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Am i being bullied??
NickiMcJock
Posts: 88 Forumite
Hi I am writing in the hope that someone can offer some help/advice.
I will start at the beginning.
About 2 1/2 years ago I was head hunted to work for x bank as a Branch Manager.
I took a pay cut to go and board as I thought it would be a quicker route to becoming an Area Manager. I was dumped into a Branch with no training courses or support and basically left to get on with it. And My Assistant Manager handed her notice in the week I joined. When I joined I found out the branch was notoriously bad and never performed due to staffing, resourcing compliance issues etc.
I was there a couple of months before we arrived at 2008. Throughout 2008 my Manager left and i got a new boss( From May to December 20080 He bullied me from the minute he arrived as I kept asking him for staff etc and support. It was direct bullying. And on one occasion at a Managers meeting he said 'whats the definition of stupid and said my full name' in front of 10 of my peers. I remember this as it was a meeting afterwork on my birthday to cap it all off. He then in December took me into an office and told me 'I was the worst Manager he had ever met' I was a disgrace etc, I was already stressed out of my head as we were due an audit and I was told it better be good or I was finished. Anyway back to my meeting, He basically called me stupid and that I better step down or he would force me to step down. The meeting was a Thurs and I was told i could have Friday as a days grace and decide. He then started to say that 'if he were Manager of x branch 'my branch' he would have topped himself by now' and started to screw my head up saying how can you afford christmas presents etc.I called the union and they were as much use as a chocolate teapot. I went back to work on the Monday determined not to let him win and the auditors walked in. He left me alone and never mentioned it again. (That is a snap shot of what happened - there is more) I was given a 2 rating for end of year as the sales figures were only 80% ytd, but I was 4 below Full time equivalent I should have had in my branch. I excepted it in the hope things would improve. At this point I have worked for the company just over a year and tbh i didnt really know the processes for appealing. At this point I had 4 121's, no development plans,no coaching and training in the space of 15 months.
In January 2009 I was given a lovely boss who did spend some time with me. I told her everything that happened with the previous boss but she just said work hard and prove everyone wrong. She was there 4 months and then got moved on. She was quite supportive by doing my 121'S and if I had staffing probs she would arrange cover. I then got another new boss and he was new to role, a bit arrogant and !!!! sure, but I thought again dont rock the boat etc. Anyway, same happened again staffing issues he wouldnt deal with them and then he put me on a Reaching Performance programme ie 12 weeks to fix sales figures or you get disciplined. I didnt have the staff as Swine flu epidemic kicked in etc. He promised to provide coaching development etc and nothing happened. It felt he was on a witch hunt for me, as in meetings he would focus on my branch performance and no other Managers, even though they were worse. I kept emailing him asking for coaching, support with staff etc, but nothing,
In October I had to deal with my 1st horrible boss 'the one who said the definition of stupid is my full name' and took a grievance out on him as I felt I was having a breakdown and this would be a cathartic experience and help get it out there. I had a meeting with my Regional Director, his boss (very scary guy) who basically said he didnt believe me, but I better be sure of what I was doing. I left that meeting feeling worse. I then had a meeting with the Regional Directors understudy. She was slightly more sympathetic and said I understand etc. It felt that she wasnt taking it seriously and she asked me what I wanted to happen I asked to get moved branches' as deep down I could feel 'it' was going to happen again with new boss. She asked how I wanted to proceed with this formal or informal I said, I dont know I need to think about it - Never heard about it again. She asked me if I was doing this as I was about to get discipline??? !!!!!!???
I told New boss in October, I was starting fertility treatment (ivf) and he told me he was going to discipline me for my branch sales performance. I was so concencious about work I never even took the 5 days leave they give you for Fertility treatment and just treated the whole issue as business as usual, as it was my choice to have IVF and I had a job to do.
He was the disciplining Manager, there was no point going to the meeting as he had made his mind up I was getting disciplined and he was not prepared to listen to anything I said. I was also told failure to get a green audit would result in a 2nd warning being issued. The other Managers in my cluster hadnt got Greens audits and they hadnt been disciplined and there sales performance was worse than mine and they had not been disciplined. I had a union rep with me who said he was the most arrogant man he had ever met!!! This disciplinary was for June - Sept performance 2009. I got my letter in December confirming I had been disciplined. In November, for the grace of god, I got a green audit.I worked hard at it and had no support.
He then at my appraisal gave me a 2 as its all he could give me baring in mind he disciplined me and on my performance.
