Hi there, mmm, can only speak from experience but feel that you might me reading too much into the compromise agreement. I would have though it standard practice for this to be issued. I have a similar situation in that I raised grievances, complaints were then suddenly produced against me which I proved false but it was clear that my company was going to do anything to stop me pusuing my grievances. i agreed to a 'gagging order' in exchange for a settlement just to get out of there and move on but agree it is frustrating - after all I have done nothing wrong and they know this so why the cover up? My veiwpoint is that it is just a mechanism for the easiest and cleanest solution to make it all go away. From a career standpoint, I can also sympathise. I worked for a very inexperienced and underskilled board who did not like to be questioned, although I was hired for my industry experience. My job involves change management, so i am not always the most popular person around and it can be very stressful. I am now looking at using some of my other skills in a consulting way rather than having to deal with company politics. It is easy to think - right I will show them and go to a competitor but at the end of the day, you need to put your health first. I found myself suffering from stress and depression as a result of my treatment at work for the first time in my life. It isn't worth it. It sounds to me as though you have some reasonable claims but at the end of the day you are also miserable and your wellbeing is suffering as a result of your continued employment. My advice would be to try and get out as unscathed as possible and get the better of them by getting on with your life and being happy and well! Their actions won't bring them any good luck when all is said and done!

Hi, Just wanted to give you an update in case it helps anyone in a similar situation. I submitted a lengthy statement and supporting evidence which pretty much discredited all of the claims. I attended the disciplinary hearing but it was clear that my employer didn't want to pursue it. My boss clearly didn't believe the allegations and I don't know whether he was involved in their production but he didn't want me to pursue the disciplinary and the grievances I had raised. He gave me various options, including staying with the company but I could not work there anymore and we agreed a settlement on the basis that I would drop my grievances against the company and did not disclose anything of the compliants or my evidence against them. He gave me a glowing reference. We are still finalizing the details and it isn't nice but I am glad it is nearly over. My employer put me through 8 weeks of hell, accusing me of the most cruel and ridiculous behaviour and causing me a great deal of stress and anxiety. My team have been very supportive throughout though, as has my previous employer letting me know that it is not about me. I know I have more to come - my employer is known for being childish and vindictive towards former employees when they join new companies so I am fully prepared for that. I got a lot of advice and comfort from other people's situations so hopefully mine can also be of assistance to someone else.

Hi there, It makes me sad that so many people experience really unreasonable treatment at work and nothing is done about the perpetrators. It seems so unfair. I am sorry that your husband is continuing to have such a miserable time at work. Has he thought about looking for a new job? I know it sounds defeatist but I feel he will continue to be victimized for any past or future grievances raised and it can't be good for him or you?

Hi there, I can only offer some support and advice from my own experience but there are lots of good people here who can help you. The best thing I can say is to try and remain objective. I know this is difficult from bitter experience but its the only way you will get through this. I think that you need to put your health first and try and get out of this situation as best you can. It may not be the fairest outcome but the most important thing is that you manage your stress levels and don't end up in hospital - no job is worth it. It is clear that your current employers no longer want you there and it sounds to me as though you would be much healthier and happier moving on. Is it easy for you to move into a new job or do you feel that you will need some time off? It isn't really clear from your post what you want to get out of this? It may be that you need to look at the type of job you are doing and think about doing something elsewhich is less stressful?

Hi, Do you mind telling us what the allegations are for? The reason I ask this is that it is sometimes hard to put it down in writing but you can at least get more constructive advice. I was recently in a position whereby a number of staff colluded in false statements against me. Although the allegations (of bullying ) were untrue and were basically produced by members of staff who were already on performance improvement plans from a previous manager, it was my word against theirs and ultimately I didn't think my company was being supportive so I mamanged to arrange a settlement. I know your position is different but it might help to be a bit more open about the allegations so you can get some more constructive advice. 6 years is a lot to hide on a cv and coming from the recruitment industry, I would advise you to try and at least make sure you get a neutral reference.

Hi there, I am assuming that your manager was not serious when he sent this email to you? If you have a formal HR department, suggest raising a grievance as Tiglet says however my only concern would be possible reprisals. If your manager is married to the Ops Director, I am not sure you would get very far with the complaint and if your manager is so immature to send these emails in the first place, he probably wouldn't be above trying to get back at you in some way. Do you want to stay with this company?

Hi Breeze, Thanks for the advice - that's exactly what I am going to do. I don't trust my boss one inch anymore. I think he is just being a complete coward. He refused to say any of this in front of anyone else so I had to speak to him alone but I will someone with me next time I go into work. Thanks again.

Hi Dax, I hope you don't mind me saying but it all sounds a bit dodgy to me. I have worked in sales for 12 years now and the majority of my salary is commission based. However, I think it is a bit strange that you didn't get a copy of your contract before you started. In sales, you should always scrutinise your contract to check any restrictive covenants which might make moving on difficult. I also find it strange that you should have to sign something to say you agree to the terms before you had a chance to read them? 9 months probation is pretty steep as well although as someone rightly said you have few rights under 12 months anyway. I think you should do what you need to do to pay the bills in the short term until you can get a job with a proper company.

