Stress at work - hard drive removed.( Londg post)

janb5

Hi. Last year I faced a discipliniary at work which resulted in a final warning. Returned to work after 3.5 months after being suspended and basically felt continually under stress since then. I work as a Health Visitor and we have a huge caseload which is made worse by the fact that we are 50% down with staff. I knew I was being `supervised ` for a period which lasted for 4 months and I did everything I could to ensure the work was done including staying late to ensure data was entered on computer system , coming in on my days off and even on one occasion at the weekend.

The only thing I did get help was with the computer system and I felt quite confident that I could do that competently.

I was informed a month ago that there was to be another ` investigation` to do with accessing the internet during the day( read my emails on about 3 occasions and) and taking` unauthorized leave which was going to the dentist and sorting out an emergency broken window at home - all entered on my computer. I considered that I was owed more time off which I wasnt allowed to have - no overtime or and the threat of time management if you cant finish your work in a day. I am also a Union rep which I feel management dislike ( there are 3 of us)

Anyway my hard drive was taken at 3pm that day and I had to tell my colleagues it was ` broken` and to date has not been returned. When I spoke to my manager as I had a meeting next week as well as a hospital appointments and a GP appointment, she said that ` no one else had been reported` although I know other people go online and order stuff from Ebay , book holidays etc. She said if I knew differently I had to give her names which obviously I dont want to do.

She promised to get back to me and let me know if the hard drive was returned otherwise I would be searching to use another desk with another computer. She didnt and then on Thursday I received an email from HR saying the meeting was` cancelled` and they would make another appointment the week of 15.3 and would contact me tomoz to explain the reasons. It wasnt easy to get the rep anyway so a week`s grace is v. difficult. I think it is postponed - not cancelled.

I used to think that ` running away` from problems didnt help in the long run but feel that they are looking for any reason to dismiss me. My dr is the type who doesnt easily sign patients off so I feel he has some understanding. To date I have 3 weeks off and will see him again on Wed - he thinks after the hearing which of course hasnt happened.

To add to everything I have had chest pain which my GP has referred for a stress test as my bro had a stent put in last year.

Sorry to ramble on but am not sleeping and very anxious and stressed.

Could anyone advise. Have emailed rep and waiting his reply but he originally said that I only have to see him for an hour prior to the hearing! My original discipliniary lasts until July so if I could have survived until then then I could have left with a clean slate and looked elsewhere for a job. Other colleagues are leaving to find other jobs- one has stayed only 6 months and is working at another Trust half a mile away even although she will lose London weighting allowance.

dickydonkin

no one else had been reported` although I know other people go online and order stuff from Ebay , book holidays etc

Two wrongs don't make a right I'm afraid.

In these days of employers looking for any way to get rid of workers on the cheap, why do many employees play into their hands by abusing company policies - in particular breaches of I.T.policies?

You suggest that you were overworked with a huge caseload - but how were you able to find time to use the internet for personal use?

I am not being judgemental - but if I was an employer who had a member of staff suggesting there was an overload of work, would you think the employer would be reasonable in asking this question?

I think regular posters know I always attempt to defend the employee, but I honestly find it difficult to have sympathy with people who use Facebook, Twitter or ebay etc or non work related websites in company time - you are just asking for trouble when a company forbids it IMO.

Particularly when you are on a final warning!

I am sorry for your currrent plight and wish you well, but here is another warning to heed for those who think it is OK to use the internet for personal use during company time and on their equipment.

janb5

I understand what you are saying but I`m talking about a 5 minute break to read emails and not going on other sites . It`s the fact that I am targetted for a misdemeanour when not getting time back which seems unreasonable. When I said I was working late it is until 7 pm so that a break to read emails doesnt seem a dreadful` crime`

jdturk

janb5 wrote: »

I understand what you are saying but I`m talking about a 5 minute break to read emails and not going on other sites . It`s the fact that I am targetted for a misdemeanour when not getting time back which seems unreasonable. When I said I was working late it is until 7 pm so that a break to read emails doesnt seem a dreadful` crime`

Why are you working late? Are you getting paid for this?

