| Classic Account Customer |  Urgent Help - Indirect Bullying
this is quite a complicated case, but I will try and keep it as brief as possible.
I have a branch manager and thankfully although I work at the branch I have my own line manager who is not based at the branch.
the branch manager and I do not get on, this is basically because, I stick up for myself, and wont let him push me around, in fact I have made him look stupid on several occasions, due to him trying to push me around and get me to do tasks that are not my job.
basically, he has now continued to (want of a better word) slag me off behind me back and create that he wants full time cover at the branch, I work 20 and my assistant works 20 hours, however these are the hours covered between myself and my assistant.
Mon - 8-4
Tues 7.30-2.30
Wed 8-4
Thurs 7-2.30
Friday 8-12
I have been with the company 2 1/2 years and have always basically worked these hours, and have always got the work done and exceeded my targets.
Now my line manager has been getting an enormous amount of hassle regarding the fact we are the biggest branch in the uk and he (branch manager) wants full time cover ect.
Unfortunately while all this has been going on, there has been another re-construction, whereby my line manager has told me we are not affected 2 heads 40 hours, but there is a problem with he hours, and HR are coming for a meeting to discuss this.
now rather than waffle on I have put the diary of events below, i want to lodge a grievance, but am not sure if I should do it before the HR meeting or see what the out come of the HR meeting is. now I am fully aware a company can change your hours, but this is not the route of the problem here, the problem is the branch manager wants me out.
November 2007
Monday 7.45am
Mr B rang me from his mobile and asked me to look at the cash refunds that were done on Saturday as they seemed rather high, whilst he was on the phone I mentioned to him that I would not be attending any more 9.30 meetings due to the fact that I felt it was pointless as when I presented him with problems he did not act upon them, I told Mr B that I had discussed them with Mr R, Mr B told me that if I did not attend the meeting today that he would discipline me and sack me today. I again told Mr B the reason why I was not going to attend and I told him that when things improved I would be more than willing to attend. Mr B just kept saying that I was a silly girl as I would not have a job at the end of the day, because he was going to sack me. I just said Steve if you feel that you have to do that then so be it. Mr B said I’m requesting you as a branch manager to attend the 9.30 meetings and I said Mr B I’m telling you I am not going to attend until things improve as I felt it was wasting my time. Mr B ended the conversation by cutting me off. (L and V were both in the office when this conversation took place)
I immediately rang Mr R and informed him of the conversation, R replied that Mr B could not sack me as I did not work for him and that he actually agreed with my reasons for not attending the morning meetings.
December 2007
When R came to the branch, I told him that Mr B kept on about getting a full time person in the office, as we needed one, and that he wanted me to do the credits for the branch as it was an admin role not a sales role, I also told R that I did do credits occasionally to help out, but would not have enough time working 20 hours per week to take on the whole credit task.
January 2008
M came to the branch to introduce himself as he was now the new Cash Flow Manager; M told me that he was well aware of the things that had been going on at C
I mentioned to M that Mr B had said that he wanted the admin. to take on the role of raising the credits for the branch, and I told M that Mr B was adamant that it was an admin role and that Mr B kept pestering me about it, and how it wanted a full time admin person in the office. I told M that I had told Mr B that it was not an admin role and it has never had been. M told me that I was not going to be doing the credits as it was not my job. While M was there I also mentioned that my dad was terminally ill with cancer and that his death was imminent.
February 2007
My dad passed away on February 15th, S rang M to inform him of this and that I would not be into work, S also reminded M that we were moving on 22nd February and that this was obviously going to co-inside with my dad’s death. M was very sympathetic and said to S that he would let the branch know, it is my understanding that M sent an email to Mr B to inform him of this. S also rang L at the branch to inform her that my dad had passed away; L in turn went into Mr B and told him.
I was away from work 3 days compassionate leave and 3 days holiday which was pre booked prior to my dad passing away because I was moving. On returning to work L told me that Mr B had physically told D not to do the banking while I was away, as it was my job and under no circumstances was he to do it. L also told me that F from S branch came to the branch on Tuesday & Wednesday of my second week to help out, L also said that D had told F about Mr B telling him not to do the banking. I was also told while I was away Mr B went into the sales office and asked where I was, Ian said “don’t you know” her dad has passed away” In turn Mr B went on to say “no one has told me” no one mentioned it
April 2008
Week beginning 21/04/2008
In conversation Mr B had told D that he was on holiday the following week, when D said to him “what about the stock take Certificates” Mr B replied to D “She” (meaning me) will do them, bearing in mind that Wednesdays is not my working day. When I next spoke to M this same week I mentioned this to him as I felt this was not really acceptable to assume that I would do the certificates, and I told him what D had said to me, I told M that I did not appreciate being called “she” and it was not actually my responsibility to do the stock take certificates, however I would be coming in on Wednesday to do the banking as this has to be done prior to month end and year end stock take certificates. M just said it was unbelievable that a Branch Manager should take this week off knowing full well that stock take certificates had to been done.
