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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to write to our local paper warning people what crap employees B&Q are

19 replies

BextheBambi · 26/08/2010 12:51

I must say i'm speaking about our local B&Q.

My DP has been wokring for B&Q for just over a year, and has been the highest rated salesman there in a while. He was very quickly promised to be moved on to their management scheme, no problems here.

This is where the trouble starts, the lady in HR thinks she can get the men to do whatever she wants by flirting with them, very innappropriate (Its not just my DP whos said this I'm friends with quite a few people working there). My DP got sick of her inncessant attempts, bare in mind she knew he was engaged and expecting his first DD, and told her that if she wanted something done just ask him, as he was uncomfortable with her flirting with him. She has since treated him like shit and has shown general dislike towards him.

Recently DP has been told that he is no longer on the mamangement scheme, then he is, then he isn't. Now meanwhile i've been in and out of hospital with a complicated pregnancy having to have surgery and generally being in alot of pain. The HR lady denied him time off to be there when i was in surgery, i was awake for the whole thing, and very scare.

He has now been given a disaplinary by said HR lady for "not smiling at work". I don't fucking blame him the whole day he had to go wondering whether his partner was ok, whether his child had to be delivered due to something going wrong. oh, and on top of that HR lady also says "so long as i'm here your not progressing in this company"

I have never been so appalled by someone's attitude, needless to say this woman is single and doesnt have any children. Luckily DP wont be working there for long as he has been offered a job by john lewis for regional manager.

AIBU to want to out the corrupt ways of this B&Q?

OP posts:
LoisWillkerson · 26/08/2010 12:55

I think you should go above this lady and put in a massive complaint about her.
Hope you're ok now.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 26/08/2010 12:56

IMO, your DP should put it behind him. He is moving on to, hopefully, a better job. If he isn't the only person she is annoying, it would be worth bringing it to the attention of the manager. She sounds potty TBH.

youbethemummylion · 26/08/2010 12:56

incase you do write the letter make sure you say employers not employees

curlymama · 26/08/2010 12:58

I guess you mean what crap employers B&Q are then?

You would be unreasonable to write to the papers slagging off a whole company just because of one woman, who obviously shouldn't be doing the job she is. I'm not surprised you are upset for your partner though, he has been treated appallingly. Maybe your DP could write to head office, but unless you have evidence and are prepared to go through a whole complaints procedure, it might not be worth it. Sad, but true.

I hope your DP is happy in his new job and that you and LO have recovered.

PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice · 26/08/2010 13:01

if she is his line manager there MUST be set our proceedures for greivances that go above her - but you wont do yourself any favours going to the papers until you have taken the proper channels

IMO she sounds well out of order

sexual harrassment by anyone to anyone in the workplace is unacceptable

PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice · 26/08/2010 13:02

out not our in my post

Original poster
BextheBambi · 26/08/2010 13:04

oops my mistake i was fuming when i wrote it and still a little bit groggy from the pain killers.

I wouldn't want to slag the whole company off obviously, it just really got to me that they would do this too him. He's earnt them hundreds of thousands over this year.

Do you reckon we should just write to head office stating the name of this woman?

Thanks by the way for your comments, LO is still brewing in my womb, I've just got to be careful :)

OP posts:
dweezle · 26/08/2010 13:06

I'd say this is more about this particular woman having a grudge against your DP than B&Q being crap employers.

As your DP has another job and will not be relying on this B&Q store for references, I would definitely raise a greivance through proper channels, even if it's just to make sure she doesn't act as poisonously against someone else in the future.

dweezle · 26/08/2010 13:07

I'd say this is more about this particular woman having a grudge against your DP than B&Q being crap employers.

As your DP has another job and will not be relying on this B&Q store for references, I would definitely raise a greivance through proper channels, even if it's just to make sure she doesn't act as poisonously against someone else in the future.

5inthebed · 26/08/2010 13:13

YANBU!

My DH also works for them. He wasn't allowed the day off to come in with me when I was having an ELCS with DS3 so he had to call in sick. They then expected him to work the day I was coming out of hospital, despite him booking it as the start of his paternity leave.

He is currently being held to ransom for progressing up to the next level. They'll ask him to work an hour or so after his shift, and if he can't they'll say "Oh thetwill go against your level 3". He should have been made a level 3 months ago, but they can't as they are understaffed yet are not taking anyone on.

Loads more, but don't really want to steal your thread.

TheCrackFox · 26/08/2010 13:19

Your DP needs to put all this in writing and give it to her superior.

Original poster
BextheBambi · 26/08/2010 13:20

5inthebed- Maybe we're talking about the same Branch. they've been doing this to DP they owe him a total of 2 weeks in overtime and say they'll give it to him as extra holiday, yet refuse to when he really needs it.

Also was told he couldn't take full paternity leave which is illegal.

OP posts:
piprabbit · 26/08/2010 13:21

If your DH is definitely moving on, I'd suggest that when he writes his letter of resignation he mentions that the attitude of this woman has been a key reason for wanting to move on and that he hopes that B&Q do not lose further high-achieving salespeople as a result of her inappropriate behaviour.

5inthebed · 26/08/2010 13:23

Maybe we are, they pulled that overtime trick on DH last year.

Good luck to your DP in his new job.

horsefly · 26/08/2010 13:29

Hope the new job is well and truly in the bag.

Why are some HR people such bstrds?

Once worked at a place where the head of HR was known as "the weasel-faced sh*t". It was a happy day when he was sacked on the spot for gross-misconduct!!

TheCrackFox · 26/08/2010 13:37

I have often thought that a lot of companies would function a hell of a lot better without an HR department.

Threelittleducks · 26/08/2010 13:41

Complain to HER superior. And threaten paper action. Your dp may be out of it now, but some other poor sod will suffer at her hands.

sapphireblue · 26/08/2010 13:48

Your DP definitely needs to put everything in writing to her superior. If she acts the same way with other employees then there may be others who are wiling to speak out about her. If your DP has felt he has to leave his job because of her behaviour and her threats regarding his job security etc then you may have a case for constructive dismissal (although I'm not a lawyer so don't quote me on it!)

Sexual harassment is never ok and she shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

QuizteamBleakley · 26/08/2010 13:56

Bex & 5in: your DP's have VERY genuine cases for a grievance. Read through this for more info. V poor practices.

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