Grievance

[Sparklybutold]

Got an email yesterday out the blue inviting me to a grievance meeting. No detail about what the grievance is about in the letter. Seems my managers don't know nor do HR? It seems the only person that knows is the investigating officer? And whoever made the complaint?

I have looked at the policy which frankly isn't very clear.

I hate the unknowns and this is really stressful? I'd have thought that if you are attending a meeting where a complaint has been made against you then you would be given the details of what this is about prior? I've contacted the investigating officer who bounced me back to HR, and then HR said they don't know the details and have bounced me back to the investigating officer. The lady from HR was abrupt and demonstrated no care. The call ended abruptly when I asked ‘so there's nothing you can do to support me?’ next thing I hear is the ring tone - great.

So it's the weekend tomorrow and I am working. Bloody fantastic.

Any advice?

Is it possible that you are being interviewed as a 'witness' in relation to a grievance against someone else? I had a similar experience of being given no information. The investigating officer explained afterwards that this was to avoid people discussing the matter and comparing notes in advance - what she wanted was objective information. As it happened I did have very relevant information without knowing the details of the allegation. If the grievance was against you I would have expected you to receive more information about the process and in our organisation the opportunity to have someone with you.

^^ this. Although when I was invited, the director in question phoned me beforehand to give me a heads up because the email and comms was very formal and couldn't go into any detail so as not to alert the complainant or the person the grievance was about.

nowitsspring's response sounds reasonable.

If you'd been involved in dodgy doings you'd surely have a clue.

A grievance in this context is usually where internal procedures haven't been followed by management isn't it?

Apparently it's a fact finding meeting?

I honestly have no clue. It's all very guarded. I'm not management. I know previous colleagues have had awful experiences with similar things so I'm really anxious about wtf is going on.

Sounds like there is an allegation that someone (not necessarily you!) has done something wrong. The investigator talks to everyone who might be able to shed some light on the situation. The investigator writes up a report and concludes whether they believe the allegation to be true, false, or if there isn't enough evidence to know. If they determine the allegation to be true, they will likely recommend that it proceeds to a disciplinary meeting where a different manager will decide what formal action to take.
Since you don't know anything about it at this point, I strongly suspect the allegation isn't about you.

Sounds stressful. When is the meeting?

But as @FoolsOld mentioned, it's good etiquette to call people in advance and tell them what the meeting is about, and to reassure them they're not in trouble. Maybe you could mention this to the investigating manager so they can learn from it!

I've had similar where an outside investigating agency rang my personal mobile - I had to have a meeting regarding a ex colleague and I wasn't even allowed to discuss it with my manager - or anyone!

I also think you will be asked as a witness, however HR rang me and reassured me it wasn't anything i had done wrong which settled my anxiety!

It's been handled terribly. I agree with the idea that there is a reason why they can't tell me in advance, or at least I hope so otherwise I'm going in blind. The letter was simple. Nothing reassuring about it at all and very formal! I feel awful tbh. No support provided at all. Just attend and that's it!

When I rang HR they just said they didn't know the details (whether this is true) and just that a meeting had been called. She did say the meeting was unusual? Whatever that means!

HR said to talk to investigation manager and IM said to talk to HR! One of my managers seems to be in the dark about it. I'm absolutely flummoxed! When I asked HR is there anything you can do to support me, she hung up on me!

HR would know the details as they would have been the team to which the allegation was reported, and they would have assigned an investigating manager. However maybe it was a different HR colleague who did this, and the person you spoke with didn't personally know about the case.

Contact the ACAS helpline and ask for their advice. They are a government organisation so know the law very well. It’s free and you don’t have to give any personal details.

https://www.acas.org.uk/contact

I would likely ask whether it was about me so I would have the opportunity to invite my union rep/ seek advice from my union.
All this secret squirrel stuff does my head in.

Hanging up on you is awful. I’d be tempted to escalate that but if it is you best not to antagonise hr right now.

as it’s been done in writing and it doesn’t say to give evidence, I think it’s highly likely someone has raised a formal grievance about you. They have done so via hr.

id think about it, is there anyone you’ve pissed off.

Are you a member of a union?

I did thisavo and they sated that from the information I gave, policy had not been followed. I am wondering whether it's about someone else and I'm a witness?

Yes!!! Yes!!! That's exactly it! Couldn't said it better myself! I'm literally going a bit potty thinking what its about!

If it was about you, they should have written to you and laid out the allegation.

Apparently HR said they knew about the letter that was sent but no details. Just that a meeting had been arranged. The HR lady did say it was unusual how it had been done though? Which just added more confusion ?

Yes - free speech. Contacted them but as we don't know it's about it's unclear whether free speech would be helpful?

Op did the letter say you could bring someone with you?

This was exactly what I thought and I was trying to get, but they just said we’ll discuss on Wednesday?