work is sometimes unavoidable, the train or bus isn’t on time, alarm clock failed to go off etc. etc. are valid excuses on occasion .But continuous lateness is viewed more seriously as it has cost and productivity implications to the company which employs you .If your lateness is excessive a lateness procedure will be a necessary step and disciplinary procedures will commence with dismissal the ultimate step.
So getting in at work on time is just expected from all employers .In your employment contract your hours of work are agreed and start and a finish times are in stone, so get ready each day to get to your work on time, it’s what is expected every day of you.
2 Poor performance
When a company takes on a new employee this will involve a significant investment in both time and money from the company in terms of training and education .So it obviously makes sense to give that employee every possible chance to succeed and perform in their role to the highest standard and his /her work after induction and during a probationary period will be under some scrutiny. The normal period of probation is around 3 months, so this period is the time to really perform and look to develop within the job if this is the career which you decide is for you .Failure to come up to scratch could see the contract legally terminated .It is also important to remember that under employment laws in the UK, formal proceedings or warning of underperformance can also lead to you being sacked up to a two year period. You are paid to perform so enough said.
3 Drinking at Work
Gone are the days when the team would pop round the corner to the local for a lunch time beverage or two .Many deals have been struck in the pub or over a boozy lunch but in most cases things ain’t what they used to be, especially if you work in a heavily corporate environment or in a workplace which has various physical hazards .If you are a senior manager it certainly sets a bad example to your team or juniors if you arrive back slightly tipsy.
Indeed arriving at work smelling of alcohol will itself raise a few eyebrows but to be incapable through drink of carrying out your job will lead to dismissal .Being shown the door will be worse than any hangover .So if you want to keep your job, best wait for the weekend for the visit to the pub.
4 Overuse of your own mobile phone
Everywhere you look at lunch time in any city centre you will see legions of employees heading out of the office with their phone to their ear or in their hand, as they catch up with missed calls or the latest goings on in social media or text land. This is what employers are comfortable with as it shows most of them have not been using work time to interact with friends and family .Your employer pays you a salary to work during set hours ,not to constantly check your phone or take calls .Overstepping the mark and breaking this golden rule will lead to disciplinary and ultimately dismissal .So keep your phone in your pocket and on silent at work.
5 Overuse of the Internet
Similar to phone use at work is the time spent surfing the net for shopping, social media or pleasure. Your internet use at work will be monitored by the powers that be so if you do ,keep it a minimum, perhaps during designated tea or lunch breaks .And off course never check out any Adult websites on the job as this will mean one thing ,an instant sacking.
6 Lying on your CV and Job application
We all want a dream job and a rewarding career but lying to achieve that goal will mean a short lived taste of ‘success’. Not only is it a devious way to climb the career ladder but is also shows that you are a cheat, which is a very shameful tag to carry .You ask, how the employer can find out about your educational and professional prowess that you have listed on your CV. Well firstly educational and other background checks can take up to a month after hire, so you may be able to wing it for a while. Also as you have little expertise or requisite experience, your performance will soon find you out too. Our advice is to tell the truth from the start it may save a lot of pain, embarrassment and a likelihood of a sacking.
7 Gossiping
If you like a good gossip it simply will not look good if you are talking often and loosely about your feelings for the company and your workmates in a negative way .This can cause no end of problems for you and will create division and tension. Although you may have personal feelings on the company, your boss or colleagues, your opinions to others are not important .If you have an issue with your boss for example, approach them professionally and ask for a private word to explain your issue. Do not bad mouth or verbally attack them or others behind their back as not everyone as this bad feeling will trickle back and will be the start of trouble .You must also never discuss or disclose to your company’s competitors any confidential information relating to products or sales, as this is a sure way of being shown the door.
8 Stealing from your employer
Not only is theft a sacking offence it could also involve the Police being called in ,so this action may cause you double trouble .Taking a pen or a few paper clips won’t see you being dismissed but if a pattern of taking things home becomes apparent then the employer may think ‘ what is this person capable of ? ‘and the trust in you will be lost and your employer will have no option but to dismiss you .The issue of ‘stealing’ does not stop with tangibles but could also cover the taking of information and data and passing it on ( as touched on above in 7) to other companies. All trust in you will be gone and so will your job.