I appealed the decision and my appeal hearing was February, I went this time with no Union rep and was determined just to tell it as it was I had no coaching, development or support. I wasnt treated in line with my peers and that the whole thing was victimisation. To my delight I got the written warning overturned in March.
All the way through joining this company I have kept evidence files, ie emails I have sent to superiors asking for help etc. So I think that helped.
Anyway Last week 6/4 my boss (who hasnt bothered with me since he disciplined me - ie 2 121's no development etc) came and put me back on a Reaching Performance programme because of my 2009 appraisal rating was again a 2. This time its for 5 weeks i have to achieve 75% or above a week, If I dont I will move to written warning. He hasnt supplied any coaching or development again. He has spend 4 hours with me 1/2 day over 14 weeks, and that is it. He was on hols this week just passed but he said he would talk about the support I need on his return. I have been on this programme for 2 weeks and have achieved over 100% each week. No other Manager is on this in our area even though their performance is worse than mine.
I have antenatal/Hospital appointments everyweek going forward and I dont have any management cover in my branch. My sales people have holidays and I have a course very soon too (2 days) which is all within this 5 weeks period.
A new initiative has been launched in the branches' and you must have a certain amount of people for it to work. The ludicrous thing is that the Analysts that came in fed into the Regional Director that the initiative couldnt work as I didnt have enough staff.
I now feel at the stage I am going to have a breakdown, I cannot face anymore as, I feel they want rid of me. I have 10 weeks until Maternity leave, I am struggling as I am shattered, I have not had an Assistant Manager, and I am entitled to one, since September 2009 and the way the branches are run now, ie weekly 121's with all staff etc you need an Assistant Manager. He keeps promising me one and it never comes. Before he went on holiday he said she would start on Monday past, but from speaking to friends its a lie as the lady who he says is the Assistant Manager is on hols until May then getting moved elsewhere. I am doing 2 jobs!!!!
I have read somewhere if you are a serial '2 performer' (appraisal rating) they put you on a 12 week plan to get rid of you. There is nothing on file to say they have ever supported me ever!!! What can I do?
He has also said for the amount of money I earn for 'my performance is being questioned' I was headhunted and took a pay cut to go onboard and have all my financial services qualifications. He has also said that I will get moved to some back water branch when I come back from Maternity leave.
I just dont know what to do, I have never been sick, If I went to the GP now they would sign me off, as I am a wreck. I am scared of what he/the company could do to me. The thing is I am not the worst Manager, it just seems, another Male boss has taken a dislike to me(maybe he listen to the previous horrible boss' opinion about me) As for my Salary they agreed it when they brought me on board. I havent had a payrise for the last 2 years. I have continually asked for a move of branch to 'prove if it was me' who wasnt performing but they have never sanctioned it.
Please any advice would be gratefully received. I cant sleep or eat I am 7 months pregnant and my bump isnt growing. I just want to die, I have changed so much as a person since joining that place. I would walk out tomorrow but I am the breadwinner. I really dont know what to do. If I go off sick can they bring my Mat leave forward. When I am on Mat leave I propose to get another job, even if I have to take two jobs to make ends meet I will do it!!!!
Please help I doubt I can cope another week never mind until Mat leave!!!
I will start at the beginning.
About 2 1/2 years ago I was head hunted to work for x bank as a Branch Manager.
I took a pay cut to go and board as I thought it would be a quicker route to becoming an Area Manager. I was dumped into a Branch with no training courses or support and basically left to get on with it. And My Assistant Manager handed her notice in the week I joined. When I joined I found out the branch was notoriously bad and never performed due to staffing, resourcing compliance issues etc.
I was there a couple of months before we arrived at 2008. Throughout 2008 my Manager left and i got a new boss( From May to December 20080 He bullied me from the minute he arrived as I kept asking him for staff etc and support. It was direct bullying. And on one occasion at a Managers meeting he said 'whats the definition of stupid and said my full name' in front of 10 of my peers. I remember this as it was a meeting afterwork on my birthday to cap it all off. He then in December took me into an office and told me 'I was the worst Manager he had ever met' I was a disgrace etc, I was already stressed out of my head as we were due an audit and I was told it better be good or I was finished. Anyway back to my meeting, He basically called me stupid and that I better step down or he would force me to step down. The meeting was a Thurs and I was told i could have Friday as a days grace and decide. He then started to say that 'if he were Manager of x branch 'my branch' he would have topped himself by now' and started to screw my head up saying how can you afford christmas presents etc.I called the union and they were as much use as a chocolate teapot. I went back to work on the Monday determined not to let him win and the auditors walked in. He left me alone and never mentioned it again. (That is a snap shot of what happened - there is more) I was given a 2 rating for end of year as the sales figures were only 80% ytd, but I was 4 below Full time equivalent I should have had in my branch. I excepted it in the hope things would improve. At this point I have worked for the company just over a year and tbh i didnt really know the processes for appealing. At this point I had 4 121's, no development plans,no coaching and training in the space of 15 months.