May 2008
Saturday 24th
Went into work to do the Banking, Mr B asked me what I was doing there, I said I’m on holiday next week and as you tell everyone not to do the banking as it is my job, Mr B didn’t reply. After I had finished the banking I told Mr B that there were no discrepancies which I was really pleased with, Mr B then went on to ask about what was happening about getting full time cover in the office, I said what do you mean, he said another person, I replied I don’t think we are getting anyone else and personally I don’t think we need anyone else, we are keeping up to date with everything, he asked “who said you are not getting someone else” I said “management” Mr B then went on to say “we will see about this, I want a full time person in the office, I know your KPI’s are high but the office isn’t up to scratch there are more things you can do to make it better, I asked Mr B to elaborate on what he thought was not being done, he didn’t reply. I just went home at this stage as I did not feel I had to put up with this.
Whilst I was on holiday M sent me an email to ask me to ring him, he did say that it was not urgent and it could wait until Monday when I return. I rang M the next day Friday 30th who said that things had kicked off at the branch because the banking had not been done since Saturday, he told me that M W had told him that he was going to tell all of his staff not to do the banking, I said to M that I had planned to pop into work on the Wednesday just to bank, but never actually got there.
June 2nd 2008
My first day back at work, T and I tell me that M W came into the sales office and told all the staff that there were not to touch the banking, nor to help with the cod’s this obviously meant daily’s and weekly’s, I was also told that Mr B was saying that he wanted a full time person in the office.
June 6th 2008
Whilst I was at work, I was told that on Thursday Mr B was out with R visiting customers and popped into GR, this account was on head office stop, and G told Mr B this, Mr B rang the branch to speak with me, but I had already left for the day, Mr B again started saying that he wanted full time cover.
After I had heard this I approached Mr B and said it appears that you have a problem, he said what do you mean, I said for starters yesterday, just because you rang the office to speak to me about GR’s account and I had gone home you started slagging me off when you got to the branch, moaning about how you want a full time person, I said Mr B I only work 20 hours per week and L is on holiday as you know, today is Friday and I have already worked 22 ½ hours this week not including today, why do you keep slagging me off behind my back, why when I was away on holiday did you go into the sales office and tell D not to do the banking, why, after all its your branch, we are supposed to be a team, I said why do you want a full time person Mr B, I said its because you want me to leave, because I stand up to you. Mr B said it was M W that went into the sales office and told them not to do the banking, and he said he didn’t want his sales staff doing the banking. I said the trouble is Mr B when you slag me off, I get told, he again went on to say that he wanted a full time person, I said well go and get one then, but don’t keep moaning and slagging me off behind my back, its not my fault, or my decision. Mr B actually admitted that he didn’t know how to do the banking.
June 12th 2008
M & P came to the branch, first they went in with Mr B, I am not aware what was said, when they finished they came into me, we discussed some of the problems at C, M and P both said that I was doing a great job & I was obviously the driving force, and that they didn’t want me nor Li to leave, they did say that they had a problem with the banking that it was not being done every day, I explained that L did not do the banking for several reasons, 1) she did not feel comfortable doing it 2) she did not want to be responsible for the banking 3) she felt that she did not earn enough to take on the responsibility. Both M and P said that it was part of the job description, we agreed that I would train L when she returned from her holiday and this would solve the problem of the banking not being done every day.
P & M then said there is a problem with hours, we went thorough what ours I did and what hours L worked, they said that we were the same as Exeter branch and the cash flow specialist worked full time 8am-5.30pm, I said that I didn’t feel that the branch needed someone to be there until 5.30 everyday as everything was being done and up to date, apart from the banking had not been done every day, but this was now going to be resolved. M asked who had agreed the hours we both worked, I said I had been doing these hours for as long as I can remember, and it had never been a problem before with previous branch managers. I told M that there are many branches where everyone works as a team and will help each other out, and branch managers will do the banking when necessary.
I was then asked if I could work Tuesdays & Thursdays 8-5.30 and L will remain doing the same days, I said I would love to work only 2 days, but I could not confirm until I had spoken to S. M & P were in agreement with that. M also told me about the 3 C’s document and went through this with me and said that I should start to use it. I was also told that they had to cut back and the overtime had to stop at the end of June, I said that I actually would prefer not to do overtime. I also discussed how stupid this situation was and the fact that it was Mr B branch and everyone should work as a team, I also told P and M that I did not have to put up with Mr B constantly going on about how we are the biggest branch in the uk and how the office is not up to scratch and every time I am not there he goes into the sales office and slags me off, I said that this is indirect bullying, I also said that how can Mr B know that he needs full time cover, when he doesn’t even know what I do in the office, he hasn’t a clue.
June 13th
I emailed M form home and ccd P to let them know that I was unable to commit to the hours discussed the previous day.
Sorry its long, but any advice would be greatful |