9 Falling asleep on the job
To fall asleep at your work in a bizarre way is like stealing from your employer .You are being paid to work and carry out your job but you are catching forty winks and getting paid just the same .You will agree it is difficult to fall asleep in an office environment or in the middle of a factory floor but some people can go to extra ordinary lengths to create a secret nest where they can slope off for time out to have a kip .Warehouses or in distribution centres offer some opportunities! But beware,employers do check security cameras of their establishments regularly,so you could be caught having a nap .So if you want to avoid sleeping and losing your job ,get to your bed earlier .
10 Aggressive towards Colleagues
Aggressive behaviour can be frightening at any time or place and is likely to cause those witnessing it alarm and distress. In the real world unfortunately aggressive behaviour is commonplace on our streets after hours at weekends across the UK, but to happen in a workplace this simply should never happen .Indeed frustration or stress may be central to someone at work losing control or having a heated argument in a way which is not in their character. If this does happen to you ,go to a corridor or a meeting room to cool down. Apologise and let your work colleagues know that you were out of order and that this will never happen again .People understand that people behave out of character from time to time. However if this aggressive behaviour becomes a regular pattern, your employer will soon nip it in the bud .They do not want negative and unruly individuals in their ranks .So you know what will happen.
Being Late for Your Work
Always Apologise for Running Late at work
We have all been late for work .At times our late running is due to circumstances out of our control, such as traffic, late trains or buses, child care issues and so on .However on occasion we are at fault, sleeping in being a typical example, that gut wrenching feeling of waking up and glancing at the alarm clock and realising you are going to be late for work. We are only human and running late can happen.
If you are late for the start for your working day, it is likely that your company may overlook your late start but it could be noted. It is very important to communicate to your manager or team leader that you express regret at your tardiness. Some companies have a very strict code of working hours and attendance and being late is seriously frowned upon .
Whatever the reason it is highly important that you apologise for your bad time keeping, offering a full explanation and sincere apology face to face with your manager.
If your late arrival was significant, let’s say an hour or so, provide a hand written letter of apology(see below) or offer to work beyond your contracted hours on that day.
Pre-empt your lateness
If you know you are going to be running late for work or have a special meeting scheduled, it is best to call ahead and explain you circumstance and that you will endeavour to be there as soon as possible, you could even give an expected time of arrival at the office, this shows that you are being proactive in getting there as quickly as possible.
You’re Apology for lateness
When you make your apology be as sincere as possible, never make light of the situation by cracking a joke about how poor the trains are or that you are going to invest in a better alarm clock .Definitely not comments and this will only make you look very cavalier and careless. Be professional and contrite.
It will also be welcome to show you acknowledge that being late is wrong and that punctuality is what she/he and the company expect
And you will not less this happen again. It is also a good idea to thank your boss or manager for not sacking you as some companies can and will dismiss employees for being late.
If your boss is very angry at you, do not make excuses, accept their telling off and remain humble.
Apologise by Letter
If you feel that you need to make your apology by letter, it is good idea to do a hand written letter .This makes your intent bona fide and sincere.
Make clear the reasons why you have written the letter as well, to make it known the guilt you feel and how you have let the company down.
Keep the letter short, however, do not ramble and go on and on, about how much you love working here etc and that you are full of remorse.You have not committed a grievous crime you have been late for work, so keep to the point. End the letter with sincerely yours.
Sending an email apology is not a negative but providing the personal touch of a letter to your boss is a better move, especially nowadays where a hand written letter is not the norm.
Getting to Work On Time
No one knows what tomorrow brings but being late for work is not a good image .Punctuality is expected , so make sure that you have a plan in place to get to work on time or even earlier than normal .The vast majority of people make work on time ,so at the end of the day there are no excuses if you continue to be late for work ,you may be out of work.
