AIBU to not understand why I am facing disciplinary at work for such a non-issue?

[Scarlett9004]

Hello,
My situation is this. I work in a UK company where all staff are trained to perform every role, yet in practice, particular individuals are consistently assigned only physically hard or only easy tasks-sometimes for many months in a row. I am usually given the harder ones and recently started feeling burned out by the daily grind, so a few days ago, I vented to one colleague, saying that this allocation is unfair given that we all receive the same wages, and mentioned several people who exclusively perform the easier tasks, including one Polish lady (let's call her Annie).

Yesterday, Annie’s husband (let's call him Tommy) approached me during the shift and shouted angrily, "Listen carefully! It's not your business why Annie never does physically demanding jobs. Stop gossiping about this or I will report you!" Offended by his tone, I retorted that I can speak whatever I like and that freedom of speech still exists. He turned bright red, walked away and reported me to the management. They launched an investigation, which I feel might lead to disciplinary action.

Aibu to not understand why the management are taking this so seriously? Can they really punish me even though I haven't been abusive or violent, but just complained about something that is bothering me? In Poland, Tommy would be told to bugger off with such rubbish-I know because I grew up in a neighbouring country! Also, I must note that Annie cannot be pregnant now as her duties, albeit quite light, are not pregnancy-friendly and all pregnant employees are always moved to office roles; this means she is provided with easy work purely due to favouritism.

You are speculating. You have no idea why Annie is doing lighter duties. You have no right to know either. Freedom of speech is all good and well and that includes Tommy coming to you and responding as he did. If you don't like how it is at work raise it with management.

Maybe she has another protected characteristic that you (rightly) don’t know about.

I’d have thought the best way to handle this would have been to speak to management respectfully about equal sharing of duties, not mouthing off to colleagues and bringing other people’s names into it without their knowledge.

Or maybe she is The Favourite and her husband is an arsehole….

*edited to add the word “thought” which I’d missed out

Well you're not facing disciplinary yet, it's an investigation that might find no further action. Also, is this about your gossiping or about how you spoke to Tommy? The reasons people do certain work are really none of your business and if it is negatively impacting you then raise it via proper channels

Annie may be on light duties due to a health issue, which is none of your business.

Gossiping, speculating why Annie appears to work only easier tasks, and generally creating rumours about a co-worker is an HR issue, and that is why management are involved.

If you have a problem , address it to your supervisor.

Does Tommy work there? If not he shouldn't be talking to you at all.

Just ask management why you never get the easier tasks. Tell them youre burnt out and a more even rota would be beneficial for everyone.

You’re coming across as racist by bringing that the colleague and her partner are Polish-that has nothing to do with the issue…did you bring up your colleague’s nationality when you were venting?

Should Annie have to declare to any nosy randomer why she can’t do the more physically demanding roles, or should her dignity and privacy be respected?

Stop gossiping, and talk to your bosses about your own burnout.

Agree, there may be another reason why this particular person has lighter duties.

However if they aren't generally going to allocate fairly they should maybe do a pay differential between the 2 roles.

Clearly management know of a reason Annie cannot be heavy lifting and it's none of your business.

If you are struggling with your allocation, then you need to raise this with your manager. Focus on yourself, the impact the allocation is having and what solution you would like.

You have no idea why Annie or anyone else does the lighter tasks. Tommy's reaction suggests perhaps there is a good reason for this that is sensitive.

I had some slight adjustments in my job last year - to others, it may have looked like preferential treatment/favouritism/unfair. The reality is, I have an unseen disability which badly flared and I was in a lot of pain. If someone had gossiped about it, I might have reacted like Tommy did because it's just none of their business!

You have no idea why Annie is on light duties and have no right to speculate and moan about it either.

Probably racism, discrimination and harassment based on your first post

YABU. It’s none of your business what Annie does. If you have a problem with your own workload, you can of course bring that up with your manager.

You should have taken your burnout to a supervisor not criticised another colleague whose medical history is unknown to you. You were the rude to her husband. You are not in Poland, so it doesn't matter what would be acceptable behaviour there.

You mentioned several people who seem to only be given lighter duties? As everyone else says, you have no right to know if someone is on lighter duties for a reason, but it doesn't sound like you were singling out Tommy's wife.

You don't know why Annie is on lighter duties and you are not entitled to know.

If you are struggling with the duties assigned to you, you should have requested a meeting with your manager and/or HR.

You can ask what the company's policies are on reasonable adjustments in the workplace, but you shouldn't ask or speculate about adjustments made for individuals.

Your company is doing the right thing in investigating this matter, but that doesn't mean you can't do anything in the meantime to affect the outcome (unless you are suspended or facing disciplinary action, which I am assuming you are not).

I suggest you write a full and sincere apology to Annie and Tommy and assure them that you have given the matter some thought and you now realise you behaved badly. Send a copy of the letter to HR.

If you are suspended or facing disciplinary action you must send the letter via HR, not directly to Annie and Tommy.

The fact that Poland's laws are less employer-friendly than ours is entirely irrelevant.

Is Annie's birthplace relevant to the job that she's employed to do? Or maybe it's relevant to the physical work that, in your opinion, she's shirking and you're lumbered with? No?

Op herself is not English
op also referenced many people given lighter work one of which is Annie. She has not singled Annie out

op your main issue is not raising the issue of allocation of duties to your line manager / this should have been done. Also put in a complaint bout tommys aggression

Are you in a union if so speak to them.
Just tell them you feel that the allocation of work is unfair

You are maliciously gossiping of course your going to be disciplined.

Surely your not daft enough to not realise Annie may be disabled.

If you have an issue with task allocation you speak to the people doing the allocation - the managers. You do not start speculating - gossiping, bitching - about other staff. You deserve to be told to keep your beak out by colleagues and to be pulled up on this by management.

You may be right about favouritism and/or there may be other things going on that you don’t and shouldn’t know about. But you’ve gone about this the wrong way.

Indeed!

You are utterly unreasonable. You have NO idea why some members of staff including Anne are on lighter duties and it’s none of your business. And to default to pregnancy being the only possible reason you could come up with shows ignorance. I agree with posters above the mention of their nationality does feel racist/xenophobic.

I’d say if you are disciplined it would be fair and appropriate.

This. And Annie is sensitive to it because it’s private and Tommy is incensed you’ve used her as an example for your moan.

far enough really- your freedom of speech shuck was antagonising too.

but you haven’t got a disciplinary yet, they’ll need to investigate.

I don’t think you understand what freedom of speech means! It means you are free to speak without retaliation or censorship from the government. It doesn’t mean you can say anything you like at work.