Bullying in the Workplace

marie11

Hiya, I am looking for a bit of advice regarding my job.

I work in a fast food restaurant and have for 2 years now, the manager and area manager have taken a dislike to me from the beginning and now are making it unbearable.
It started with just sly comments about my sexuality and other little issues and has now escalated into full blown bullying, in my opinion.
I constantely have my hours cut and if I am called to come to work early or on a day off and I cannot (which is rare) then it is hell when I get back with usually the manager refusing to talk to me all shift.
The manager keeps talking about me to other staff members and saying I am doing things wrong but I know I am not.
I have been told they do not want me to work there anymore but as I have done nothing to be sacked for (never had any warnings) they are trying to make me leave of my own accord.

The manager screamed at me the other day saying I am rubbish at my job and that she wished she had never employed me. I would understand having a word with me saying you have done this wrong ect but she does not do this but instead just either says it in front of everyone to embarass me or behind my back, which then gets the area manager to then do the same.
It makes it worse that the other staff members go to the manager and tell on me if I do the slightest thing as they treat it almo as a joke and it makes them look better.

I have seen them do this with two other members of staff who have now left. I think they target the quiet ones lol.

I am wondering if I left would I get jobseekers or would it be penalised?

It is extremely hard to find a job as you can imagine when your work history is just a fast food restaurant.

I cannot go any higher to a hr department ect because this restaurant is franchised and the owner will not even entertain a phone call with me let alone a meeting.

I am unsure what to do because I cannot stick with this much longer, I am on anti depressants because of it.

Thank you for reading, any advice would be much appreciated.

fluffnutter

marie, this sounds really upsetting and I can easily understand that this is making you depressed.

I'd urge you to do some research about workplace bullying. Don't forget that the law does protect you from harassment and discrimination and there is plenty of help available. It doesn't matter that it's a fast food restaurant franchise; you have a employment contract, and as a result your employer has responsibilities towards you.

Please don't leave without doing a bit more research and consider formally raising a grievance. If you leave it may affect your chances of claiming JSA. Alternatively if you leave due to bullying alone, then you could try to pursue a claim for constructive dismissal.

However, all this is some way down the line and I think you need to start with a bit of reading. Try the link below in the first instance.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ResolvingWorkplaceDisputes/DiscriminationAtWork/DG_10026670