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Possible disciplinary action

andie_303
Posts: 59 Forumite
Hi all
I'm just trying to get myself armed with some information in anticipation that something that disciplinary action may be taken.
The beginning of Feb 2011 I made a formal complaint about my line manager to my HR department as I felt the manager had treated me badly whilst I took time off for my child to have serious surgery. I have been chasing this complaint for a number of weeks on on Wednesday (23.3.11) received an email from HR saying they had notified my line manager and his manager about my complaint and they would be in touch further in the near future.
Since then my line manager has not spoken to me - something which does not particularly trouble me.
However today I am called into my line managers, managers office (hope that makes sense) when I arrive I find my line manager also there. At this point I am shown a screen grab page from my facebook profile. This page is from approx 3-4 weeks previous and to cut a long story short I recount a conversation had with a number of colleagues and my manager earlier that day to a colleague that was not present. Other colleagues of mine post comments on this with one person making a derogatory comment about my manager.
I must stress at this point I made no personal comments about my manager at all, didn't mention his name, my place of work (nor is that listed in my profile info) or anything but tell a colleague something he told us in a very open forum.
They inform me that the screenshot was anonymously left for my line manager and everyone elses names and pictures were blanked out by the person who left it - my name was the only visible one left.
I told them that I didn't think I had done anything wrong as I hadn't said anything derogatory but apparently I am being held liable as I did not delete comments left by other colleagues and it was on my profile.
I asked for it to be noted that I felt someone to be singling me out as only my section of the conversation had been left visible and that this I felt was unfair.
I assume that this was an investigation meeting as I was then told that they would have to refer the matter to HR.
So I guess my questions really are - if this was an investigation meeting should I not have been notified in advance and should the line manger who this revolves around been present?
Thank you all in advance
Andie x
I'm just trying to get myself armed with some information in anticipation that something that disciplinary action may be taken.
The beginning of Feb 2011 I made a formal complaint about my line manager to my HR department as I felt the manager had treated me badly whilst I took time off for my child to have serious surgery. I have been chasing this complaint for a number of weeks on on Wednesday (23.3.11) received an email from HR saying they had notified my line manager and his manager about my complaint and they would be in touch further in the near future.
Since then my line manager has not spoken to me - something which does not particularly trouble me.
However today I am called into my line managers, managers office (hope that makes sense) when I arrive I find my line manager also there. At this point I am shown a screen grab page from my facebook profile. This page is from approx 3-4 weeks previous and to cut a long story short I recount a conversation had with a number of colleagues and my manager earlier that day to a colleague that was not present. Other colleagues of mine post comments on this with one person making a derogatory comment about my manager.
I must stress at this point I made no personal comments about my manager at all, didn't mention his name, my place of work (nor is that listed in my profile info) or anything but tell a colleague something he told us in a very open forum.
They inform me that the screenshot was anonymously left for my line manager and everyone elses names and pictures were blanked out by the person who left it - my name was the only visible one left.
I told them that I didn't think I had done anything wrong as I hadn't said anything derogatory but apparently I am being held liable as I did not delete comments left by other colleagues and it was on my profile.
I asked for it to be noted that I felt someone to be singling me out as only my section of the conversation had been left visible and that this I felt was unfair.
I assume that this was an investigation meeting as I was then told that they would have to refer the matter to HR.
So I guess my questions really are - if this was an investigation meeting should I not have been notified in advance and should the line manger who this revolves around been present?
Thank you all in advance
Andie x
0
Comments
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First thing - try not to worry. Sounds like you've done little wrong.
It appears that your employer has failed to respond to your grievance within a reasonable time.
You need to note down exactly what was said in the meeting, but it sounds a bit of a sham to me - what are they holding you liable for? Are other colleagues being held liable for whatever they feel has been done?
My advice is follow up your original complaint stating you do not understand the lengthy delay, or why they haven't spoken to you more in detail, and can only imagine this meeting is in response to that complaint as you have not been advised where you have done anything wrong. Unless something is clearly libelous and in public, they are on shaky ground.
Also, speak to a union and involve them in any grievance meetings.0 -
Hello
Firstly, ask your company for a copy of its grievance procedure. You raised a complaint and usually there is a very short turn around time before your should receive a response, you usually then have a right of appeal. I say this because it appears you have not had a response and therefore they are likely in breach.
On the basis that this process has not concluded there is therefore a likely conflict of interest in the manager you are complaining about leading an investigation.
You appear to have been investigated. If they invite you to a disciplinary, then demand a copy of the disciplinary procedure. You should have had notice and a right of representation - Trade Union or colleague representative.
If it was just your name, depending on how brave you are, give them a version with all the names on and see if they treat all your colleagues in the same way - if not then yes you are being singled out.
The ACAS website gives good info on your employment rights - they are a free service and I recommend you give them a call.0 -
Thanks both of you - I am going to contact my Union on Monday, they have been involved in my complaint about this manager and have also been chasing for a response. I thought that it would be a conflict him being involved not only as he was mentioned by colleagues in the conversation but that I have an outstanding complaint about him so I am glad I am not the only one that sees it as being a problem.0
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Don't forget to print off the screen print of that page showing exactly who else was slagging the manager off....If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0
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Does your employer have a internet/social networking policy that you are aware of? if they do have you signed or acknowledged to them at any time you are aware of the policy? sometimes these policies can be a little extreme with attached rules etc i would be checking through that.0
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Facebook is a professional disaster....really.
It causes more harm than good. I can see where they are coming from.
I'm a teacher, and I make sure that I never mention work on Facebook. Too much can go wrong.0 -
Work and Facebook do NOT mix.0
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NEVER have work colleagues on Facebook until you have left. Work colleagues are not your friends until then. This an absolute, total rule.0
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November5th wrote: »NEVER have work colleagues on Facebook until you have left. Work colleagues are not your friends until then. This an absolute, total rule.
I don't agree with this - a number of my Facebook friends are colleagues - I think the absolute golden rule is never, ever write something down you wouldn't be happy to see on the front page of the news.
I never discuss work on Facebook and have no details of my job listed on there. I never write anything, e-mail, Facebook, text, that could potentially cause me problems.0 -
Agreed; I have a couple of colleagues as friends; however as I lurve my job I'd never say anything except good things about it....and I get brownie points for sharing news, events, press releases etc that we are running.If you haven't got it - please don't flaunt it. TIA.0
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