Grievance Meeting

[PattySlapper]

Long story short, I was bullied out of my last job and luckily got away to the much better job I have now. A senior colleague at the other job really supported me, but ended up in the firing line for that and other reasons. I've now been asked to attend a grievance meeting for ex colleague as a witness, which I am going to do. Just wondering if anyone has any experience, could it have any impact on my current job / future job prospects? And am I obligated to tell my current employer that I'm going?

You won't be allowed to speak. You're just there to witness and offer support.

If has no impact on your future job prospects. It's not about you- it's about your colleague.

If you want to tell your work you have been asked to be a witness then that is up to you. It should have no bearing on anything

It won't affect your current job. Well.done for being there for him/her

Thank you for the replies and kind words. Maybe I haven't quite called it the right thing, I've been told that I will be asked questions and have to speak to clarify points that are been brought that I witnessed. So it's a bit nerve wracking, it involves my supportive ex colleague and then the people (top seniority) who bullied me. I been told and am hoping that I won't be there at the same time as them. One of my main concerns though is whether my current employer would expect to be informed, I'd rather just not go into it, but will they be pissed off / have anything against me if they find out? Is there anyway they could find out? It's the same industry so could be some talk that leaks out.

Just take it as annual leave and don't tell them what you are doing. It should be a confidential meeting - can you ask them about confidentiality? If you are worried about retribution - someone telling your current employer or it impactin on your reference from the company, speak to them about your concerns and ask what assurance they can give/policies they have in place to protect you.

In grievance hearings the witnesses DO speak! That's the whole point

It's not about you, so no you won't have to tell your new employer. If you do tell them youbare going they won't know why you are a witness.

It could be about anything.

I have been a witness at a grievance hearing - I was asked to provide a statement beforehand, and was questioned on this and also on points raised by the colleague bringing the grievance and the colleague defending it. It was all very factual, so be prepared to give examples, dates and so forth. An undertaking was given at the start of the hearing that all parties were bound to confidentiality, so there should be no excuse for this leaking out. As you no longer work for the company, I would expect them to be flexible with dates/times to accommodate your present employer's requirements for taking annual leave.

Oh good luck. Stand up for your supportive ex colleague. They have experienced same rubbish you did and your old company needs to know that. I'm sure it'll be bound by confidentiality and you can ask that and get reassurances. You can take a personal day from your current work. Say you have been asked to go evidence/ support someone else in a tribunal/grievance related to an old employer if you have to.

You are doing a kind and decent thing and don't let practicalities or miniutae stand in your way.

I have only ever chaired such meetings. Good luck and I hope it all works out well for your former colleague.

In grievance hearings the witnesses DO speak! That's the whole point
Depends if they're there as a witness to the meeting, or a witness of any allegations. But as the OP has left the employment of the company, it will be pretty easy for the senior management to argue that the OP is there to cause trouble.

Thanks for the insights and the luck. That's a bit worrying Asmoto that you answered questions from those bringing the grievance, as that's those who bullied me! I've got the impression so far that I'm getting questioned by neutral people who are hearing the whole thing. But I've just checked and it's actually a disciplinary hearing against my ex colleague so I'm not sure what that means about the structure of the hearing.

I've already arranged the time off from work which hasn't been an issue, and they haven't asked why. I was just worried that there was some kind of obligation to tell them and if they found out by other means they'd be annoyed.

Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you - to clarify, all the questions were put by the hearing manager, who was a 'neutral' manager from a different department. Aside from the hearing manager, only a note taker was present. I didn't have to speak to either party, but the hearing manager had each party's submissions in front of him and used those as a basis for his questions.

I can't see why you would be under any obligation to inform your present employer and the hearing should be confidential, so shouldn't be disclosed to people outside the company.

I hope it goes well - my advice would be to stick firmly to the facts and be concise in your answers.

Oh thank for clarifying that, that's more in line with what I was hoping / expecting. I'm also glad to hear that you don't think I have any obligation to tell my current employer. It's not that I want to be a secretive but I just don't want it dragging into my current employment if that makes sense.

No, it is totally confidential.

You are being called as a witness to someone else's misdemeanors, or lack of. So even if they knew you were being a witness they wouldn't know anything about the background.

Everyone is questioned seperately at these things, its not like a court.

Thanks loveka that's very reassuring.