Hey Team,

I didn't think I would need advice again so soon but here we are.

For the last 6 weeks or so I worked at a new job. It's an Australasian company but is based primarily in Aussie as I worked in the NZ branch of the business.

My contract has a 6 month probationary period to determine if employees are "the right fit" for the company.

It was a rocky job for sure. The norm there seemed to be that the boss yells about everything, even if it was their own mistake, while simultaneously making it clear that nothing is their fault.

At first I thought maybe I had come at a stressful time, but after asking my colleagues it turns out this was just the normal run of things.

About 3 weeks in my boss was berating my colleague and asking for information before telling the guy what she was looking at. Then she turned to me and started getting mad at me for no reason. I took 10 to cool off and then asked for a meeting. I explained that since joining I was having a hard time focusing and learning over all the yelling and didn't appreciate being spoken to that for no reason. All I asked was that she thought about the impact it was having on the team and I.

Since then she has been openly angry with me and just stopped talking to me altogether. I haven't had any other issues apart from a request not to wear dress shorts or Jean shorts during winter. I was told at interview it was smart casual and I wasn't wearing anything dissimilar to my colleagues an we are not customer facing.

I was sick one Friday and sent a text to my manager to let them know I would be in on Monday but wasn't fit to work that day. I didn't know my colleague had also called on sick and apparently they decided that we had played hookie together? I don't get where thay came from but was the least of my current problems.

That same Friday they called me 3 to 4 times while I was sleeping/resting and texted to ask for a med cert. I said that was fine but as my doctor is only open a few hours on a Saturday I would likely have to spent 75 to get one and wanted to confirm they understood the company would be paying. As in, I'm not being paid for this because I'm not eligible for the sick leave and you have to pay for the proof.

My manager wasn't sure and asked me to check with her boss (the angry lady that's never wrong) I reiterated and she said she would check with HR and we would have a meeting the following week.

Tuesday the next week the three of us were in this meeting. I was told that texting is not allowed I had to call and leave a voice message if my manager didn't answer, I had to text as well and then be available that entire day for them to call me back.

Now our employee guide thing does state you have to call and it was my mistake about texting. I was sick one other day and texted and wasn't made aware of any issues with this. It was the same at my previous job so I thought I had done the correct thing and always give us much warning as possible.

I told them that I was sorry I had got the procedure wrong, I would do it correctly going forward, but would not make myself available to call if I had already called and texted that was my bit done. They also said that the weekend counted as consecutive and that they didn't ask for the cert because it was unpaid anyway and that they would challenge me or fight me on the whole they have to pay thing and I can speak to HR if I have questions. I told them I would because it wasn't right...

Then they brought up my clothing, and told me that someone had commented that I look like a uni student and it wasn't fair to others. They told me they wouldn't say who said it. To me thay just means for 6 weeks I thought I was in dress code based on what they were wearing and this whole "smart casual" thing I was told. And thst instead of telling me early on so I could fix it they just gossiped and made me feel bad instead. Cool, cool.

The final thing was that my voice is too loud and that it's aggressive. That shocked me and pointed out that I can hear them when on the phone too but we are in a small office and I just turn the volume up so I can focus on my client. No biggie which is why I said nothing. The managers are unapproachable too so I knew better than to invite drama for something I could fix with a button. I also let them know when I joined that I am a loud friendly guy and couldn't always tell if it was too loud and would take zero offence if they gave me a signal that the volume was too much and actively encouraged them to do so.

I've been told my work is good, and they are happy with my progress. I've made minimal errors as a newbie for some very manual processes. And so far the only issues I've had is the clothing situation, the sick leave disagreement and a loud voice. I've been working so well in fact that they aren't getting their tasks done quick enough for me to do my bit so I just ask to help with theirs or learn the next step as I'm not fully trained yet. Which means I'm very efficient.

I emailed HR about the sick leave thing and expressed concern and asked for them to clarify. They confirmed that what I had said about the company having to pay was correct and they spoke to the head and my manager and they both denied what they had said to me in the meeting. I should point out that we are a team of 6 with only 4 working in our office. The manager I had is the heads best friend, they openly have told me this. I started under the head and then the manager I now have was promoted and I fall under her now. Or did..

I told HR that was a surprise and elaborated on the meeting. And that if they had advice for a toxic workplace I would be open to suggestions because I didn't know what to do.

This led to a meeting last Friday with HR, my colleague and I over teams. I explained my experience for the last 6 weeks, the affects of what was happening to my colleagues and I on my work, my concern about their handling over the sick leave and what could happen if there was a serious issue I needed help with based on my treatment. That my Maori boss (head) told me that I can't be Maori because I don't have a Maori last name and laughing at me. And the fact that I felt very insecure because they keep bringing up probation as a threat and I wondered if that meant I should be looking for jobs??

The HR lady then informed me that she was terminating my position and that I could work out the notice period of one week or just leave. I stated I would prefer to work as I have a wife to support, to which she clarified it was paid. I then took my stuff said goodbye to the manager and walked out.

I got the letter that wvejng stating I was unsuccessful in my probation due to not being the right cultural fit.

What are my rights here? I raise an issue at work and am fired on the same day I first speak on them with HR. I'm pretty sure that's not legal and breaches good faith and other parts of the employment law.

Edit to add: the HR lady told me the dress code isn't smart casual as I was told it was basically formal. Which was news to me. And I pointed out I had received conflicting advice on this.