Facing the sack after being accused of bullying and harrasment by a 12 year old.

nicole2216

Hi
I am after a bit of advice. I work as a kitchen assistant in a secondary school, which two of my daughters attend.
One of my daughters had what I considered a minor disagreement with another pupil which the school apprently dealt with in there usual manor, by way of the girls sitting together in a room and discussing there diffences, with a member of school staff.
Some 3 weeks later, I get suspended from work on the grounds that my conduct towards this child was unacceptable. I attended a meeting with the Headmaster, although i discovered after, that my line manager had requested that this meeting did not take place and then an investigatory meeting with my Operations manager and then a disiplinary meeting where I was presented with copies of email complaints from the parents stating i was making comments to their daughter at any given opportunity, particulary at lunchtime, often ignoring their daughter when she was in the queue for dinner, making comments to my fellow colleagues within their daughters earshot.
I was issued with a written warning to stay on my work record for 1 year.
I have appealled this warning as the whole incident is made up. I have never been nasty to this child in the slightest. At no time have my work colleagues been interviewed by anyone to ask how my conduct at work is.
I am now facing another disiplinary hearing on the same matter. It turns out my operations manager assured the parents at the end of last school term, before the original disiplinary hearing was held, that I would not be returning to work. She then repeated this statement to the Headmaster a couple of weeks ago which in turn he told the parents that I would not be returning to the school. I am still on suspension on full pay whiislt this is going on. I was informed by letter yesterday that the Headmaster is not prepared to have me employed on site, and that if my employer is unable to find me alternative employement at another site the outcome will be dismissal from the company on the grounds of ''some other substantial reason'.
Can the headmaster do this? Should he not consult the Govenors of the school? The School is a PFI school and I am not employed by ths school directly.
I beleive my operations manager has not done her job properly and that the whole situation is wrong.
Does anyone know where I stand as to my employment? Am I a victim of persicution? Do I have grounds for raising a Grievence procedure agianst my Operations manager.

Many thanks in advance and sorry for the long winded messge.
Nicole

vaio

What do your union say?

nicole2216

unfortunatly I am not with a union, I have just applied to Unison but they cannot help with on-going issues.
Advice from ACAS is I may be being persicuted. I am waiting for a telephone call on monday from HR department. But i feel because HR employ both myself and my operations manager they may be biased.
I have had to move my daughter from her classes to another 'house' group in school to keep her away from the child who is accusing me.

lynzpower

please tell me you are in a trade union or that you have legal cover on your contents insurance.
This sounds so terrible! Especially this bit "It turns out my operations manager assured the parents at the end of last school term, before the original disiplinary hearing was held, that I would not be returning to work. She then repeated this statement to the Headmaster a couple of weeks ago which in turn he told the parents that I would not be returning to the school"

Telling parents indeed! :eek:

I think this should probably get moved to Employment section where you should receive some excellent advice.

nicole2216

:-( no union unfortunatly.

My ops manager didnt imform the parents she 'assured the headmaster that it was definate i would not be returning to site and that he (the headmaster) could communicate that to the parents. Which he did, for the second time. the first time being at the end of july. I didnt have my 1st disiplinary until 2nd september 2010.
how do i move my thread to the employment site??? many thanks.

lynzpower

dont worry nicole someone may well do it or you can Private message ( PM) the board guide of this board or employment and ask them to do it

WhiteHorse

Obviously a nasty child and equally nasty parents.

Your employer wants to keep the contract, and is therefore grovelling to the school. The school is frightened of the parents, so is grovelling to them. You are being made to carry the can for them all.

They have all behaved very badly, and almost certainly illegally, so get some proper legal advice: The CAB. A solicitor specialising in employment law (go for one with a free initial consultation). Consider also any legal expenses cover on your house insurance.

Check your contract of employemt and your employers disciplinary code. They will almost certainly have breached these.

cheepskate_2

Please, Please keep all communications. If I was you i would write everything that you can remember down, dates times , others present. even if it doenst seem much to you keep a note of all that has happened to date.
By the headmaster assuring the parents even before he has heard your side is a big no.
No matter what you are probably not going to keep/get your job back as this will be a big embaressment to the head after saying to the parents.
Please go get advice and if needed go to a tribunal as this should not be happening.

moomoomama27

I cannot believe that, must be terrible for you. From direct experience I know how awful 12 yr old girls can be! It seems like they havn't followed any kind of real procedure. I hope someone can offer you good advice xx

busiscoming2

Yes you are being persicuted by your Operations Manager

You say this girl has said you made comments to fellow workers about her, surely the head and your op manager should have interviewed them and see what they have to say? It would be quite interesting to see if their account is the same as the girl. I can offer no advice but I really think you have not been treated correctly.

mountainofdebt

I've asked an employment barrister who frequently posts on the employment board to have a look at this thread, just in case the mods have missed your request to have it moved to the employment board.

As a matter of interest how long have you been employed by the company?