Just a rallying post..support needed

[ttcycle]

I found out this evening through a small world kind of connection - that there has been a previous case of a worker at my site who raised similar concerns and was not taken seriosuly- something happened that meant she was signed off long term for sickness and the case was so serious she had a case for constructive dismissal to employment tribunal - she negotiated a settlement out of court but I am so angry that the same issues are cropping up again - in fact I was interviewed and asked a specific question around how I would deal with X- this was due to history of events which they are trying to whitewash - I've asked employers if there have been history of issues - told no and also this worker who filed the constructive dismissal, I was told left for health reasons - lie basically. It puts the delays into context- they're trying to time me out of a tribunal - fat chance. They had the legal duty to inform me or risks, to do a risk assessment and in light of the seriousness of the last case they should have put things into place to prevent it happening again.

I am ENRAGED - what I've gone through since April needn't have happened.

 

[jonny jeez]

can you get official confirmation of this or is it hear say....if you can get a name of the person, or confirmation then it sounds pretty clear cut.

Interesting that they have "previous tho"...it would be great to make contact with the "old" member of staff...is that possible?

you must (rightly) feel pretty pissed with your company right now, be careful that anger doesnt "take over" or errupt...keep it professional.....I know you will, just want to be sure that they dont "push" you into a moment of anger, that will be used in their favour later.

Stick with it TT and keep your chin up.

 

[ttcycle]

thanks jonny

I'm hoping I can get in contact with the old employee but will have to see-they negotiated a settlement out of court so that most likely means a gag order might have been part of the deal- I need to get details to see if this person's issues were of the same nature as mine. if needs be i may seek legal advice if she agrees to do a statement as it needs to be carefully worded to not break a potential gag order.


I'm keeping it well contained - I know that I need to keep it under wraps.

 

[jimheaney57]

First sympathies for what you are going through, I know full well what it's like as I've been going through hell in work for the past year. Thank goodness I can get out on the bike or go for a run because otherwise I would have gone crazy by now.

I've been through 2 grievances and a disciplinary this year. The first grievance was started by my employers! The disciplinary was because I refused to attend the grievance as I hadn't initiated it. The second grievance was partly to do with the first one being dropped on me.

I'm probably about to submit another grievance over a number of issues, including harassment, bullying & victimisation.

The whole situation is compounded by the fact that I have had my hours reduced by about 30% and my wage reduced by about 50%. This isn't due to my work being slack, in fact it's never been busier in the 10 years I've been there, it's because work in another branch of the company is quiet and they have redeployed staff into my office to take some of my job.

As someone said earlier in the thread it isn't easy to get out of the situation as the job market is dire at the minute. I would love to walk away but my wife wants me to stay until I get something else sorted. I recently had an interview for a job that paid less than I currently earn, a job I could do with my eyes closed. There were 200 applicants for the job so even to get through to interview stage was good going.

I've lost all focus and motivation in work. That's not me. Every cloud has a silver lining though so I'm getting to devote more time to my goal of being able to do a half Ironman next summer with a view to a full Ironman in Summer 2011. That's were my motivation lies now.

Anyway I hope things get sorted for you. I hope you and I both have a better year than we've had in 2009.

 

[Kirstie]

WeeE made a really good point about letting bullies have authority over you. There is a bully in my workplace and I firmly believe in fighting back. Fortunately I don't take any crap but others do cave in. You can't let them get to you, worse still you can't show it if they are. You cannot indicate at any point that they may be winning in some way because that's what they thrive on.

Another thing is to have something you consider a sanctuary. When I was going through a terrible time a few years ago, between houses, jobs, newly single etc the only place I could get some peace and relaxation was the bath in the flat I was crashing in. So I totally went overboard on bath stuff: made sure I really enjoy it. My current sanctuary is the gym, so I go there when I need it, because I know I come out feeling really good. Develop and ritualise your own private sanctuary because it can work wonders, especially when things are bad.

Good luck. Sounds like they don't have a leg to stand on and I'm sorry you work for such a bunch of c*nts.

 

[ttcycle]

Jim I'm sorry to hear this - it sounds a nightmare that you've been put through. You're made of strong stuff though by the sounds of it.

There is hope, there are jobs- just apply for one that comes along and looks good.
I extend some mutual support out there for you and hope 2010 is a better one for you too.

 

[ttcycle]

Kirstie - thankfully I am sharper than my dunce of a manager who is bright but just seems to be behaving unprofessionally - I think he had a wrist slapping moment today from HR but will have to see how it plays out long term as I'm not going to correct them too much when they mess up as it strengthens my case.

cycling was my respite but sadly am too ill to be cycling - 4th week off the bike now - frustrating as hell.

