To think as a volunteer you shouldn't be spoken to like crap.

[user1472333009]

I've volunteer at a homeless place in winter for 4 years & really enjoy it.
Last night I was mopping up when the manger asked me why I was using that mop, apparently its only used for toilets, I had no idea. She followed it up with "you're spreading shite everywhere" this was said across a room in front of all the other elderly volunteers. I got my coat & left feeling very humiliated & upset.
This woman has a been quite abrupt with me a few time now but I've let it go

I definitely won't be going back to volunteer & it's put me off a wonderful place that does such good. One of their main things is promoting & encouraging confidence growth which i suffer with & this hasn't helped.

Surely you should be nice to volunteers or anyone!

Should I email her bosses & tell them or leave it.

@Lethaldrizzle I'd have told her to shove the mop where the sun don't shine! - nooo there would be even more 'shite spreading' 😂
YANBU and you are not oversensitive IMO. No one should ever speak to another person like that regardless of paid or volunteer. Fair enough she didn't want to using that mop but there was a correct way to let you know that and that wasn't it.
I would email bosses and tell them the reason you won't be volunteering there again

Ok, she didn't swear at me but she still swore & it was said quite aggressively. I'm no Prude but there's a time & a place.

I didn't 'flounce out' i walked.

I suffer with anxiety so have to psych myself up to go every week anyway. I sometimes have to force myself but I've never miseed yet.

Thanks for all the kind words from some.

@user1472333009 The way she spoke was completely inappropriate. I feel you with the anxiety thing. When I was volunteering and I was on my second full day and I got a tiny little break to walk to the shop for a drink I felt like just going home and telling them to shove it because of the other teacher. Have you decided what you’re going to do x

princess, sorry I don't know how to tag! Yes I'm going to email her boss. Last year a lot of us volunteers said she should go as she was getting a bit stroppy then so hopefully Next year she'll bugger off!

@user1472333009 I’ve only just figured it out press the 3 dots then reply 😀 yes definitely. Get rid of her! X

OP, yes email her boss and then see what happens. Don’t discuss her with other volunteers as you did last year. I bet that has filtered back to her somehow.

Get rid of her! Charming. Now wanting someone to lose their job.

You should make a complaint

It Wasn't all the volunteers. Last year I worked a lot with a few close friends & family, we said it to each other, noone else. I've never bitched about this woman to anyone else.

I don't want her sacked (much) I just really thinks she's finding it hard.

It's not difficult to mark the mop with toilet only is it? if it's such a big issue

Yes agree with you OP, she sounds like she is having difficulties. Glad it wasn’t all the volunteers, you sound a lovely and compassionate person so emailing further up the line could help her get some needed support as well.

If you decide not to go back four years shows a really good level of commitment when applying for another voluntary position. I would have been very impressed with that.

Charity shop paid managers act like rude dictators often - a number of charity shops in my area have lost loads of volunteers due to the way some power mad manager treats them.

Jo jo exactly! Any advice how I couldword the email? I don't want it to be formal or sound like I'm whinging but would like them to know how I feel.

Dear Manager
I'd like to bring to your attention an incident that happened at the end of my volunteering shift yesterday.
I was mopping the floor as asked, when X shouted across to me "insert words here,as accurately as poss".
I apologised and moved on, but she persisted in raising the issue loudly in a public space.
I have not received any training on this issue, and had not been made aware of the correct procedures. I reminded X of this but she repeated herself a number of times.
I felt humiliated,unsupported and unappreciated.
I left my shift early and don't feel able to return.
I wanted to bring his matter to your attention So that you could consider updating training for volunteers and refresh volunteer management training with your staff.

Send the email above. Long term, reliable and hard working volunteers are like gold dust to charities and any manager would be very disturbed to know that you felt this way. I would point out also that some of the other volunteers had also had problems.

I really hope that when the dust settles you will consider returning since you enjoy the company, stimulation and work. Hopefully the managers can facilitate a way to return such as going in with a known colleague.

Although it sounds difficult it can also be really useful to all attend a meeting to discuss the problem and resolve issues.

Thankyou!

Great draft email. Noone should be spoken to like that whether paid staff or volunteer. I would imagine the others felt pretty uncomfortable too.

Lizs, it felt very awkward. I'd loved to have been a fly on the wall when the manager gets everyone together at the end & asks "how has it gone tonight, anything to report?" Erm...
I just hope they all thought what a cow she was.