help please re any laws/regs on dismissal of volunteer

shelovestobuystuff

As the title says,I need some advice please,bit late in the day to be looking for this sort of thing as all offices are closed so I hoped someone on this forum might know some usefull info.
Basically I am left in charge along with another girl,of a charity shop while manager is away for 2 weeks.I have only been with them for 5 weeks and although I am trained up on all the paperwork,copmputer stuff to enable me to run she shop in the managers absence I have not yet had any training or do I know what the laws if any are on dealing with volunteers.

zzzLazyDaisy

The volunteer doesn;t have any protection from 'dismissal' under the law.

BUT you should still speak to someone at head or regional office as there may be internal procedures that you are required to follow.

Haarlem

Most charities have written policies for volunteers, giving the requirements and expectations required from the volunteer, and the same from the charity to the volunteer.

The charity will have a written procedure to be followed if problems arise from a volunteer which will be similar to a paid employee.

You will have to follow this, as there is probably a grievance policy the volunteer can take up with the trustees if the agreed procedure is not follwed.

Try and find these, and don't forget it is the trustees who must back you, and the trustees will be held responsible if things go wrong. If in doubt check with a trustee.

Savvy_Sue

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Savvy_Sue

When is this new volunteer next due in, and will you be there?

If you aren't able to get in touch with anyone before this new volunteer is due in, I would still speak to this person to say that you have concerns over the way they have spoken to others, and perhaps request that they stay home until the manager returns if they are unable to work as part of the team.

And I would write everything down: the names of those who have spoken to you, what you have said, what this person has said etc.

shelovestobuystuff

Thanks,
They are due in again this Saturday and yes I,ll be there.
I spoke to them and asked that they dont come in on Saturday,that we had a meeting in the shop about how the new volunteers were settling in and we decided it isnt really going to work out,if they are not happy with that to take it up with the manager in 2 weeks time.
They are not happy with that and dont accept my request for them to stay away from the workplace for now as I am not the boss,dont get paid so just a volunteer and they dont have to listen to me appartantly.See this is exactly the problem other staff had with him.
I have left messages on the area managers phone and also the area HR team leaders phone stating basically I have a problem with a new volunteer and need advice.
I also put the request in writing to the volunteer(e-mail so its instant) and have saved the torrent of abusive e-mails I recieved in response,everything from threatening people to insinuating suicide,and it will all be my fault apparantly.
Obviously thats a volunteer we can definately do without.I just hope I handled it well enough not to get into trouble myself.Not knowing the routine I just kept it pleasant but formal and to the point.
I can only wait and see what happens now.

Savvy_Sue

Bear in mind that this MAY need to be reported to the police. But as far as possible I would recommend that someone else deals with them. Forward abusive emails to the area manager / area HR team leader and do not respond yourself. Is this your personal email or a work one?

Definitely one you could do without ...

Oh, another thought, but if this is someone you KNOW to have a support worker, I would say it should be referred to them as well.

zzzLazyDaisy

Another reason for passing the buck higher up the chain of management is that if he has mental health problems, you don't want to unwittingly fall foul of the disability discrimination laws. You have done what you can, but you are not paid to handle this sort of problem. (Yes I know you are not paid at all, but you know what I mean...!)

theesel1994

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

They are not happy with that and dont accept my request for them to stay away from the workplace for now as I am not the boss,dont get paid so just a volunteer and they dont have to listen to me appartantly.

While the manager is away you are the boss so they do have to listen to you.
Can't really add anything other than to say you have done exactly what I would have done and would have expected the procedure to be in the absence of being specifically told what to do.

Savvy_Sue

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Another reason for passing the buck higher up the chain of management is that if he has mental health problems, you don't want to unwittingly fall foul of the disability discrimination laws. You have done what you can, but you are not paid to handle this sort of problem. (Yes I know you are not paid at all, but you know what I mean...!)

sheloves, unless you were made aware that this volunteer DOES have mental health problems, in your dealings with the area manager etc you need to be careful not to give the impression that you know more than you do. Their reaction is not that of a balanced person, shall we say, and it was perhaps wrong of me to raise the question of support workers, but it certainly crossed my mind that only someone with quite severe MH problems would react the way this person has.

However, I'd expect the area manager to reach this conclusion for themselves, and it might be 'unprofessional' to put this thought into their minds.

But theesel is quite right, in the absence of the manager, you ARE in charge. Naturally you will listen to those who have been there forever, but sometimes 'the way we've always done it' isn't necessarily the best or right way.

Best of luck with this! Remember, it's excellent experience.

heretolearn_2

This person sounds like they have severe mental health problems. Can you harangue the charity hQ /HR for help - you shouldn't have to deal with this alone.

I wouldn't let him back on the property if he turns up again on sat and call the police immediately if you feel in any way threatened.