I’ve been accused of coming into work smelling of alcohol.

[TheLightSideOfTheMoon]

I haven’t. I don’t really drink.

But this is the latest in a line of people lying about me.

I’ve come back today after two weeks of being signed off sick and an hour into my shift I’ve just been informed of this.

Now sitting in the staff room with panda eyes.My boss isn’t here. I don’t know what to do.

Part of me just wants to go home again.

So, I raised a grievance and it’s gone to HR. Obviously I have witnesses to say that, a) I didn’t smell of alcohol and b) I wasn’t close enough to her for her to smell me.

Pissed off about the whole thing.

Waiting for a date for a meeting. My boss has rearranged shifts so I won’t be working with her.

Still working on my mental health and trying to relax.

No further updates.

I did have a break in, they only got into my garden and smashed some plant pots and upended plants. My friend thinks it may have been weird work colleague, I don’t know.

Finding it hard to organise my thoughts about it all.

Good for you, its a brave thing to stand up to a bully. In the meeting you need to say it was your day off and this is bullying. Have you got cameras at your house which overlook the garden, there might be cctv in your street or neighbours may have cameras which the police could investigate for you.

Well, I also think it is weird work colleague.

You are normal, going along happily about your business and you meet a nutter like this. IT is not you, or as unusual as you might think.

Well done for doing what you have done so far.

It's a pity you couldn't have got the police to take fingerprints from the smashed pots. I'd lay a good bet that it's your colleague.

Thank you.

I don’t know the grievance procedure, I think I’m still waiting for the initial meeting.

She may have been told I’ve raised a grievance, my work are pretty lax with confidentiality. So she may well have heard.

I cleaned up the smashed pots pretty quickly because both I and my neighbours have cats and I was worried about their paws.

I took a few photos.

I did report the break in to the police but they didn’t come out. Just took my details. I do have a crime reference number though.

She[s heard alright.

I am not surprised to hear you work in care, I worked with someone like this, she was absolutely vile and everyone who left was because of her behaviour.

Seriously! I'd be going for bullying!

Are you peri or menopausal? I think I smell unusual for me. As for the accusations,and a fuss, an HR related big fuss about dignity at work and bullying from the first and now the second woman

That's not true. HR do have a responsibility to the organisation but it's more to ensure that they adhere to their own policies and procedures thereby protecting them in the case of future litigation. They also along with the organisation have a duty of care to employees.

Ask if your company has a Dignity at Work policy (used to be Bullying and Harassment) as I think your case might fit better in that arena. If they don't and only have a Grievance procedure, they should acknowledge your complaint in writing, provide you with a copy of the policy, and arrange to meet you to discuss your complaint. You should be entitled to be accompanied by a colleague or union rep.

Provide as much evidence as you can, because it will help your case, and your employer's too, if they uphold your complaint and ultimately take disciplinary action against this bully.

HR in the organisation I work for absolutely did not look after my interests.

I have no doubt that some HR departments are fantastic.

Mine absolutely protected the company, management (who lied to protect themselves and when I provided proof of their lies to HR they said it wasn’t admissible) and my bully.

I trust two people at work. The company, HR, management, the Union and ‘I don’t want to be involved’ colleagues? Not a prayer.

Keep the CRN as you may need it. Would you look into getting a ring doorbell? All my neighbours have them so I don't need one but we don't have break ins near us. I also think your weird work colleague could be involved. Glad to hear you don't have to work near each other so at least allegations can stop

I hope your mental health improves. I had bad mental health at my last work strongly caused and made worse by a few bullying colleagues. It was so difficult to get through I raised a grievance and left with a package. I'm still not over it 5 years on and only this afternoon while having a nap with ds I had a very vivid dream of that workplace. It's horrible x