Request interview notes

TF03

Hi all, 
So a quick backstory. Been with my current employer over 5 years now. 
Was in an internal secondment for 18 months to a different role. For some reason, my manager (who was on maternity leave when I started the secondment role) has taken a dislike to me, despite hitting all targets, KPIs etc. Insisted I had to reapply for position. Which I did, was unsuccessful at interview and they are bringing in an external candidate. 
Anyway, I have caught the manager lying about facts/company procedures to me on two occasions during the above process which I have evidence for. Another role has come up on a different team internally that I have applied for and will be interviewing for (under a different manager thankfully). I have requested from my manager the interview notes from my previous interview, so I can review my answers, see where I can improve etc in preparation for the new interview. She has refused to provide them (as advised by HR apparently) but has given me some generic, stuff she has copied and pasted from a google search about interviews. 

Am I in a position to lodge a grievance against her as she has refused to provide the notes? I didn't want to go down that route but combined with the other evidence that I have, it would form a very solid argument for workplace discrimination. 
Should I go above her straight to HR to see if they will provide the notes? As far as I'm aware I am entitled to see them? I do actually want them to see where I went wrong with my answers in preparation for my next interview and I don't really want to go down the grievance route but I feel very pressed into a corner? I know that sometimes, managers just want someone else or have something else in mind...I get it...so I was just prepared to let it slide and hopefully get my move across to the different team and move on. But the refusal to provide the notes and treat me like an adult rather than just try to hide/lie about things really has made me feel like crap and I just want some straight answers! 

Please don't think this as an "I didn't get something, now I've thrown my toys out" thing. It's not. I just would like to be treated with some consistency and honesty from my manager and move on! 

Thanks all

Tealblue

You can always lodge a grievance about anyone or anything, but whether it's wise to do so is quite another matter. You also need to bear in mind that interview notes are highly unlikely to contain anything particularly revealing; that will have been quietly disposed of some time ago - as indeed may the notes themselves, depending on how long ago your interview took place.

If you go over your manager's head to HR, remember that you aren't just upsetting her (doesn't sound as if that would take much anyway!) and HR might take a dim view of it. 

JamoLew

As above - the timescale is the important factor here.
The time to ask for feedback etc etc is immediately after the interview, not months down the line (if this is the case)

TF03

The interview was 2 weeks ago. I asked for the feedback almost immediately but received nothing till earlier this week. 

k3lvc

TF03 said:

Am I in a position to lodge a grievance against her as she has refused to provide the notes? I didn't want to go down that route but combined with the other evidence that I have, it would form a very solid argument for workplace discrimination. 

What is this 'workplace discrimination' you speak of ? Are you talking about a specific characteristic (disability/race/gender etc) or just the fact that your old Manager doesn't like you ?

If I were you I'd be keeping your head down and focusing on getting the new role - the more fuss you make at this stage the more red flags will come up for probing during your forthcoming interview

Sandtree

Did you see them taking notes in the interview?

Back in my call centre days questions were read from a sheet, a 1 sentence version of the answer was given in the box below and a score on the appropriate scale in a box but this is the only time any such regimented a process was followed. 

If I do an interview today, I don't have set questions to ask, I'll start with asking for a run through of their career and much of the conversation after that is steered by their earlier answers. My notes will be minimal, half the time ticks,  crosses and question marks against the CV and at best ideas for questions in a next round interview. Once I've made my decision the CV goes into the shredder.

You are entitled to make a DSAR request under GDPR to your employer to see what information they hold which would include interview notes however, GDPR only covers data that is held in a system or filed systematically. So a scribbled on CV stuffed in the back of my notebook along with a bunch of other meeting papers etc wouldn't be covered and especially not after its already been shredded. What is put into the HR system is but certainly on the ones I've used in recent years the only options I had were... decline, arrange interview or offer.

Undervalued

TF03 said:

Am I in a position to lodge a grievance against her as she has refused to provide the notes? I didn't want to go down that route but combined with the other evidence that I have, it would form a very solid argument for workplace discrimination. 

"Workplace discrimination" is perfectly lawful unless it happens to be on one of the few grounds prohibited by law (e.g race, gender, sexual orientation, trade union membership, civic duty etc)! Even within those categories there are lawful exceptions for some jobs.

Employment is all about "discrimination". Who do you appoint? Who do you promote? Even if the intention is "the best candidate" who sets the criteria?  Who chooses who gets to decide? Do all attributes carry equal weight?

[Deleted User]

Love the fact the word discrimination is used far too frequently these days. 

AskAsk

I don't believe she had to give you anything.  She may give you feedback but she doesn't have to disclose confidential files and notes on your interview.

Sandtree

AskAsk said:

I don't believe she had to give you anything.  She may give you feedback but she doesn't have to disclose confidential files and notes on your interview.

If it is a formal Data Subject Access Request made under GDPR then the company is legally obliged to provide the data it holds including interview notes IF they are either digitally or physically stored in a systematic way.  If they've already been destroyed or are not held in a systematic way then they can say no. If they destroy them after the request is made then the ICO will not be best pleased and has fairly significant abilities to fine companies for breaching data privacy laws (which includes the right of people to request what data is held on them)