I'm doing my last day of 2009 tommorow as it's annual leave until the new year then the whole of our company gets together for a Christmas do - that should be buckets of fun - looking forward to it - esp the last day of work for a couple of weeks part!!

 

[jimheaney57]

Thanks TT. Yes I'm tough. I don't think they realise how tough though

As for the Christmas do. I'm not going. It's today and while they are at it I'll either be out on the bike, going for a run or at the gym, depending on the weather at the time. I can't be arsed with the thought of going and pretending to be happy to be in their company

 

[ttcycle]

I don't mind the organisation paying for us to have a christmas meal - only one of the managers will be there and my other colleagues are decent people.

I have an occupational health meeting in Jan and the response from my union officer is full time officers don't usually attend these meetings, besides I have another appointment at that time. Rang the union office and they said that he needs to suggest alternatives. What an absolute waste of space.

The more complex the case gets the less of a shoot this guy gives. F***s sake.

 

[WeeE]

Rage can be quite energising, when you have a righteous focus!

The power thing - it made me think quite hard about something that feels very different in British society than, say, in the US.

In countries like US, maybe Oz, your job status is what enables you to carry out certain functions in a company (like signing off a budget), whereas in the UK, your job title/status in the workplace seems to include - largely unquestioned - a very intimate social, interpersonal dominance.

When you start noticing it, you start noticing how we still metaphorically tip our hats "the boss", in just about every interaction, even if the boss is only the equivalent of a lance-corporal to a bunch of squaddies.

The personal/social deference that's expected, in Britain, from anyone with the tiniest bit grander job title (first-name-terms don't disguise the reality) is really stunning. I think it's all the more powerful for being mostly unspoken.

The upside is, this social-dominance/deference relation is all the more emperor's-clothes when the boss has to actually invoke it in so many words.

 

[WeeE]

unions - I came to the conclusion that the London branch of my union were corrupt.
(They were supposed to handle my case because although in Glasgow, we were part of a London department.) After a week of not returning my calls, the full-time official there left a message saying he'd be back a week after easter - the day AFTER the day set for the meeting I was trying to get him to advise me on. And he knew this.
I just phoned up my local branch of the union - which some secretary in London told me would be closed - and arranged by myself with a bloke there who was willing to take it on. The first time we met, I told him that the behaviour from his colleagues in London was inexplicable unless a particular full-timer plus the London rep were in the company's pockets. He just nodded sadly - and said he had often thought so himself!

 

[ttcycle]

I have experienced this rubbish myself whilst in another union as a shop steward- don't get me started on bureaucrats voluntary or paid- I won't be fobbed off - failing this I will reschedule the meeting - it hasn't come to this yet but someone will attend and I will make it happen.

The branch couldn't help me either.
This meeting is important, it's linked to the grievance and someone without employment law knowledge accompanying me is not enough as it's getting quite complex- I understand he's snowed under but in no shape or form will I accept rudeness from anyone.

Thanks WeeE

 

[Mr Pig]

I feel for you, these things can really effect your health.

I just found out last week that a friend of mine resigned from his job a few weeks ago. He had a good job, had been with the company ten years and has just bought a new house! I thought everything was good in his world. I knew he'd lost weight and was getting heart palpitations or something but what I didn't know was that it was due to the situation at work.

Basically they were expecting him to lie and cook the books in order to help them through the dry patch they are in. He refused to do it as it was illegal and could jeopardize his ability to get work in future. Eventually he felt he had no option but to quit.

I feel for them, lovely family, their little girl still doesn't know about it. He has no idea what he's going to do now but they can't survive without him working for very long. Real shame.

I've been in bad situations at work too, I also had to leave a job once because I was getting such a hard time from my boss. It's awful. I don't know what to advise because I've never found anything that really works myself. You feel bad at work and can't enjoy time at home because you know you have to go back to work!

However it's not all bad. Times like these help you to get your priorities right. They make you realize how important your family are and how weak and defenseless you are on your own.

But it won't last forever. One way or another it will have to end and you'll move on. Just keep getting through the days until the sun comes up and hug your family often to help you along the way :0)

 

[ttcycle]

Thanks Mr Pig

I try very hard to not take it home with me and let it infiltrate my life as these people don't deserve my none working time.

Unfortunately, my family don't offer much support- apparently I should just get on with it despite the potential for a serious incident to happen that could put me off work for a very long time and I'm lucky to have a job apparently and should stop causing trouble and it doesn't matter that this is happening as I should just put my head down - speaks of the weird dynamic and dysfunction in my family-thank god they're miles away- thankfully I have some real gems as friends.

 

[WeeE]

You really do find out who your friends are. They're worth their weight in gold.
Keep on keeping on, tt - and let xmas fill you full of idle, naughty goodness!