will I get suspended from work?

[redrose80]

NC so not identified and will change a few small details again so not to be identified.

I have been off work with anxiety for 3 months now due to bullying behaviour, all of which I can evidence in a very thick folder of emails I've printed out.

I have been getting lots of panic attacks due to the horrible behaviour and I'm not the only one who is being bullied, again which I can evidence.

I still had access to work emails, shared drive, intranet etc and used my time off to gather more evidence - email exchanges, examples of reports I had done that my manager has been taking credit for etc.

My union rep had told me to gather all the evidence I could for my grievance - which I submitted 2 months ago yet still don't have a grievance hearing date.

However, whilst gathering evidence, I totally accidently came across a large patient file on the shared drive. It has very confidential information which I won't go into obviously. It is not the NHS though.

I immediately reported it to the DP officer. The document has now been removed. This was 2 weeks ago.

Yesterday I got an email (to my personal account) asking me to meet on Monday with the area manager and an HR business partner. My union rep is coming with me.

Yesterday I discovered that my access to work emails etc has been blocked.

I am now utterly terrified of what is going to happen on Monday. Will I be suspended?

I haven't done anything wrong, I didn't go looking for that document, I was only looking for my own files. But they could turn it around on me couldn't they?

My union rep says I've done nothing wrong and they shouldn't be blocking my access but I am very scared.

I really need some hand holding and some advice from anyone who maybe works in HR, legal areas, in a union or what.

Oh and they say they've reported it to the ICO but I can't be sure that they have and there was no 72 hour patient notification that I could see either.

I've tried to keep this non identifiable so please don't out me if you recognise my story and apologies if I am vague in any follow up replies.

I think there’s more to this than meets the eye. Being bullied at work is horrible and for that, I have a lot of empathy. I found counselling really helpful because my bullying ex manager destroyed my self confidence.
I would advise you not to post online, however anonymous. You do not want to be linked up with other posts and other people. I do hope you have support in real life and someone to talk it through with.

I'm slightly shocked that upon identifying sensitive info was available to you you chose to thoroughly read the details. I'm an nhs manager so occasionally get sensitive patient info. Sometimes it's sent to me in error (shockingly, but I always incident report it). As soon as I clock that the info isn't intended for me or includes more access than I should have, I stop looking at it!

I'm sorry you feel you're being bullied but if they've stood by the manager then it's pretty clear they're supporting her. Taking credit for your work is irritating (I had a manager like that) but taking 3 months off seems extreme and hasn't moved anything forward. I realise people should stand up to bullies but in reality there are some shitty people in the world and there are people we all clash with so when it doesn't work out you move on or risk ruining your professional reputation. This isn't fair but it's what actually happens ime

Broadly, you need out of this job and situation, however much you like it. With a combination of workplace bullying, stressful environment, whistle-blowing you could consider accepting a large payment for a non-disclosure agreement and a good reference, while they are still possible.

I would agree with this. It is time to move on.

If there is blame on both sides (sorry, but it is possible that IT can see at the back end what you did with that patients record and be prepared for that to be raised at the meeting), then the fact this has so many moving parts means it makes sense for the company to pay you off and for you to sign a compromise agreement.

If you can negotiate a decent compensation and good reference, that will give you breathing space until you can find a new job.

Once you file a grievance, particularly against your manager, I doubt any other line manager in the organisation would want to touch you with a barge pole. You have probably also lost all your trust in the organisation and I don't blame you.

It really best for everyone to call it quits. Try to hold it together and be matter-of-fact in your meeting but of course hold your ground with the help of the rep and steer this towards a mutual agreement. For example, you can say you note that your IT access has been blocked and ask why is this and whether you have been singled out. The company will of course have a fancy excuse but you have made your point. You only need to tell the company that you know this and that, but try not to let it become confrontational at this stage whilst you are still trying to negotiate a settlement. I would use this meeting to test the company's appetite to settle.

Once it becomes confrontational, best to have lawyers at that point.

Ask the company to pay for your lawyers who will advise you on the compromise agreement.

Yes, and that one thing she absolutely should NOT be mentioning, a point which she clearly took on board from the last thread. Yet here two of you are bringing it up.

It was too late for that. The previous thread was heavily cached and can be accessed even now. It does not matter at all that it was deleted by MNHQ and if that OP does read this thread, it's valuable for her to know that. Some of the suggestions were for her to "forget" that had happened and deny it completely, and that would likely cause additional harm.

OP in your case, if this is different, then IT will be able to prove or disprove what you say. If you opened the file accidentally and didn't spend enough time in it to read it all, that will support your claim that you came across it accidentally. You can't do anything in most remote access systems without it all being trackable on the back end; and while there is usually no reason to look, it will support your claims here if the recorded date backs you up.

You say your union rep is good, so go with their advice. I was in a disciplinary last year, and had it got to the point of needing lawyers, my union would have covered that.

Have you had your meeting yet, OP?

yes and it went well

I am not in trouble. I got lots of apologies. I am to get a new line manager but keep the same job, and other things I have requested will be done.

It appears I have won but all of this was verbal and I'm going to wait and see and be cautious (my union rep has advised to be cautious).

The blocking of my access was just for security reasons / investigation reasons and that they would get this restored to me soon.

So I feel much better, as I said I'll still be cautious, but it went much better than I'd hoped.

That sounds like a great outcome.

That sounds really positive.

Great news!

Great outcome, OP, hope that this helps your recovery.

Oh great update! Really good news!