FOR MORE GREAT STORIES, VISIT COSMO.IN APRIL 2018 COSMOPOLITAN 87the probation period when
you’re found out, there
could still be consequences.
“Your contract can be
terminated based on the
fact you were hired under
false pretences,” says Aliya
Vigor-Robertson, co-
founder of HR consultancy
JourneyHR in London.
Worst case, you can even
be prosecuted. So stick to
the truth.
DID YOU KNOW? In
2010, Rhiannon Mackay
became the first woman
in the UK to be jailed (she
got six months!) for lying
on her resume.YOU FAILED YOUR
PROBATION
Three months into the job
and they’re still not quite
sure if you’re a ‘good fit’,
so they’re
extending
your
probation.
“This can
really
knock your
confidence,”
says Aliya.
“Without
becoming
defensive,
you need to get clear
feedback on your
performance and where
you’ve fallen short.” So
dust yourself off and ask
your line manager for a
meeting. “Get them to set
you some clear objectives
that can be measured—
that’s the important bit.
You don’t want ambiguity
in what’s expected of you.
Then catch up regularly to
check if you’re on track.”
If you fail your probation
outright, you can try to
argue it—but unless they’ve
discriminated against youin some way, there’s not
much you can do. If you
sense things aren’t going
well a few weeks into a
new job, don’t wait until
that three-month review.
Ask for feedback while
you’ve still got a chance to
change things.
DID YOU KNOW? You’re
not alone. Nearly one in
five people either fail their
probation period, or end up
having it extended.YOU’RE MADE
REDUNDANT
File this one in ‘terrible
things about being a
millennial’, along with
unicorn crap everywhere
and a shortened attention
span (cheers, Twitter). In
the first three months of
2017, 16-to-34-year-olds
accounted
for a third of
reduncies.*
But you do
have some
control. “The
company
needs to
provide
justificaiton
of how
they’ve
reached their decision”,
says Aliya. Also, your
performance can’t be
the reason you’re made
redundant—if it is, you
may be able to bring a
claim against them. Be sure
to check your rights and
the legal minimum you’re
owed (check your contract
for your company’s specific
policy). The kicker? You
have to have been in the
role for more than a year
to be entitled to a payout.
But while losing your job
can feel shameful, no future
employer will judge you forit. “It’s only an issue if you
make it one,” says John.
“Remind yourself of your
skills, and take some time
to work out what you have
to offer.” And by all means,
bitch to your mates, but put
a cap on it. “Get the bad
news out of your system so
that when you’re in front
of prospective employers,
you’re all focused on
moving on.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Redundancy insurance
exists, with payouts
potentially helping cover
some of your salary, should
the worst happen. But be
warned: if you know that
redundancies are due in
your company, the insurers
often won’t pay out, making
your monthly payments
totally worthless.YOU NEED TO BRING
UP MENTAL HEALTH
AT WORK
Whether it’s a tough break-
up, a family member taken
ill, or a bad bout of anxiety,
we all have times when our
body is at work, but our
brain isn’t. Ongoing mental
health issues require a
serious conversation with
your boss. If you’ve been
diagnosed with a mental
health issue, it’s unlawful
to discriminate against,
harass or victimise people
with disabilities—including
mental health conditions—
during all aspects of
employment. “It means
they have to treat you fairly,
and can’t discriminate
based on your health,” says
Aliya. For times when life is
just kicking you in the balls,
honesty is best, too. If your
boss has noticed your work
is slipping, it’s better they
know there’s a reason for itand that it’s temporary—
rather than them just
assuming you can’t be
bothered anymore. “It’s so
important to communicate
clearly how it’s making you
feel,” adds Aliya. “Explain
that you want to do your
best, and you’re upset you
can’t. You don’t have to
divulge all the details—
they’re your boss, not your
therapist. Just acknowledge
the issue and let them know
you’re dealing with it.”
DID YOU KNOW? An ad
agency in the Philippines
recently introduced ‘break-
up leave’ for its employees.
(Google ‘work permits in
the Philippines’.)YOU PULLED A SICKIE
AND GOT CAUGHT
The unmissable festival, the
Sunday session with your
BFFs, the scorcher of a day
that would be criminal not
to spend at the beach...it’s
all good until your friend
tags you on Insta and your
boss sees it. The first rule?
Never try to justify it, says
John. Whimpering about
how you work hard and
deserve more time off
is only going to wind up
your manager even more.
Admit it, apologise, suck
up whatever dressing down
you get and promise to
never do it again—and
mean it. “You probably
won’t get fired, but it starts
to demonstrate disloyalty
and [create a] lack of trust,”
says John. So the next time
you are actually sick, get a
doctor’s note (and stay off
Instagram, yeah?).
DID YOU KNOW? The
most believable time
to call in sick is 6:38am
on a Tuesday morning.
Just saying. n“Redundancy
is only an
issue if you
make it one.”
*According
to
the
Office
Of
National
Statistics
(UK).