In January 2009 I was given a lovely boss who did spend some time with me. I told her everything that happened with the previous boss but she just said work hard and prove everyone wrong. She was there 4 months and then got moved on. She was quite supportive by doing my 121'S and if I had staffing probs she would arrange cover. I then got another new boss and he was new to role, a bit arrogant and !!!! sure, but I thought again dont rock the boat etc. Anyway, same happened again staffing issues he wouldnt deal with them and then he put me on a Reaching Performance programme ie 12 weeks to fix sales figures or you get disciplined. I didnt have the staff as Swine flu epidemic kicked in etc. He promised to provide coaching development etc and nothing happened. It felt he was on a witch hunt for me, as in meetings he would focus on my branch performance and no other Managers, even though they were worse. I kept emailing him asking for coaching, support with staff etc, but nothing,
In October I had to deal with my 1st horrible boss 'the one who said the definition of stupid is my full name' and took a grievance out on him as I felt I was having a breakdown and this would be a cathartic experience and help get it out there. I had a meeting with my Regional Director, his boss (very scary guy) who basically said he didnt believe me, but I better be sure of what I was doing. I left that meeting feeling worse. I then had a meeting with the Regional Directors understudy. She was slightly more sympathetic and said I understand etc. It felt that she wasnt taking it seriously and she asked me what I wanted to happen I asked to get moved branches' as deep down I could feel 'it' was going to happen again with new boss. She asked how I wanted to proceed with this formal or informal I said, I dont know I need to think about it - Never heard about it again. She asked me if I was doing this as I was about to get discipline??? !!!!!!???
I told New boss in October, I was starting fertility treatment (ivf) and he told me he was going to discipline me for my branch sales performance. I was so concencious about work I never even took the 5 days leave they give you for Fertility treatment and just treated the whole issue as business as usual, as it was my choice to have IVF and I had a job to do.
He was the disciplining Manager, there was no point going to the meeting as he had made his mind up I was getting disciplined and he was not prepared to listen to anything I said. I was also told failure to get a green audit would result in a 2nd warning being issued. The other Managers in my cluster hadnt got Greens audits and they hadnt been disciplined and there sales performance was worse than mine and they had not been disciplined. I had a union rep with me who said he was the most arrogant man he had ever met!!! This disciplinary was for June - Sept performance 2009. I got my letter in December confirming I had been disciplined. In November, for the grace of god, I got a green audit.I worked hard at it and had no support.
He then at my appraisal gave me a 2 as its all he could give me baring in mind he disciplined me and on my performance.
I appealed the decision and my appeal hearing was February, I went this time with no Union rep and was determined just to tell it as it was I had no coaching, development or support. I wasnt treated in line with my peers and that the whole thing was victimisation. To my delight I got the written warning overturned in March.
All the way through joining this company I have kept evidence files, ie emails I have sent to superiors asking for help etc. So I think that helped.
Anyway Last week 6/4 my boss (who hasnt bothered with me since he disciplined me - ie 2 121's no development etc) came and put me back on a Reaching Performance programme because of my 2009 appraisal rating was again a 2. This time its for 5 weeks i have to achieve 75% or above a week, If I dont I will move to written warning. He hasnt supplied any coaching or development again. He has spend 4 hours with me 1/2 day over 14 weeks, and that is it. He was on hols this week just passed but he said he would talk about the support I need on his return. I have been on this programme for 2 weeks and have achieved over 100% each week. No other Manager is on this in our area even though their performance is worse than mine.
I have antenatal/Hospital appointments everyweek going forward and I dont have any management cover in my branch. My sales people have holidays and I have a course very soon too (2 days) which is all within this 5 weeks period.
A new initiative has been launched in the branches' and you must have a certain amount of people for it to work. The ludicrous thing is that the Analysts that came in fed into the Regional Director that the initiative couldnt work as I didnt have enough staff.
I now feel at the stage I am going to have a breakdown, I cannot face anymore as, I feel they want rid of me. I have 10 weeks until Maternity leave, I am struggling as I am shattered, I have not had an Assistant Manager, and I am entitled to one, since September 2009 and the way the branches are run now, ie weekly 121's with all staff etc you need an Assistant Manager. He keeps promising me one and it never comes. Before he went on holiday he said she would start on Monday past, but from speaking to friends its a lie as the lady who he says is the Assistant Manager is on hols until May then getting moved elsewhere. I am doing 2 jobs!!!!