1) if you are unable to do the job and believe its not a lack of capability then you should be going through the companys grievance procedure about the excessive load (However if they can prove that you are not very good at processing the load and other people can do it normal hours you do leave yourself open for being dismissed)

2) If you are getting paid then obviously you can't claim any time back even if its 5 minutes

DCFC79

Whatever other people do in works time is up to them, if they choose to go on ebay or whatever then let them but dont copy them as you will get found out which it looks like whats happened to you OP, were the emails important to the job though,

WestonDave

If you were on a final warning, and also a potential target as a union rep (whether rightly or not) you were extremely foolish to put the loaded gun in their hands by straying even a millimetre from policy. They now probably have everything they need to sack you, and your only hope is that somewhere someone has some doubt as to whether its worth it, or whether they could replace you/keep the workload going.

As a union rep you of all people should know that "policy" is used to the letter either in favour of a staff member or against it when it gets into a breakdown situation.

susiesus

It doesnt matter how generous you are , staying late etc if the employer wants to get rid of you they will, sorry that sounds no negative but the best thing you can do is put up a good fight that way you wont have regrets.
Did you have an Internet Usage Policy in your Employement Handbook?
Was anyone elses computer taken?
If not can you claim they are targeting you and no one else.
See my thread entitled Not Properly Supervised on Job.
Our so called secretary on Bebo/Facebook 24/7 yet my computer was lifted one night after I went home, luckily I dont use it for anything other than work but in hindsight I should have complained as only mine was lifted.:mad:

janb5

susiesus wrote: »

It doesnt matter how generous you are , staying late etc if the employer wants to get rid of you they will, sorry that sounds no negative but the best thing you can do is put up a good fight that way you wont have regrets.
Did you have an Internet Usage Policy in your Employement Handbook?
Was anyone elses computer taken?
If not can you claim they are targeting you and no one else.
See my thread entitled Not Properly Supervised on Job.
Our so called secretary on Bebo/Facebook 24/7 yet my computer was lifted one night after I went home, luckily I dont use it for anything other than work but in hindsight I should have complained as only mine was lifted.:mad:

Yes it was only my computer that was taken and at 3pm. I was asked to put a notice on my computer to say it was ` broken` even tho my colleages had seen me working all morning on it without complaint.

People order items on line, check houses and sit on their mobile phones for 25 mins and remain untouchable. When I queried why no other computr was touched, I was told there are no other complaints against others!

As for working over, several of us come in early or leave late ( 7pm) as all data has to be entered within 24 hours. That is really difficult if I have visits on Thursday afternoon ( Friday is my day off) and I have to stay to ensure it is all on. This means a very long day.

I accept the criticism of earlier posters but I am the only one being targetted and my manager has told me to give names of anyone else! This I am not prepared to do and feel they could monitor use of the computer remotely rather than expect me to divulge names.

jdturk

janb5 wrote: »

I accept the criticism of earlier posters but I am the only one being targetted and my manager has told me to give names of anyone else! This I am not prepared to do and feel they could monitor use of the computer remotely rather than expect me to divulge names.

So, someone has made a complaint about you and you are now being monitored. You are complaining that other people are not being monitored. However when you manager asked you for other names you refused to divulge any information.

I can't see why you are complaining about other people not being monitored when you are not willing to give your manager names.

janb5

That is because I do not see it is my responsibility to tittle tattle to managers as to who does what. I dont feel easy telling tales on other people and puts me in an awful position.

I am pretty sure that the manager asked someone to watch me ( who order stuff on the net!) and that has been the result.

Uncertain

I think what you need to try and assess here is whether this is a personality or work related issue....

If I have three staff and, for whatever reason, I'm not very happy with the work one of them overall the tempting quick answer if to find a rule they have broken. If I was happy I would overlook rule breach. OK this is poor management but, let's face it, it happens all the time.

If my issue with the individual was a personality one I hope I would be too professional to act in this way. However, many people are not.

I know it is difficult to judge for yourself but do you think this is what has happened here?

From a practical point of view, if you have clearly breached company rules, then you best defence may be to show that everybody does it i.e the rule has fallen out of use by custom.

If you can show that others have been treated differently this may also help.

Not an easy situation.