Walked out of work - is there anything I can do?

simpywimpy

I walked out of work today after having yet another word with the boss to no avail but wondered if there was any recourse for me.

I signed a 6 month contract at the beginning of August. Been empl since Jan.

The problems started with just little things really that seem so petty but really got me down such as other staff members going quiet when I entered the room and making coffee but purposely leaving me out.

I spoke to the MD and he appeared understanding but just said they were jealous that I got on well with the others and just to ignore it.

Then a few times one member of staff altered my time sheet saying I had come in later than I had or had left earlier. It was always altered back but it wasn't nice. No-one ever spoke to me directly.

Last week I received a verbal warning for answering my mobile for about 30 secs (my son had phoned and work was aware he had a serious accident the week before). At this point I was told the office manager had concerns about my work (I wasnt doing enough) and I disputed this. I approached her on thursday of last week to ask exactly what it was I had done or not done that she was concerned about and she denied saying anything to the MD.

Today I spoke to the MD and told him I felt all this was bordering on constructive dismissal seeing I had approached him at least 3 times about this and he had done nothing. He then said he was aware I had a problem with the office manager (news to me) but neither of them when asked could give me an example of what I had done wrong and I complained that this was unacceptable. He then accused me of negativity and talking to much. (I am 43 btw)

Anyway, I was disgusted at the way he was speaking to me and just walked out.

Does anyone think I would have a case for constructive dismissal or bullying here?

ceridwen

Errrrrmmm....from what you say....I have my doubts.

What I do think - is you'd better "bite the bullet" and go back in there again tomorrow - as resigning from a job can equal up to 6 months disqualification from benefit money. So - I know it wont be easy to say the least - but I do think you had better go in again tomorrow.

...and yes I know ALL about having to force oneself to keep walking into work after various incidents, etc, have occurred.! Just tell yourself they may be trying to get shot of you by the indirect route - ie making it seem like you left the job "of your own free will" - it may actually be true - and dont let them win.

Bismarck

my advice would be to stick it out until you've got something else...it seems that by walking out you've given a lot of people what they wanted without having to do the hard work.

I appreciate that it's far from ideal but unless I'm very much mistaken your job rights aren't that great if you've not been employed for a year.

CFC

simpywimpy wrote: »

I walked out of work today after having yet another word with the boss to no avail but wondered if there was any recourse for me.

I signed a 6 month contract at the beginning of August. Been empl since Jan.

The problems started with just little things really that seem so petty but really got me down such as other staff members going quiet when I entered the room and making coffee but purposely leaving me out.

I spoke to the MD and he appeared understanding but just said they were jealous that I got on well with the others and just to ignore it.

Then a few times one member of staff altered my time sheet saying I had come in later than I had or had left earlier. It was always altered back but it wasn't nice. No-one ever spoke to me directly.

Last week I received a verbal warning for answering my mobile for about 30 secs (my son had phoned and work was aware he had a serious accident the week before). At this point I was told the office manager had concerns about my work (I wasnt doing enough) and I disputed this. I approached her on thursday of last week to ask exactly what it was I had done or not done that she was concerned about and she denied saying anything to the MD.

Today I spoke to the MD and told him I felt all this was bordering on constructive dismissal seeing I had approached him at least 3 times about this and he had done nothing. He then said he was aware I had a problem with the office manager (news to me) but neither of them when asked could give me an example of what I had done wrong and I complained that this was unacceptable. He then accused me of negativity and talking to much. (I am 43 btw)

Anyway, I was disgusted at the way he was speaking to me and just walked out.

Does anyone think I would have a case for constructive dismissal or bullying here?

In short, no.

This is not constructive dismissal. This is you finding your working environment unpleasant.

There may or may not be bullying going on, however you have not raised a formal grievance. Get hold of the grievance procedure and put a formal grievance in, if you want the problem sorted.

You do not have enough time served to go down an employment tribunal rate for anything except very particular exceptions, which these are not.

Got2change

Oh - I feel for you, I really do.

Bullying is always always always subjective - if you feel as though you're being bullied, you probably are - BUT - by it's very nature, the tables are likely to get turned on you (and already have to some extent with comment about your negativity, talking too much etc etc) and before you know it, even if you don't walk (assuming you return as advised by posters above), they will find some way to grind you down/fire you.....

It's horrible and hateful and seems more prevalent than it used to; I don't know if that is actually because it happens more, because we hear about it more and there are more high profile cases or because we are all maybe more sensitive - who can tell? What I do know is that your working life can be hugely affected by other people's behaviour; the most important thing is to get through it with your self-respect intact.

IF you have returned to work you need to look at matters as dispassionately as you can, taking steps to address the situation at hand (diaries, grievance procedures etc etc) or remove yourself from it unscathed if that's possible.

