General Chat

Does anyone know...when you are able to take a representative into a performance meeting, which I did yesterday....if the representative is allowed to comment? The day before yesterday dared to report the fact that i was being bullied and had been for several months, took a lot of courage for me to do this. This performance meeting was planned last friday, just out of the blue, with a letter being placed on my desk as the boss has to give me days notice. I wasn't aware that I had been doing anything wrong and was doing ok as far as I knew. Even though months into a job i'd had no training, no support at all and for the last months despite being bullied managed to keep more or less up to date with my work. I advised my boss that I would be bringing a representative with me at my performance meeting because I was in such a bad frame of mind after reporting the bullying in case there was anything I might not say or forget to say. He ok'd this and then in the performance meeting he announced that my rep wasn't allowed to comment in any way, just observe. I feel he put me into a false sense of security. And so, this performance meeting, after reporting being bullied, i am told my work is crap, I am completely disorganised and that if i show no improvement in 6 weeks I won't have a job. i barely got the chance to speak, the boss ended the meeting abruptly and just said, thankyou for your time. I stood up completely stunned, walked out of the room and just carried on walking. I've resigned, had enough, has been the worse months of my life and my BP is sky high, never had BP probs before. Feel better for typing this now lol. Ria

Sorry don't have any advice for you, I just wanted to say that's flipping awful and I hope you are okay! ((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))) Julie xxx

Thanks Julie, I'm still stunned, it's going to be differcult financially so have got some big thinking to do.

If I was you I would take the company to a tribunal! How dare they treat you in this way!!!! You have had to pack your job in for the way you were being treated which is as bad as being unfairly dismissed and they should not be allowed to get away with it! Go and see your local citizens advice and they will point you in the right direction. Bullying just should not be allowed!! Bevx

Yep, what Bev said! Julie xxx

I dont think they are allowed to comment - ie be seen to take a side with you, just support you and prompt you to remember things, and listen. so that anything you have missed they (hopefully) can remember after the event. i guess a comment like, ''Ria, what about John''.(and nothing more)...'' as a prompt, but as to voicing what they think about the whole kaboodle, then NO you may have shot yourself in the foot by resigning- did your represenative advise you to do that?

I'm going to look into the situation to see if there is anything I can do. There's so much more to the story, would take me ages to type it. three of us have walked out in 4 weeks, just not sure if anyone would stick up for me. I've had to go through a work tribunal before because of bullying, none speaks up for you because they are scared.

Ria- i was in a similar position at christmas which some will remember and on the advice of my union rep it toughed it out. it isnt easy and everyday is hard, but i will NOt give them the satisfation of seeing them let it get to me. as i left there yesterday i got in the car ...and howled all the way home! Every day is hard as i have been demoted for no apparent reason. i stayed with demotion or left ( which is what they wanted) It isnt easy maybe you need to get some advice about assertiveness if you are a bully target. jess

My rep said nothing and she was no help anyway. I had no choice but to resign, I'd have lost the plot if I'd have stayed. i spent most days wondering what I was going to be told off for anyway, and this is doing something I'd been told to do and then getting told off for doing it. i was in a no win situation. I would have spent the next 6 weeks on the verge of a breakdown or my BP being dangerously high.

write everything down babe and keep it safe. Give a copy to your boss stating all that you feel is wrong! Also put that you had been given no indication that your work was sub standard! Your rep isn't allowed to comment as stated as its your meeting! How long have you worked there?

I am usualy a very confident outgoing person, my job was teaching.

Ria - I'd see a solicitor if I was you as this may be a case of constructive dismissal!! xx

I'm going to seek advice today. this company is very clever in the way they work. I had no contract and I was on 6 months probationary period.

By law your union rep has to support you if you decide to go to a tribunal! It doesnt matter if you resigned as you only did that as a result of your treatment! Please just go to your citizens advice bureau. Also try and get hold of the other people who also left your place of work...the more of you there are then the stronger the case!! Bev x

They have broken the law immediately then as you have to have a contract within a certain period of working for them as a LEGAL right!! Seek advice PLEASE!! x

Wasn't a union rep unfortunatley, was just a fellow employee.

That still shouldnt matter as if it goes to court she can still be summoned to appear! And as Diana has said they have already broken the law as you should still have had a contract whether it be temporary or not! You are in your rights to take them to a tribunal! Have you been to the doctors regarding your blood pressure? If so get a letter from them as well to prove how you were feeling at that time! Bev x

yep, went to docs on Tuesday morning because i knew my Bp had gone up again. Bp probs started just b4 xmas, never had prob with it b4, there was a very stressfull situation going on at work of which i had no idea what i was doing, i asked for help but was given none. Was too scared to take time off and was not allowed to take holiday until after this thing had finished. Went without any time off from august to december apart from 1 day when my medication made me feel too odd to go out.

Just for the record....my brother was working for a company and was going on holiday! Somebody overheard him telling a mate that if he could get a job while abroad then he would stay! This was immediately reported to his boss who then proceeded to 'bully' my brother to the extent that he felt he had no choice but to resign! He went to Acas which deal in unfair dismissals etc and they then took the case up! Rather than appear at a tribunal the company offered my brother a pay off but he refused as he didnt think they should get away with it! Not only did my brother have the satisfaction of seeing his boss in the tribunal he also got a lovely cheque as compensation! You have nothing to lose by going through with this and if it all fails at least you have the satisfaction of this company knowing that you have not just walked out without putting up a fight! Bev

did you elect the person to come in with you, or did they ? it sounds as though you did have a contract - at least a verbal one. you knew you were on 6 months trial ...how long were you there?