Is this fair - or is it harrasment?

halia

I left my employment with a university library recently after disagreements with my manager over discrimination issues and bullying which adversly affected my health.
I decided it wasn't worth my ongoing hassle to pursue the bullying issues after I left. I was on sick leave for the last month of my employment and tbh was still feeling pretty shakey so once I'd filled in the forms and chatted to HR I just shut it out and got on with stuff at home.

As a staff member I was entitled to semester long loans on library items. The items I had out when I left were due back at the end of Jan (beginning of semester 2).

In mid december I recived a letter saying that all the items I had out had been recalled and were now due back earlier, now the libary can recall items IF they are requested by another user - however i refuse to belive the coincidently EVERY one of my 20 items from variuos subjects (some for research, some for personal reading) suddenly got requested at the same time.

The new 'due date' was actually BEFORE my employment ended so it wasn't even that I was no longer a member of staff at that time.

There was no letter or communication from my line manager and no option to swap onto an associate card (which is available to ex staff members). Shortly after that my staff access to library record / personal details/ email etc was withdrawn - again BEFORE my employment ended.

Because I didn't get all the items back by the new due date they are trying to stack up huge fines and threatening to hand it over to the finance dept. I actually feel this is petty harrasment initiated by my manager in retaliation after they were taken to task for the discrimination issues I raised. I have no intention of paying the ifne - I can't afford it! Is it worth raising this with HR?

annie-c

I'm sorry you've had such a rough time.

Whatever the reason you were first required to return the books early, it is possible that you are now receiving standards letters from 'the system' rather than being specifically targeted with harassment.

For your own peace of mind, you need to return the books, and probably, you probably may wish never to have contact with the library again.

Given the delicate situation, I think that if you sent a letter to HR, with a copy of the letters, saying that you are still under the weather following your departure, then I would imagine they would deal with the library on your behalf to close the matter and cancel the fine.

Regardless of how you ended the relationship at work you could potentially bring a personal injury case against them for up to 6 years and they will want to close the matter cleanly.

Can you face going in to return the books or could someone else drop them off for you?

Get rid I say and start looking forward to life again. I've been there with wok stress and the best possible outcome is never to see them again, IMHO

Ruthie1976

Halia- I am so sorry you have gone through this. I agree with Annie, do have the materials returned and all cut ties.

Wishing you improved health!

bunny999

I am a professional librarian / manager with many years experience and I am quite shocked by this. I have never known a library to charge library staff fines. Was it a personalised letter or computer generated ? What University is this ?
What were the discrimation issues ?
I think you should return the books and forget about it. I can't imagine they would bother to chase it up.

ohreally

bunny999 wrote: »

I have never known a library to charge library staff fines.

Everyone else being fair game?

Horace

University libraries are a law unto themselves. Take the books back and borrow them from a different library, tell them that you have been ill and therefore have been unable to take the books back before now. You may just have to swallow the fine - tough I know but I know that they often fine students too (that's my experience of University libraries).

I don't see that receiving letters from the library is harassment - you have no idea whether or not these booxes have been requested by someone else because you no longer work there. If they are anything like the University where I used to work, they change systems all the time and will set themselves out to be awkward.

With regard to a personal injury, constructive dismissal case - ideally before you take a case to the employment tribunal you will have had to have exhausted the employer's procedures ie. taking out a grievance etc. Personal injury is also very hard to prove (sorry but its a fact - I also know because I claimed for the same) - they only seem to take note of stress if you have seen a psychiatrist or have had a spell in a mental institution.

If you can - cut all ties with the University and borrow your books from elsewhere - if you live in Birmingham for instance their central library is far better than the Main Library at Birmingham University for instance.

Good luck.

Liz_the_Whizz

Hi Halia,

You will never be able to know for sure if this is all a coincidence or if some sadistic colleague is twisting the knife by making this happen.

Answer is - don't give them the satisfaction of reacting to this. Get someone to drop the books off, ignore the fine or ask HR to contact the library on your behalf to confirm that you could not return the books earlier due to sickness (whichever you feel most comfortable with).

As annie-c said, with work stress, the last thing you want to do is stir it all up again as only you will be hurt by that. Put it behind you, sever all ties, and move on to better things.

Good luck!

Bunnie1982

This is like reading an account of what happened in my last job, only swap out university library and place it with college library.

I couldn't face going back in because of my boss, she made my life hell when I worked there and I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing how she had made me feel. My partner dropped the books back and made sure they scanned them back into the system, funnily enough they never mentioned anything to him about the fines I was supposed to incur.

One way or another get the books back to them, that way it is closure for yourself that you don't have to go back and can move forward from this.

Wishing you well

Oldernotwiser

bunny999 wrote: »

I am a professional librarian / manager with many years experience and I am quite shocked by this. I have never known a library to charge library staff fines.

But the OP is no longer a member of the library staff; surely that's the whole point?

SomeBozo

Surely the issue here is not the employment status of the OP. The issue here is the agreement made with the library about lending books.

If the T&C say that they can recall books early, and charge you for them if you don't, its all moot point.

I also assume the T&Cs apply to all borrowers (regardless if they are employees or not).

Bozo

halia

thanks for answers and support

Somebozo - my point about the recall was that the T&C say books can be recalled early WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN REQUESTED BY ANOTHER USER. I'm sorry but I find it vritually impossible to believe that every single one of the items I had out - which varied from political thesis, to a home nursing book to some kids books from the education setion were ALL requested by another user on EXACTLY the same day?

I agree it would be possible I am getting standerdised letters, except there isn't an automated system at work. All letters like this have to be prepared from scratch by a staff member - it was one of the odd things that seemed a complete waste of resources when I was there.

(For overdue items you don't get a letter until they go over a certian time/money amount you just get a notification on your library record online - as I was firstly ill and secondly shut out from the university online system I didn't see any notifications online.)

Anway, I've decided to make the trip up this weekend when only weekend staff are present. With any luck my key still works so I can use the staff entrance and just drop the books into the automated scan box, that way I won't have to face any horrid confrontations.

I'll send a quick note to HR just saying I felt this was handled badly and asking them to handle any other problems now I've returned all items.