Being Laid-off.. The Bastards!

[KeganFinder]

Hi MyBB friends

So I work for company which is based in the UK. They have set up a South african branch where myself and the Manager work from. I had started my probationary contract on 9th September and it was for a 6 month probation period.

The trouble starts at the end of Feb. My manager informed me that she had found a new job(after working in this position for 20 years I can understand why) and she had accepted the offer. She has informed our director, who is in the UK, and suggested to him that I am competent enough to run the show. He is not happy with that and is now terminating this branch at the end of the month. I have not received any written notice of this only word of mouth from my manager. But understandably if the branch closes I am left without a JOB. I feel Hard done by as I really am competent enough to run the show and I manage the workload very well. I have emailed my director asking why we haven't discussed this and offered again to take on the responsibility but still its a no go.

It has been suggested that I request severance pay as this may be considered unfair dismissal. COuld this be true? I have already started to look at other jobs but there seriously is not much out there that complements my B.Sc Degree in Property.

I forsee at least a month or two coming without a salary and I am upset enough to go for the severance package. How would I approach this? Considering My probation period ended 9th of March, I have not received written notice and i wasn't dismissed by any fault of my own.

Any Advice Please? My finances are my biggest worry

 

[BobsLawnService]

B.Sc in property?

 

[Grant]

B.Sc in property?

anything position within the property industry that compliments a B.Sc degree - i think.

 

[Grant]

Any Advice Please? My finances are my biggest worry

the company is going to end operations locally.
so you feel competent enough to run the branch.

what is going to happen to the existing clients, where are they going to go, who is going to service their requirements.

personally, given that situation, i would gather up as much client info as possible, start your own operation doing what you have been doing for someone else all this time - poach the clients.
or
look for a similar company, negotiate yourself a good position / package based on the clients you can bring to the business.

but this is all stabbing away in the dark.
what kind of property business is this, what is it's core function ?

 

[scudsucker]

but this is all stabbing away in the dark.
what kind of property business is this, what is it's core function ?

Stabbing in the back, more like, if he's taking the clients.

What kind of property business? Obviously estate agent; no other profession has lower morals!

 

[mr_norris]

I don't know jack about employee rights, but I'm relatively sure the company can do what they want with you when you're in the probation period.

Being a full time employee is a different story. I think you'd be lucky to get anything out of them.

 

[hawker]

Stabbing in the back, more like, if he's taking the clients.

Does it matter? The firm is closing their South African branch, and as such they won't have a presence in the country at all. I don't think it's that bad.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

If the SA branch is closing down and you don't have a non-compete, now is the time to become self-employed (assuming whatever you do is profitable)

 

[noxibox]

I don't know jack about employee rights, but I'm relatively sure the company can do what they want with you when you're in the probation period.

Labour law still applies. The employer is required to give feedback during the period to correct any performance issues otherwise they cannot dismiss for poor performance and all other types of dismissal require normal procedures. Notice period would be a minimum of one week.

 

[Sherbang]

I don't know jack about employee rights, but I'm relatively sure the company can do what they want with you when you're in the probation period.

Being a full time employee is a different story. I think you'd be lucky to get anything out of them.

This is not true. http://www.labourguide.co.za/employment-equity/528-probation

Being that the company is UK based though I don't know how easy it will be for you to challenge them here.

 

[BobsLawnService]

Is it possible for you to propose being an agent and supporting your customers independently?