I was put on disciplinary action, will I get fired in the future?

[Metsgal]

I've been at my job for 6 months now, last month, I was put on a "verbal" disciplinary action for deciding to do a shortcut on some paperwork, management escalated that to a verbal instead of started off as a written warning because we can't make any mistakes on those specific forms. And since then I stopped doing any shortcuts.

 

What are my chances of getting fired? Since then I haven't made any other mistakes...obviously get some disciplinary action isn't good at all, since it went on my record and management gave it to HR for record keeping.

 

Will my supervisors find ways to fired me on purpose now?

Edited November 17, 2019 by Metsgal

[d0nnivain]

It all depends on your performance. If you now do your job & exceed your standards you should be fine. But that mistake was your one bite at the apple. No more 2nd chances.

[Mr. Lucky]

Most steps in a progressive discipline process have an expiration date. Stay out of trouble for X days, the sanction falls away.

 

So no more shortcuts, no more trouble...

 

Mr. Lucky

[Metsgal]

I already have a bad mark on my record, even if they decide to keep me and I do a good job..what if I decided to look for a new job? Won't that potential employer contact my current employer and find out about my performance? Or is it don't tell, and they will never know?

[d0nnivain]

Due to a fear of a lawsuit most employers will say nothing more then verify dates of employment & salary. It's unlikely that any future employer will find out about this discipline. However if you do get fired, you must be truthful when a new potential employer asks if you have ever been fired. So it's best to head that off

[basil67]

I already have a bad mark on my record, even if they decide to keep me and I do a good job..what if I decided to look for a new job? Won't that potential employer contact my current employer and find out about my performance? Or is it don't tell, and they will never know?

 

It's quite usual to look for a job without your current employer knowing, therefore they won't be contacted for a reference. Use referees from jobs prior to the one you're in.

[preraph]

If you look for a new job, you simply tell the people you're applying to that they cannot ask for a recommendation from the company you are presently employed with. Nothing wrong with that. It's easier to get a job if you're employed than if you aren't. Those applications have a question on there: Can we contact this employer? Put no and "Presently employed there."

 

Does anyone at the company have it in for you? In my years, that has nearly always been the reason I had trouble at a job, not my performance. If a person in the right position gets it in for you, it's hard to overcome. The best defense for that is to be well connected to people the person who has it in for you might leverage or care about their opinion.

 

In a little low paying job when I was young, one of the assistant managers was mean to me from the start. That's because although I was starting at entry level, I had three years of manager experience in the same job elsewhere before I came there and so I was a threat.

 

Luckily, the main manager's girlfriend took up with me as a friend, so that gave me protection against the grump assistant manager and I got transferred off his shift by asking to switch shifts.

[Pastypop]

I’d send out my resume to see what else is out there. Never know, it could be a better opportunity. Staying in a job waiting for the other shoe to possibly drop is just too risky for me.

[Eternal Sunshine]

I second the recommendation to find an ally in a strong position (ideally couple of levels above your boss). This was invaluable for me in all jobs. If I didn't like a desk I was assigned or had problems with a sabotaging boss or collegue, I would call on this person for help. Once others knew I had that person's protection, they kept away from causing trouble.

 

 

Also, if you have a person that has it in for you, make it known that you are open enemies. This will invalidate their backstabbing or any criticism.

[Art_Critic]

Also, if you have a person that has it in for you, make it known that you are open enemies. This will invalidate their backstabbing or any criticism.

Open enemies is drama and not conducive to a good work environment.

 

I kinda disagree with that, an employer/management just wants things to roll without a lot of drama, drama isn't supposed to be part of the workplace and when it rears it's ugly head in the form of time consuming drama it will be ended, normally by getting rid of one or both of the drama creators and second chances don't normally happen.

 

Why people think it's okay to create drama in the workplace is beyond me.. home is for your drama, the workplace is for work.

 

If a person has it out for you there isn't much you can do unless management also doesn't like them.

[Rockdad]

If this was truly the only work place issue and receiving a verbal warning I would be hard pressed to think management is out for blood. Grant it you may feel like a big spot light is on you but I would say more of just an eye out to see that things get and staying corrected. I have given verbal warnings with no intent of anything but getting a behavior changed or ceased. I was not out to "get them" nor was I out to build a case.

 

 

You have said you corrected and not taking short cuts any longer that also demonstrates your compliant and not a difficult employee to manage. Do your job the best of your ability and see where things are in time.

[Metsgal]

If I happened to apply for another job and it asks on the application..."may we contact current supervisor?" Should I put yes? I mean, I don't even know what "reference checks" a future employer does in the first place. what do they verify? Dates of hire? position? I'm debating if I should if put yes on there thinking the supervisor will say that I was put on a disciplinary action last month...is she allowed to do that?

[mark clemson]

Generally I answer "no" to this question as I don't wish to tip my current employer off that I'm looking elsewhere.

 

When asked for references, I tend to recommend a specific manager and/or co-worker from a PRIOR job (not the current one) who I have spoken to in advance and know they are comfortable with giving me a good rec. IMO to do otherwise is gambling with the rec.

[Metsgal]

What would happen if a current employer found out an employee was actively looking for another job anyway? Figured they would be at least happy for that person looking elsewhere. Well, from now on, I'm going to put no then.

[mark clemson]

There's quite a range of possible consequences for them knowing you're looking elsewhere. It can range from nothing to you're no longer considered for major promotions (they don't want to bother "investing" in you) to getting canned pre-emptively. The specifics of your situation matter a lot + you as the employee don't necessarily have insight into how your management will react.