Thinking about you and wishing you well.

bella2121

awwww i have been through a similar thing myself, which resulted in me walking out, was the best thing i every did!

i had a panic attack whilst being screamed at by my boss so i walked out, went to doctor the next day got a sick note for 2 weeks and within those 2 weeks i found another job and sent a letter to my previous place of work telling them i had left and due to circumstances i could not give any notice period.

I was lucky due to being paid whilst off sick, but seriously it was such a relief! I would recommend get to job centres temp agencies asap and tell them you want to start new employment asap, lifes to short to be miserable!!

Hope it works out well for you

chuckley

sounds like your better off outta there. workplace bullying is awful and too many places get away with it, which is disgusting.

id suggest u hot foot it to a temp agency and put this down to experience that will make your stronger once you come across creatures like this again. although your case would be stronger had HR had an 'incident' down on record even if it was informal.

good luck OP.

simpywimpy

Thank you all for your comments. Im not going back. I think Im worth more than that but I'm not the first to be treated in this way there and it would have been nice to be able to stop them getting away with it.

Reds-on-Sea

Aw, I feel for you too.

I don't understand how they get away with it, but invariably the victims get branded "troublemakers" or they have a "bad attitude". When you ask for some hard evidence....what a surprise they can't come up with anything.... That's enough to put anyone off.

Luckily, my place are getting with the times and I had an outsourced HR lady come in when I got pulled in for "dragging the dept down!" (I still don't know what I did!) All very well, I came out of it with my unwarranted verbal warning wiped and no evidence for bad behaviour whatsoever, whereas my manager came out with egg on his face after clutching at straws trying to make me look bad.

Still...what's changed? Nothing. I still have to work with him, and the MD had the cheek to say if it doesn't get any better he'll do everything in his power to help ME find another job.... whatever! I know my worth, and it's certainly more than my jumped up, overpaid "manager" who's suddenly decided he's got it in for me, despite me being his best worker ever.

*rant*

but of course, I sit here and keep my head down and make sure that every bit of work is perfect, and go home after work and trawl the internet for jobs in my area, most of which pay £10k more than I'm getting now...

hopefully I'll have the last laugh.

I'll have to bide my time, as I think it would be a lost battle if I tried to take on the "management"...

oh my, I sound bitter! try to think of it as "passionate" lol"

Annando

I feel for you, simpywimpy, hope you put it behind you and go on to better and more constructive things!

OH was made redundant 2 years ago, he decided first to finish the degree he was doing and then look for work as no company would have accepted him working 3 days a week with the job he does and he couldn't do contract jobs either.
Last August (2007) after searching for 2 months he found a job, after 3 months there he was offered a place to do a masters degree, part time if he wanted to. (Uni offered him a place, not the company) Spoke to his boss who said it was a bit to early for him to go on this, but he would be able to do it from January (2008). So OH worked extra hard, was even given a prize twice for being such a good employee, spotting possible problems etc... being such a bonus to the company etc...
In January he spoke to his boss again and the guy said NO! No time off to do your masters, OH explained that company wouldn't have to pay anything and he was willing to take the one day he needed per week to do the masters from his vacations... still answer was the same... No! Plus he was told what do you want a masters for? You are not going to learn anything at uni... (OH is 41 and got his degree in engineering 20 years ago, masters was a way to update his skills)

OH was really depressed by this as he had really been hoping to do his masters and move up in the ladder. Plus he was also feeling very uncomfortable at the company, everyone seemed to be a director or manager of some sort, small part of a huge American multinational, out of about 15 employees in his unit there are about 3 directors and 8 managers... I am not kidding!

After the 6 months probation period finished he was called in and told that due to his constant request for time off to do his masters, which the powers that be did not see with a good eye, (he hadn't taken time off or even enrolled on the course because he couldn't get the time off mind you!) his probation period was extended for a further 3 months... OH was gutted... Really low, depressed... So he started looking for a new job...:rolleyes:

Took a while but he was offered a job last month, with an American Company that is a competitor of the other one. The new company will giving him the time off to do his masters, it will pay for it, and they will even provide him with a mentor/tutor to support him. After he graduates from his masters he is guaranteed a managerial post... The salary is higher, relocation package is 10k... and benefits are better too! :beer:

The best part is that he hasn't told his boss that he is leaving...
OH is the only guy in the company that works in his department, there is a newbie there, but he keeps doing mistakes (very costly ones, OH works in electronics and the mistakes tend to cost £1000+ when you burn circuits etc...) so OH can't wait to tell them that he is leaving, but he is only starting in new job in October so will leave it until the very last minute... (evil laugh!) :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Vengeance is a dish better served cold!

Sorry if I am ranting... and if this is long...

brownbabygirl

Annando that is very uplifting! Thanks for that. Please let me know how they take his last minute announcement. LOL