Think my Employer is Targeting me

[miscellanous2001]

Hi,

 

I work in a call centre for this company and I think they may be targeting myself to try and resign or look at anything to sack me in a unfair way,

 

I"ve been with my Employer for 12 years now in a customer advisor role which I love doing.

I have maintained high stats and high sales consistently since I started the job and earning a fair bit of commission.

 

Over the past year things have changed in the employer with management shifts and the usual staff turn over,

 

About 6 months ago I was Alleged I committed a action of Gross Misconduct for Call Avoidance but in the disciplinary the actions got explained and they found me to not do anything of the sort and the charge was dropped.

 

 

Two weeks ago I was informed by my line manager that I am under a Investigation for Allegedly transferring too many calls which is a main part of my job role, When a customer rings in to be transferred to a different department, let's say to payments for this case, Then I will be unable to do such thing if I don't have access to that part of the system!

 

One week ago my manager brings me into the meeting saying "Don't worry nothing will happen there's no need to worry" I got suspended while more investigation is done, For which I received no written notice only than a informal email on the internal system, As of this time I still have not received a letter of suspension reasons, I'm not sure if they are required if they have told verbally.

 

Three days ago I was informed when a 'Hearing' would take place and my Unison rep seems to THINK it is a Investigatory meeting but will find out some evidence shortly, They informed me that they would be sending a letter to my email on thursday about this but as of this time they have still not sent any email and I have received no Written notification so I do not have reasonable time to prepare for a stressfully physically and mentally issue

 

My Unison rep doesn't seem to be that helpful and I feel they could do more but I could just be stressed,

 

I'm wondering do you have any advice which can hopefully make me feel less stressed before this 'Hearing', I've asked the rep to clarify what sort of hearing it is as I still haven't got a written notification of anyone

 

Thanks for your help in advance!

[ericsbrother]

as you have union representation it wil be easier to walk out of the hearing if it is not an investigatory one but a disciplinary as the rep can make it clear that the acas guidelenes are being breached. Chat with the rep so you are both in agreement upon this.

You will be paid during your period of suspension so if there is any suggestion that you wont be then again, the union rep will have to make this point forcefully. Unions have very good legal teams at their disposal so not a wise move for employersto do things that are unlawful.

[miscellanous2001]

Thanks for your help

 

Could I ask you what rules are they breaching, Just so I can bring this up to my Union rep in person so they can apply it in the meeting/hearing

 

Thanks

[ericsbrother]

It is not clear they are breaching any rules other than failing to carry out their investigations in a reasonable time and failing to notify you of the purpose of this hearing, both of which are far away from best practice but at this stage not grounds for any strong action. It is what happens next that you need a second voice and witnes for, to make sure that you arent ambushed with a formal disciplinary without notice etc

[miscellanous2001]

Hi again, The issue WAS A Disciplinary and I was brought into the meeting with my rep allowed and my rep is fighting for me as she also believes they are in breach of the ACAS Code and Guidelines, The note taker from the other side also believed this and the person questioning seemed to be targeting me.

 

The reason is Gross Misconduct which my Union is convinced this doesn't fall under the line off, They are saying I have been transferring too many calls and the logs they have are very minimum and also fall in my favour of the right decision after I have asked for extra coaching

 

Again, I was brought into a Disciplinary (which they told union it was a Hearing) I received no formal letter before this and was not told this until I was given the disciplinary letter IN the Interview Dated 5th february when the interview was 9th , They said the reason they couldn't send it was because it looks like my email has a letter missing, Can't they do post? call me? I find this very unfair and find them trying to get rid of me, After the meeting I was then still put on suspension pending more investigation.

 

[miscellanous2001]

Just found out that the team have been asked and coached today NOT to transfer any more calls to X Department and still no update on the investigation, Again hopefully this goes in my direction as others have been teached and I haven't.

[finaldj]

Just wondering have they given you a copy of their investigation and findings in writing that they are going to use in their disciplinary meeting? because you are entitled to a copy of this and I'm unsure of the time frame to build your own case but I'm sure someone will correct me but I think they only have to give 5 days notice?

[miscellanous2001]

Just wondering have they given you a copy of their investigation and findings in writing that they are going to use in their disciplinary meeting? because you are entitled to a copy of this and I'm unsure of the time frame to build your own case but I'm sure someone will correct me but I think they only have to give 5 days notice?

 

I was given this during the meeting was in place not before, It was very minimum it here's a small type of stuff they have as evidence, I wasn't allowed to defend myself in the meeting that much really they just shown what I did wrong and shown me the evidence they had during the meeting almost like 20 seconds a part with no chance to defend myself, Basically a type of attitude like "Here's some evidence we have, Here's some more, Another one, I am not sure this is the correct procedure" Then swiftly moving questions

 

It was a Internal Email

09:08:55: X Customer transferred customer asking to pay, X Person transferred to direct debit (This is the correct procedure) I think she is not doing the job properly could we investigate?

 

 

There was about 12 of these across a set period of days, I do 12 hour shifts taking 100 calls, So that's about 12 people I've transferred doing my job out of 1200 calls and they say they are wrongfully transferred? (Although my Union and the other note taker agrees) The other note taker tried to say I'm right but the one asking the questions seems to be I'm right your wrong attitude

[miscellanous2001]

Second hearing is tomorrow, I've found out by a few sources in work they have just been told to not transfer to X Department no longer (I'm not allowed to contact them so I know not to bring this up in the hearing!) So not sure what this signs.

 

 

The full reason is "Improper Practice and bringing the companies name into disrepute"

[miscellanous2001]

Update: After 2nd hearing and my points raised I won against them and just accepted another team with more training, Nothing on record.