Mum being bullied by boss at work

glitterboots

I’m hoping someone can help, I’m looking for advice on behalf of my mum who is being bullied by her boss at work.

The bully in question is the factory manager/owner, and despite being an all-round bad individual, seems to have it out for my mother and her co-worker as he believes their roles (factory cleaners) are a waste of money.

The most recent incident which has worried me if during a deep clean session where silt was being removed from a drain, he seized a hose pipe, spouted string of derogatory words about how useless they were in front of a factory of people, which ended in my mother asked them to leave them alone to do the job they are paid to do.

Since then this individual (who lives on site) appeared as said drain later during the shift in his pyjamas and made my mum paddle tiny broccoli florets from a 12 foot puddle for an hour until every single leaf was removed. I should mention these are usually just swept away once the puddle has drained by the following shift – a well known practice! This was a purely derogatory act and took her away from doing the job she usually enjoys doing.

A complaint was raised by an onlooker, however the boss has presumed it my mums co-worker and has since ‘reminded’ him that he is the boss and his comments won’t make any difference (despite the fact he didn’t originally complain).

My mum hours have also now been cut, with a passing comment that she now won’t be able to afford the repayments on her car (bought outright so irrelevant, however she shouldn’t have to divulge her finances) but clearly a personal attack.

After numerous health and safety complaints, she is also expected to climb a ladder to collect cleaning chemical because he has refused to allow them to be relocated. Due to her chemical training from a previous job, she has raised concerns that other chemicals that shouldn’t be stored together are currently being stored together. Rather than addressing this hazard she was simply mocked and told when it’s her factory she can do things her way, but for now she is just cleaner.

They’re dozens of similar incidents, as well this bully also referring to my mothers co-worker as ‘thick’ and ‘stupid’ as well as other names the filters here would censor out on numerous occasions.

Overall, they both have a list as long as their arms of personal attacks, intimidating behaviour and malicious actions because of this one individual, but as owner of the factory is there anyone external they can complain to? Both because of his behaviour and dangerous practises.

My mum and her co-worker are both looking for new jobs (I think she’s tempted to just resign and tell him she’s going to spend her days whizzing round in her new car), but in the short term do they just have to stick it out?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as I don’t think this is as simple as complaining to HR.

asajj

I'm sorry to hear that - really frustrating. Is she a member of a union? They might be able to help?

sangie595

Realistically, if this guy is the owner, then looking for a new job and telling him where to stick it is her only option. There clearly isn't anyone who can rein him in if he is the owner, and even if she was prepared to go down a legal route, it is actually much harder to action bullying (which in employment law terms, does not exist - it isn't something that employment law specifically states as being unlawful) than many people think.

tomtontom

If he is the owner, then she is better off getting out of there.

Of course she is free to report any health and safety breaches to the HSE when she goes

cavework

Could this not be a case for constructive dismissal?

sangie595

cavework wrote: »

Could this not be a case for constructive dismissal?

She hasn't resigned. She hasn't completed a full grievance procedure before resigning. And what is the betting that there will be no witnesses? Who is going to risk their job to testify against their employer - and as soon as they leave they become "disgruntled former employees" whose statements are dubious.

cavework

But OP is saying that mother is looking to leave because of the behaviour of her employer.
Surely if this is the case, now is the time to start using the grievance procedure, obtaining evidence and witness statements ?

sangie595

cavework wrote: »

But OP is saying that mother is looking to leave because of the behaviour of her employer.
Surely if this is the case, now is the time to start using the grievance procedure, obtaining evidence and witness statements ?

I admire your optimism. Witness statements are worthless if the witnesses won't appear at a tribunal. And employees seldom agree to do so. And yes, she could put in a grievance to the owner of the company - the person she alleges is bullying her. So I wouldn't really be expecting anything other than one outcome. And then she could appeal to the same person (nobody else to appeal to).

And I am really sorry for the OP because I know what it feels like. But seriously - the boss has made her clean up broccoli florets - what is usually done is not an issue, she's a cleaner and the employer told her to clean. The OP's child thought that a passing reference to car repayments was offensive? Her hours have been cut - which will have a business case to support it?

I do appreciate that these may only be a few incidents, but really, they don't amount to a clear enough case. But constructive unfair dismissal claims are hard enough when there is a well stacked case. And this isn't. And is unlikely to ever be. If she thinks things are tough now, she would still have to get through an entire grievance procedure whilst still employed in that place, and them go through all the stress again at a tribunal, assuming she can construct a case and raise the funds to make a claim.

It isn't even remotely palatable advice for me, to give, but it is realistic advice. The law is a long way off being what people think it is, and justice seldom gets done.

glitterboots

Thanks for all your advice and confirming my suspicions there isn't a great deal that can be done.


She isn't part of a union, but thankfully she hasn't had too much trouble finding work and has two interview lined up for the next week. She's spoken to another member of management who has agreed to give her a positive reference if needed.


I've spoken to her this morning and she isn't that besotted with the job she is willing to go through a complicated grievance procedure. If anything now she knows she'll soon be leaving, his behaviour is more bearable.


Thanks again for giving realistic advice!

pmduk

I'm wondering if he's found cheaper cleaners and is trying to get rid of his existing staff?

mustang121

If this is the owner and he treats all employers as a drain of expenses, then I would expect he won't have a company for much longer.


I would be tempted to find a new job and then park a turd on his car.


I would also report any HSE non-compliances to the appropriate authority. If your mother ignores any breaches and the factory goes up in smoke then she could possibly be implicated as she had a chance to report it.