I have read somewhere if you are a serial '2 performer' (appraisal rating) they put you on a 12 week plan to get rid of you. There is nothing on file to say they have ever supported me ever!!! What can I do?
He has also said for the amount of money I earn for 'my performance is being questioned' I was headhunted and took a pay cut to go onboard and have all my financial services qualifications. He has also said that I will get moved to some back water branch when I come back from Maternity leave.
I just dont know what to do, I have never been sick, If I went to the GP now they would sign me off, as I am a wreck. I am scared of what he/the company could do to me. The thing is I am not the worst Manager, it just seems, another Male boss has taken a dislike to me(maybe he listen to the previous horrible boss' opinion about me) As for my Salary they agreed it when they brought me on board. I havent had a payrise for the last 2 years. I have continually asked for a move of branch to 'prove if it was me' who wasnt performing but they have never sanctioned it.
Please any advice would be gratefully received. I cant sleep or eat I am 7 months pregnant and my bump isnt growing. I just want to die, I have changed so much as a person since joining that place. I would walk out tomorrow but I am the breadwinner. I really dont know what to do. If I go off sick can they bring my Mat leave forward. When I am on Mat leave I propose to get another job, even if I have to take two jobs to make ends meet I will do it!!!!
Please help I doubt I can cope another week never mind until Mat leave!!!
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Comments
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I am so sorry but I have no constructive advice but couldn't read and run. It sounds horrid and I think you need to think about you and your baby. That's the most important thing now. I know you need money but I'm thinking maybe constructive dismissal? Sorry if that is the incorrect term!:A
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This situation sounds dreadful! I don't know what you can do about it at work, but I think you should talk to your doctor as you sound like you are suffering from depression. Anyone would be if they were in your shoes, don't think its a wakness to ask for help.0
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I think they missed out the 'e' in weakness.:A
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It actually gets better. I have been to gp and got signed off yesterday (called boss and left voicemail) and I got a voicemail this morning advising he was putting a new manager in my branch, taking me out to do odd jobs around our local area, this was due to my performance and then he added at the end this should help me get back to work quicker. I feel like I am about to have a breakdown as its clear they are trying to get rid of me, by putting another Manager in.
Now I feel guilty for being off with stress.
thanks for the replies guys - I posted this yesterday (original post) but internet was playing up.0 -
Stress is not good for pregnancy as you release an hormone that can affect the baby, you need to go back to your GP.NickiMcJock wrote: »It actually gets better. I have been to gp and got signed off yesterday (called boss and left voicemail) and I got a voicemail this morning advising he was putting a new manager in my branch, taking me out to do odd jobs around our local area, this was due to my performance and then he added at the end this should help me get back to work quicker. I feel like I am about to have a breakdown as its clear they are trying to get rid of me, by putting another Manager in.
Now I feel guilty for being off with stress.
thanks for the replies guys - I posted this yesterday (original post) but internet was playing up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/may/31/childrensservices.medicineandhealth0 -
Definitley do not rush back to work, don't feel guilty they have made you feel like this, you have had IVF for your baby please do not let anything come between the joy you should be feeling.
You really do need to leave this job as when you have a baby and have to work in such a stressful environment it won't be good for either of you.
Good Luck and please put the health of you and your baby first.0 -
a lot of people working in financial services are off sick with stress, depression etc, wonder why?!
Good luck with the baby that is the most important thing in this case.....0 -
Now I have been told to hand my branch keys in to the Regional Managers, office, by text. I dont know what to do, I havent agreed to leave my BM job they have just pushed me out the way put someone else in and dont care about me.0
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Hi jdturk
Phoned them and said I had to exhaust company procedures first. Which is a waste of time as the Senior Management have ignored everything I have tried to tell them before.
I really dont know what to do. I am at my wits end, I need to earn the money I am on as I am the breadwinner, I cant take anymore.0 -
Put in a grievance.NickiMcJock wrote: »Which is a waste of time as the Senior Management have ignored everything I have tried to tell them before.
I really dont know what to do. I am at my wits end, I need to earn the money I am on as I am the breadwinner, I cant take anymore.
Don't tell them anything anymore, write it in a letter. Keep everything formal. Easy to say I know but please don't stress. Follow the company procedures and keep a diary of all the b.!!!!!! this man is doing.0
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