Would you do this or is it morally a shit thing to do?

[Juaal]

I really can’t work out what is best here.

Context is I’ve been employed several years in a job I enjoy. A new senior man joined and since his arrival he has been increasingly unpleasant towards me, making some small comments about being a mum and saying he didn’t think I had much character about me.

It got to the point where I had to tell HR and they said this was serious and to formally raise it if I wanted to. I’ve since contacted a lawyer for some initial advice and they’ve said there’s a high chance I could get a settlement of a few months pay. I’ve recently got through to the final rounds of 4 separate interview processes. I want to leave my company now as I just don’t see a a future.

here’s the thing. If I blow things up and send in my formal complaint which I have already prepared, then I could end up with around 25k payout (based on salary and expected months settlement). But, as awful as this man has been, and he really has, I don’t know if he is actually very good at his job. He seems to have a lot of personal problems and I wonder if it would be morally wrong to put him through this complaint. However, friends have said that’s ridiculous as he’s been happy to make my life miserable and push me out of of a job, so why do I care about him. I could also do with the money. And it is true he has pushed me to interview elsewhere. What would you do?

What sort of lawyer is this?!?!?

Where on earth do you work where they'd just give you £25k for making a formal complaint about some stuff someone says??

I'm not sure your lawyer is being realistic here.

People raise formal complaints all the time. If you haven't raised the complaint then do it. But HR then have to investigate, this person will then give their side of the story and HR will have to try and resolve it. A payout of that sort of money would only happen as a last resort if no other resolution was possible. If you you haven't even raised a formal complaint yet then there's no point complaining if you haven't even sought a solution.

If you don't enjoy working there then take a job elsewhere. On your exit interview make it clear why you are leaving.

You don't get a payout for having a bad co worker... unless the company ignore and discrimination against you.

It seems the company have been positive, they have encouraged you to formalise the complaint. A payout might occur if thr company are looking to downsize and use this to offer a settlement.

Any HR professional worth their salt will have already documented the discussion when the OP told them. If the OP's allegations are very serious HR can't just magically unhear what she said, they would advise to investigate the allegations. I'm not saying it would be easy but to do nothing would be really risky in some situations
Imagine that an employee talks to HR about sexual harassment or overt discrimination and then just leaves so they don't do anything. 3 months later another employee reports the same thing and then highlights that Gladys reported the same issue previously and the company has failed to protect them.

I don't think for a minute they should offer settlement
The point with the performance issue was made to illustrate that some companies will settle when they really don't need to just because its easier, there was no reason to settle in my example, capability is a fair reason for dismissal

"Morals guv'nor? Can't afford 'em!"
Alfred P Doolittle

Go for it!

We don’t know what the conversation was with HR. We don’t know if she named names, gave details etc.

(I’ve had anonymous employee surveys where people have disclosed sexual harassment and believe me, it frustrates me when I know something and can’t do anything about it.)

If the lawyer didn’t dangle the financial carrot, would you feel differently ?