Bullying in the workplace

[RRLover]

My wife works for a large "retailer", the story goes as follows;
July 17 my friend needed someone with experience to take over the running of a busy admin office, he approached me to speak to Jo, the business location suited us, the role suited Jo as shes done it for nearly 20 years & she felt she needed a change of scenery.
She went on the induction & was asked by Mark to pop into the branch the day before she officially started to speak to her line manager, this particular branch has over 100 staff & Mark was the General Manager for this site.
On popping in the day before start she met with one of the other managers & her line manager. Jo felt she was interrogated as to why she had got the job.
Basically this "other" manager seemed to think that it was her job to recruit this role. Jo came home that night crying, wondering what she had done
Anyway this "other" manager later transpires to be a terrier, always ranting & raving, speaking down about people & basically has it in for Jo. I really dont have the capacity to repeat it all.
Jo has had enough & resigned on Wednesday giving a weeks notice as a bit of respect owing to the fact shes been in this industry since leaving school.
Shes now been reduced to minion duties & wants to up stick. In the meantime HR have been in & Jo has basically told them everything that has been going on. They are now conducting an internal review
Also Mark left late August 17

My question is what can she do ?
What are her rights ?
I'm all for contacting a lawyer but i want to be armed with some information

For info, we have a recently turned 3 yo & Jo is basically just working to cover Nursery Fee's & her travelling costs. We are also based in Scotland.

Thanks for reading & for any comments

Edited by RRLover on Friday 26th January 12:09

[davek_964]

I'm sure you'll get more expert answers - and I realise hindsight is a wonderful thing - but I'm guessing she'd have more rights if she'd flagged the issues up to HR earlier.

Raising an issue each time this manager did something unacceptable gives the chance for the company to do something about it - and if they don't, and she has to resign as a result - then I would think she has some kind of comeback.

But resigning and then saying : It's because of all this stuff that has happened over a period of months even though I've never mentioned it - is a weaker case I would think.

It's good that the company are carrying out an internal review though.

[anothernameitist]

Unfortunately less than 2 years service might mean very little

[davek_964]

anothernameitist said:

Unfortunately less than 2 years service might mean very little

I'm curious whether this is really true.

I know you have far less rights, and can be sacked with no reason whatsoever - however, I'd expect that whilst you are working there, you are still entitled to the same basic rights. So workplace bullying would not be allowed just because somebody has been there less than 2 years.

If that's not the case, there are a few new starters here I'd like to give a piece of my mind to..........

[RRLover]

The company like all businesses have a duty of care to there employees.
The group admin manager is alleged friends with this "other" manager thats why Jo was struggling to find someone to talk too.
She genuinely felt closed in. Shes also far from shy.
The "other" manager's staff were all let go, they reshuffled that part of the business, however this person was & is still employed.
When it was announced that Jo was resigning, this person immediately announced that she was taking over the role.
Its a bloody cesspit

[sgtBerbatov]

davek_964 said:

anothernameitist said:

Unfortunately less than 2 years service might mean very little

I'm curious whether this is really true.

I know you have far less rights, and can be sacked with no reason whatsoever - however, I'd expect that whilst you are working there, you are still entitled to the same basic rights. So workplace bullying would not be allowed just because somebody has been there less than 2 years.

If that's not the case, there are a few new starters here I'd like to give a piece of my mind to..........

The 2 year thing only really applies to them sacking you without little or no notice.

If there is bullying in the workplace then regardless of time there it's a serious matter and needs to be addressed.

[Jockman]

anothernameitist said:

Unfortunately less than 2 years service might mean very little

You don't need any length of service if any form of discrimination is established.

[Jockman]

sgtBerbatov said:

The 2 year thing only really applies to them sacking you without little or no notice.

You're confusing Wrongful Dismissal with Unfair Dismissal. Even then, this is not a Dismissal case, unless the angle is Constructive Dismissal. Very, very difficult to establish.

[Jockman]

RRLover said:

My wife works for a large "retailer", the story goes as follows;
July 17 my friend needed someone with experience to take over the running of a busy admin office, he approached me to speak to Jo, the business location suited us, the role suited Jo as shes done it for nearly 20 years & she felt she needed a change of scenery.
She went on the induction & was asked by Mark to pop into the branch the day before she officially started to speak to her line manager, this particular branch has over 100 staff & Mark was the General Manager for this site.
On popping in the day before start she met with one of the other managers & her line manager. Jo felt she was interrogated as to why she had got the job.
Basically this "other" manager seemed to think that it was her job to recruit this role. Jo came home that night crying, wondering what she had done
Anyway this "other" manager later transpires to be a terrier, always ranting & raving, speaking down about people & basically has it in for Jo. I really dont have the capacity to repeat it all.
Jo has had enough & resigned on Wednesday giving a weeks notice as a bit of respect owing to the fact shes been in this industry since leaving school.
Shes now been reduced to minion duties & wants to up stick. In the meantime HR have been in & Jo has basically told them everything that has been going on. They are now conducting an internal review
Also Mark left late August 17

My question is what can she do ?
What are her rights ?
I'm all for contacting a lawyer but i want to be armed with some information

For info, we have a recently turned 3 yo & Jo is basically just working to cover Nursery Fee's & her travelling costs. We are also based in Scotland.

Thanks for reading & for any comments

Edited by RRLover on Friday 26th January 12:09

Sorry to hear about this.

A Company of this size should have a Bullying & Harassment Policy - what does it say?

All Companies have a Grievance Procedure - why did she not activate this?

[RRLover]

The whole scenario just stinks.
Shes got another job to go to now. A previous employer had heard she had resigned & offered a role that suits.
Thanks for all the help

[anonymous-user]

Unfortunately I think that might well have ended up being the best scenario.

Often when these things go through HR, the victim can end up being managed out the company anyway as they are labelled as a trouble maker. Ironic isn't it?

Hope she moves into a less toxic environment in the new role.