Can I Be Sacked by Text Message?

Karsta on 20/09/2019 - 09:35
Last edited 20/09/2019 - 09:41 by 1 other user

Hi all I have been employed by a hire company working at the same site for 12 months. I was asked to apply for the upcoming full time job in the interview I was told that they were looking for concreters. I had no problem with that I asked if I didn’t get the full time job would I still have a job they said yes of course.

2 weeks later I received a phone call saying that I didn’t get the job and also I had to finish up at the end of the month. To say I was devastated was an understatement.

The last Wednesday before I was being let go. I was asked if I could work on for a couple of weeks I said yes but I had turned down another job thinking that they may keep me employed. They employed 2 extra blokes and another bloke from a hire company.

That Friday I received a text message saying I couldn’t work the extra couple of weeks I had been a good employee and the boss would call me later.

I’m still waiting for the phone call…

What I was wondering can I be sacked by text message and if so I reckon it’s a gutless act to sack an employee that way.

Do I have any grounds for unfair dismissal or because I was a contract worker I’m stuffed??

Thank you for listening 🤗

Education & Work

Comments

  • Pootie Tang on 20/09/2019 - 09:52
    +19

    Contractor = Zero rights

    • Karsta on 21/09/2019 - 08:18

      Thank you

  • [Deactivated] on 20/09/2019 - 10:23
    +7

    Whenever you accept a contract job, the expectation is your contract will not be renewed. This works both ways.

    Your contract is now drawing to an end. I hope you've been looking for other contracts/employment even before impending renegotiations. It is always good practice to have other offers so you have leverage.

  • tsunamisurfer on 20/09/2019 - 10:44
    +7

    I had turned down another job thinking that they may keep me employed.

    Why T F did you do that? You knew the time there was ending.

    Now you want to claim unfair dismissal? GTFO.

    • capslock janitor on 08/10/2019 - 19:58

      Not knowing about his pending job, could still be unfair dismissal.

  • gavin8761 on 20/09/2019 - 10:53
    +3

    I've known contractors to get their employment terminated whilst on r&r(leave)just told with a text "do not come back next week, where do you want your tools sent".
    Harsh and gutless yes but it seems if you are a contractor or a casual employee employers can do what they like within reason. It sounds like you have a good work ethic, phone the labour hire company up and ask if they have any more work for you.
    No grounds for unfair dismissal just move on to the next one.
    Good luck.

    • 87percent on 20/09/2019 - 11:14
      +1

      Happens with pretty much all contractors in other fields. I know a guy who was on holiday, was told via SMS not to come back to his Contractor position at NAB.

      • serpserpserp on 20/09/2019 - 12:47

        I know I guy that was made redundant 2 weeks after starting a 6 month Paternity leave stint at a bank. Not a contractor but those banks be cold mofos.

    • Karsta on 21/09/2019 - 08:19

      Thank you

  • Seraphin7 on 20/09/2019 - 11:59
    +1

    It sucks, but as others have said you are not "owed" anything here. Best to just get on with life and mark up whatever bad experiences you've had to experience.

    • Karsta on 21/09/2019 - 08:19

      Thank you

  • kahn on 20/09/2019 - 12:15
    +1

    Thank you for listening reading

    • serpserpserp on 20/09/2019 - 12:47
      +1

      I had Alexa read it to me.

  • Tech5 on 20/09/2019 - 12:19

    You can be sacked by town crier if need be

    • serpserpserp on 20/09/2019 - 12:47

      That would be pretty fun.

  • orangetrain on 20/09/2019 - 13:11
    +1

    The lesson here is, don't do contract work with expectation of full time rights.

  • whooah1979 on 20/09/2019 - 13:12

    I reckon it’s a gutless act to sack an employee that way.

    My old supervisor once sacked an employee face-to-face. He thought it was the right thing to do. It turned out to be a mistake. The employee got very angry and threaten the supervisor to the extent that he had to call security to escort the employee out of the building. They now sack employees over the phone, sms or email.

    • dcep on 20/09/2019 - 14:23

      Same as breaking up as well.

      • wordplay on 20/09/2019 - 20:46

        Registered post.

        • capslock janitor on 08/10/2019 - 20:00
          +1

          Passenger pigeon.
          "You haven't been returning my calls"
          I dumped you 10 days ago!

  • fossilfuel on 20/09/2019 - 21:59

    You weren't sacked. Your contract came to an end.

    I was asked if I could work on for a couple of weeks I said yes but I had turned down another job thinking that they may keep me employed.

    Even if they ask you, they have no obligation of following through and can change their mind at any time because you're a contractor not an employee. I don't even know where the logic is in turning down the other job.

    You'll have to start job hunting. You have no grounds for unfair dismissal as there was no unfair dismissal.

    • Karsta on 21/09/2019 - 08:20

      Thank you

  • Hardlyworkin on 20/09/2019 - 22:54

    Perhaps it was just an unconscious uncoupling?

  • kiwijunglist on 21/09/2019 - 07:58
    +1

    The only recourse you would have is if you were essentially an employee, but the employer made you an independent contractor to circumvent your rights as an employee.

    There are quite a few cases where the government agency (I forget the name) has looked into certain contractor situations and deemed that the contractor is infact an employee and the employer has been forced to grant them the same rights as an employee.

    • Karsta on 21/09/2019 - 08:21

      Thank you

  • [Deactivated] on 21/09/2019 - 21:12

    Are you a contractor? If so, yes they can let you go at the end of your contract, unfortunately. It sounds like you have a good attitude and work ethics. So their loss. Good luck with your job-hunting :)

    • Karsta on 23/09/2019 - 10:19

      Thank you:)

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