Bullying at work

[TiggyD]

AIBU in thinking that if my boss doesn't like the way I use my time at work they should have a quiet word with me in private instead of laughing at how "rubbish" I am in front of other staff members?

And if I go to her boss AIBU in thinking she should take an accusation of bullying in the workplace seriously?

Now I've left is there anyone I can go and see about it?

[Moominfamily]

If you have been there for more than a year you can take them to a tribunal- contact citizens advice for more information.
Do you have any documentation, did you raise a grievance in writing? You have a better chance of taking it further if you have evidence you followed any grievance procedures in place before giving up and leaving.
Also, if you have home insurance with legal cover you can claim on it for legal costs involved in pursuing a tribunal.
Hope this helps (and that someone with more expertise answers you!) DH was unfairly dismissed and it is a horrendous experience to be bullied at work, it affects your self esteem badly so I hope you are feeling better now you are away from it.

[diamondsandtiaras]

I would get in touch with ACAS (www.acas.org.uk). They were very helpful for me when work were trying to screw me over on maternity leave issues.

[mistletoekisses]

Just to clarify, from your OP, are you no longer in the job? If not, from my basic understanding of HR, if you have an issue like this in the workplace, you must use the internal grievance procedures to try and rectify it. If you leave without doing so and then try to do something about it (sue the company etc), then you have next to no recourse. The courts take the view that you should first have tried to address the problem with the employers.

[TiggyD]

I left. I was on Beta-blockers and feeling constantly sick and tearful. The bullying made me do my job worse which made it easier for the bullying to continue.

[Osama]

TiggyD

Unfortunately there is no legislation in place to prevent bullying, unless of course it relates to discrimination. Constructive dismissal claims are notoriously difficult to win. As others have said, unless you have submitted a grievance, which btw, since April 2009, can now be in the form of a letter or email, and then followed it through to the appeal stage you wouldn't stand a chance at a tribunal.

Don't rely on the trade union as they will not support you due to a conflict of interest.

Don't rely on Human Resources either.

The only way to deal with it is to change jobs.

You will read or hear a thousand and one ways to combat bullying in work, but in reality it does not work.

That one incident alone would never constitute bullying and I doubt a tribunal would even accept an ET1.

[greenasgrass]

How long ago did you leave your job? You have three months (I'm pretty sure) to make an employment claim.

Most employment lawyers will be willing to give an initial indication on the phone and if they think your case is worth taking on they will get you in for a free half hour interview. The point about home insurance is a good one, but check before you embark on anything.

[Osama]

greenasgrass

Yes, three months from the last 'Act' that made you leave or from the date you resigned.

[greenasgrass]

Thanks - presume you are an employment lawyer? I'm corporate.

[ILiveinhope]

Three months minus 1 day for tribunal.
Need to be there for over a year.
Need to have told them that you have a grievance and hve tried to resolve it.

From reading what you have written you don't have a lot of scope, but if you are that unhappy, go see CAB.

Why did you leave?

[TiggyD]

I left at 11 o'clock this morning!

I left because I couldn't cope with working somewhere where somebody could have a go at me and humiliate me in front of the other staff for quite spurious reasons. I was becoming a nervous wreak.

[BuzzingNoise]

YANBU. Bullying at work is horrible. I regret not doing more when I went through it a few years back, so I think you should do it.

[Osama]

I hope it works well for you. Sometimes it really is better just to leave. Bullying and stress claims are extremely difficult to prove.