Is my boss bullying me??

blackbelle_2

Hi inapickle, I can imagine how nerve-wrecking this must be.

Why not tell your rep how you are feeling, and see if it would be possible for you to write in advance a detailed history of events and a description of the impact on you, and also any attempts you have made to address things, and the reaction?

Then get the rep to read this aloud on your behalf? Then you would only need to answer any questions, which might not be as bad?

Don't worry about the 1 year salary thing and don't be embarrassed. Your rep knows that this is an 'opening shot' and will likely be negotiated down ... But it's a good starting point.

Sending you a big hug, you CAN do this xx

inapickle9

Thanks for your support guys. I'm a nervous wreck at the minute. Does anyone know what kind of questions they will ask?

My heads all over, can't think straight and I'm paranoid that I'm going to get a grilling ... Anxiety is taking over x

blackbelle_2

I think that firstly they are likely to ask you to describe the 'nature of your grievance' (this is the bit where your rep reading aloud a statement might be helpful). This is your basically elaborating in detail on your letter of grievance.

Make sure you have something written down for the above part - whether you or your rep read it aloud. Don't go in and ramble, or jump from point to point. Much better to list and describe events in the date order they occurred. Throw in as many facts, dates, times, witness names as you can, this is really important.

I think the follow-up questions are going to largely relate to the facts around each specific allegation. I.e. When, where did it take place, what was the context, were there any witnesses, what happened afterwards, did you complain to anyone at any stage, or seek any other form of assistance inside or outside of work etc. Whether or not they specifically ask, make sure you tell them repeatedly how things made you feel, the emotional and medical impact on you.

Then having gathered the facts they want, they typically ask how (if your grievance is upheld) you want your grievance to be addressed (here is where your rep steps back in again), and then the meeting is concluded while HR go away and investigate, then typically some days later they advise of the outcome, whether your grievance is fully or partially upheld .. Or not.

I have attended a lot of these meetings in a management capacity and this is how they have tended to go in my experience. Hope this helps xo

blackbelle_2

And best of luck for tomorrow, by the way. Let us know how it goes, and if you like a glass of wine or two, make sure and get a bottle on the way home :-) x

inapickle9

Thanks very much for your advice, I will start writing down some stuff now, my grievance was quite in detailed included times dates and some witnesses so I just need to go into detail on how all this has made me feel really.

Again thankyou, I will update you tomorrow and I will certainly be putting my feet up with a glass of wine tomorrow night.... This has been a long long process xxx

blackbelle_2

You're welcome.

I had another thought actually - if you haven't already planned on doing so, you need to fully describe the very aggressive 'toxic' and contradictory team environment you have been operating within (citing examples of the treatment of other team members you have witnessed, if at all possible); that all of you were all placed under sustained and unreasonable pressure, but particularly yourself, and that given the behaviour towards someone such as yourself, who did actually perform well in the role (state evidence of this), you felt you had genuine cause to fear victimisation, had you made a formal complaint, and this held you back from doing so earlier. But now things have come to a head, and you have been forced to address things for the sake of your health and wellbeing.

You need to cover off this bit in order to account for any questions they may ask on why you did not complain to HR earlier x

Frikkadel

Hi inapickle

I tried to pm you but it doesn't seem to be going through. I just wanted to ask some advice about the union rep. Could you possibly pm me so I can reply if you don't mind please.

Thanks

Coraline

I'm finding out (as of today) that two previous employees under the bully I work for just walked straight out of the job. Walked in, collected their possessions, and left.

The word is spreading in our office and it's getting to the point where we as a group can report this. This boss has a history and it's getting to the point where it violates "duty of care" as my Mental Health Practitioner told me about it.

It's that bad, have had three people leave the office sick/tired/stressed/overworked/ etc and just can't put up with it anymore.

Rottensocks

Hope it went OK, Inapickle. x

inapickle9

Hi guys... So update on the grievance...

It was all very formal, all recorded etc, as it turns out this is just the start of the grievance... It's taken them 3-4 weeks from me raising my grievance to have this meeting and it was literally me talking about the issues I had, I was a nervous wreck and ended up getting upset. The investigation now starts, so they will interview colleagues and the line manager in question and get back to me... They wanted to write to me with the outcome but my union rep requested another meeting to discuss the outcome (I think he's keen to make sure my losses are covered financially). Work have Said they will review my pay after the investigation which still leaves me in a financially mess. We have told them I can't face coming back due to what has happened and the union rep has planted the seed about looking at agreeing on a financial settlement but I don't think there going to be too keen on that idea.
My thoughts are they will come back and dismiss the grievance because I'm unsure wether the witnesses I have mentioned will have the courage to air there views and they know I'm leaving now so I don't think they will be too fussed.

We will see.... I felt relieved and gutted after the meeting.... I feel like I'm back to square one... Waiting all this time for the meeting now I have to wait while they investigate and then wait until the next meeting for the outcome. I know I'm definitely leaving, I just hope I can cover my losses so I can get by until I start a new job, I'm also going to be without a car which also makes things harder

Wait and see I suppose :-(