Recording abusive boss

columbiana

How awful- its horrible working with some one who is nothing more than a playground bully.

Like the previous posters, I am not sure about the legalities of filming someone without their knowledge, and to be honest if the boss is that bad I cant imagine their reaction if they caught you...

I would agree that a diary of the behaviour over a few weeks is the best way to handle it, if you record times, dates, and word for word converations in your diary I'm sure this will be evidence enough.

I was in a situation once with a similar boss where someone eventually raised a grievance and HR came in and interviewed every member of staff. Probably somethig to do with strength in numbers but as every one said the same thing and told the truth, the boss was removed from the situation and sent off somewhere else for retraining.

Hope you manage to sort it out- you shouldnt lose your job because of it.

MrSnuggles

This depends entirely on the country you're living in.

In UK, it's legal to record a telephone conversation without notifying the person on the other end, providing this conversation isn't heard by a third party. I.e. Employment Tribunal, friend, colleague...

Recordings cannot be used in court without the permission of the person you have recorded. This is according to the Home Office. If you attempt to use it in court, the judge will dismiss it. There's the option of transcribing the recording to use in court, but it's easy to dispute the accuracy and have you forced to play it to a third party. Then your problem begins.

There's also a difference between recording a conversation on your own home's phone to secretly recording a conversation in a private property, such as your workplace.

If you are caught recording a telephone conversation in the workplace, your employer can sack you immediately and sue you. This doesn't apply for other methods of recording conversations.

paddedjohn

OP, record them next time they hurl abuse at you and then play it back to them so thay can hear how horrible they are, then tell them that unless they back off you will use the recording at a tribunal (bluffing). My guess is that this type of idiot will back off sharpish.

You say there is no-one above this person, is there anyone in another departement/store you can complain to?

Bradden

MrSnuggles wrote: »

If you are caught recording a telephone conversation in the workplace, your employer can sack you immediately and sue you. This doesn't apply for other methods of recording conversations.

Can you please explain the reasoning for this claim? I'm not convinced it's true in all cases.

pinkshoes

m-bee wrote: »

I think recording people without their knowledge is illegal, even audio.

It's not.

You just can't use it in court without their permission.

I took my mp3 player to a recent meeting, and recorded my boss saying something VERY specific (they're currently trying to increase my hours to full time) that I'm sure he will deny later down the line.

If he does try and deny it, I'll produce a manuscript of the conversation, and if he still denies it, I'll then inform him that I recorded the meeting, and will play it out loud to him if he'd like his memory jogging of what he said... I'm quite sure he will then tell the truth.

paddyrg

Record away! If you ever need to use that recording or transcript it's already too late to worry about keeping your job, so keep the recordings by all means.

MrSnuggles

Bradden wrote: »

Can you please explain the reasoning for this claim? I'm not convinced it's true in all cases.

If you secretly record a 'telephone' conversation within your workplace, you have committed a criminal offence. The reasons are unimportant. In UK, if you are caught, the employer has the power to immediately sack you and call the police. This offence doesn't care for circumstances. If you commit the offence and you're caught, you're screwed, especially if you have a litigious grumpy employer.

MrSnuggles

pinkshoes wrote: »

It's not.

You just can't use it in court without their permission.

I took my mp3 player to a recent meeting, and recorded my boss saying something VERY specific (they're currently trying to increase my hours to full time) that I'm sure he will deny later down the line.

If he does try and deny it, I'll produce a manuscript of the conversation, and if he still denies it, I'll then inform him that I recorded the meeting, and will play it out loud to him if he'd like his memory jogging of what he said... I'm quite sure he will then tell the truth.

This is why nowadays the more intelligent employers, when having meetings where computers and phones are suppose to be turned off, secretly switch on an audio inteference device to prevent any attempts of recordings being made.

I suppose you can try bugging the office and bluffing you'll use the recording in court, even though you can't. Most employers are too dumb to call the bluff.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

You can do this on an Iphone 3GS and above.
The Iphone has plenty of apps that record but I think a Paid app is better value for money and you avoid Ad Tracking that comes with Free Apps.
(Not that I am against Free Apps).
HT Recorder records conversations in a Room.
FIRE Studio has been sterling at recording audio off Laptop TV and real life crises here at home!!!

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I would be very subtle about this, invisible and check your Legal status.
A boss like that is undermining your confidence and that is not good for you or your Colleagues. Best of luck in finding solutions and dealing with the situation.