Hi everyone, Well I decided to attend the hearing which was a bit of a sham to be honest. It was clear that they had already made their mind up. An hour into the meeting my boss suggested that we have break and asked if I would have an off the record chat with him, which I agreed to. He suggested various options that would allow me to continue working and also an option if I would drop my grievances against the company and and future claims against the company...... He put a reasonable offer on the table. So I agreed to think about it and come back to him next week if I was interested in taking the offer only to receive an email and contract with some of the things we discussed outlined in such a way as to make out that I had agreed to them already and a deadline to agree to the agreement of early next week......so i agree, off the record seems to have quickly come on the record! I have long decided that I can't work there any more and I guess this is the easiest way of moving on but I did not agree to anything today. I wanted to be able to discuss it with my family first since they will be affected by my decision. My understanding is that I can't agree to it without a solicitor reviewing it anyway?

Hi, I think you misunderstood. The idea is to have an off the record chat with my employer regarding an exit deal to avoid the disciplinary process and potential tribual. The problem with this is that I want to go to the hearing to clear my name but there is of course the risk that this won't happen with the best will in the world.

Hi, I need some advice about whether to attend my disciplinary hearing. I have submitted a full statement in response to the complaints made against me, which is now being reviewed by my employer and probably their solicitors. My hearing was postponed until friday. My solicitor says that I should not go to the hearing and should speak to my employer to try and settle this off the record. The thing is that I have done nothing wrong - nothing to warrent any kind of disciplinary action and the statments they took are false and malicious. I have submitted reasonable responses to all the complaints, lots of evidence and asked them to take further statements. I just can't believe that anyone could reasonably fire me on the basis of the statements submitted and my response. It doesn't make sense. My solicitor says that regardless of this, if they want to use this to get rid of me, they will and I shouldn't risk this. He feels I would have a good claim if they did and I am willing to do this if needs be. But I don't know whether trying to end this now would be the best thig for me - I am now on medication for anxiety and depression as a result of my work situation. Any advice would be appreciated - should I follow my gut instinct and go to the disciplinary or try to end it now - is that not just saying I had done something wrong in the first place? Is clearing my name really worth damaging my health? I don't know what to do...

Hi there, Having worked in the contract recruitment industry for over 12 years now, I thought I would give you my honest response to your situation. Contract recruitment agencies supplying drivers don't make a great deal of commission per contractor - the margins are very low - so it becomes a numbers game. Righty or wrongly, orangeprimate is correct in that this woman will not be interested in you because she stands to start losing commission payments because you are going permanent with this company. Sometimes the agency will get a commission payment for contractors who go permanent but this rarely happens with contractors who have been assigned for over 6 months like yourself. So I doubt the agency stands to make anything from your placement with this company and are washing their hands of you as a result. Recruitment consultants count contractor numbers - they don't see things in terms of peoples careers or aspirations. Although you are 'employed' by the agency and assume you are being paid on a PAYE basis, I am sure there will be a clause in your contract which states something along the lines of the hours you work are subject to their client's demands or work availability etc etc. I am sorry this is probably not the answer you would like to hear but hope it helps.

Hi there, It doesn't sound like a good situation you are in. I would suggest speaking to a solicitor before you act any further.

Hi there, I know it is easy to say but you need to get some sleep and try to eat - you need your strength to look at this objectively - believe me I am there! I have my first ever disciplinary tomorrow and am terrified! I am not an expert and can only give you advice from my own experience. It sounds to me that you have some pretty good arguments - you are not being treated fairly and consistently with other employees, you weren't trained sufficiently etc, which could help in a tribunal? Like I said I am new to this and just going through it myself but there are some good people on here who will advise you further. I am not sure that the evidence you have really supports your case because you accidently showed the invoice to BV, who is not the agent so best not to use this I think. I don't know your personal circumstances but I know about tax fines and stigma and have seen people in accounting scapegoated for this kind of thing in the past. My experience and advice would be not to mention the f word - fraud! It is something your company will be especially raw about and it won't help your case. On saying that worded correctly, it might help you to negotiate a good settlement agreement. I think you should get some advice from an employment lawyer on how best to do this. My own experience is that I have been asked in the past to sign things I knew to be fraudelant and have refused which has probably contributed to the situation I now find myself in. I haven't actully included this as part of my grievance since I was advised against it. In your situation, I can very well imagin that you may not have been aware of the implications of your actions when you sent the invoices since it would seem like common practice. Do you mind me asking which country you were dealing with?

Hi there, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has helped me over the past 5 weeks. I have my disciplinary hearing tomorrow - at last! I have prepared a written reponse which is about two inches thick and can only hope for the best now. This whole experience has been a life lesson to me - I had no idea how mean people and employers could be before being faced with my own disciplinary and reading about others' experiences. I am very anxious about tomorrow and having to walk through the offices and predict this could take all day - does anyone have any suggestions to help me get through the day?