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.

Im presuming you possibly work in the care industry. As a manager in a similar sector, some of my team have undergone occupational health assessments and either have certain conditions or factors that dictate tasks that they cannot do or must try to avoid. The correct way for you to have tackled this would have been to either raise your concern with your line manager, or if it really is physically affecting you- then request for an occupational health review yourself!
You ‘venting’ to a colleague could possibly be viewed as a conduct issue- I’d be checking any policies your work have for conduct or behaviour to ensure you are ready for a discussion!

If he approached you during your shift, I assume he also works there? If he approached you aggressively you should raise a counter grievance against him.

That said your colleague has obviously been telling others what you said so I would be careful about what you disclose to them in future.

Agree..

We're you told what Tommy said in his complaint to management?

Did you get to tell them that yes you did have a moan but that wasn't reason for Tommy to come at you angrily shouting?

If not they should at least have got your version of events before a decision was made to take any action.

Hardly misogyny if he is defending a woman the op abused. And when she said I can say whatever I like (about your wife), he was probably furious but just walked away and reported her quite rightly.

I think you should look for a new job. It's a bit pathetic Annie's husband had a go at you and reported you. Take out a grievance against him. And it is unfair if you're always given harder jobs.

You're facing disciplinary action because slagging off management to your colleagues, naming other colleagues as benefitting from management bias is bad for morale, and contributes to a toxic working environment, pitting staff against each other when you're expected to be a team.
If you've a problem with management decisions, surely you know that the way to deal with that is to raise with the manager, not get into a barney with a colleague because you've been gossiping about his wife?

Luckily the OP didn’t insult and shout at her colleagues! She was the one being shouted at. Did you actually read her posts? If so, you must be hard of comprehension.

Article 10 of the Human Rights Act allows for ‘freedom of expression’ which in effect is freedom of speech.
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers

Good grief! The op mentioned ‘annie’ along with other colleagues when discussing the unfairness of some colleagues seemingly having a more cushy job than others. If you think that constitutes ‘abuse’ then you’re clearly not very resilient. It was a private conversation that she’s entitled to have which her colleague then went spreading round the workplace.

I was questioning why the husband was at the place of work...thats not normal. Freedom of speech doesnt mean shouting at someone.

Glad to know you are perfect and never gossiped about anyone...good for you.

the fact that you’re being investigated and still didn’t click that singling her out for being polish when you were tying this absolute tripe out says you’re the arsehole.

Sounds like you aren’t going to get anywhere in that company so I would look for a new job.

Ensure you make a complaint against Tommy.

who leaked it to Tommy ? @Scarlett9004 but personally with other collegues everyone is their own plan with management

And what about the fact she wasn't singling out that one person?

This is your mistake: you have moved the focus from yourself being exhausted with the same repetitive task, to Annie and her tasks.
You should have gone to management and ask when are you going to have other tasks allocated, as these are overtiring you.
Now, Annie may have health issues and her RA in the company limits her to certain tasks. None of your business.
You should have kept it all about yourself. Your colleagues are not your friends. And you have learnt the hard way.
In your meetings, just focus on your tasks and that they are making you feel burnt out.

I haven't accused her of doing that or of being racist. I agree with you that she hasn't singled this woman out at work - she was complaining about a number of people.

But here she is going on about her and her husband being Polish and that is what I'd advise her not to do during the investigation. Suggesting that someone should behave differently because they are from another culture could be seen as singling them out, if that's what she does during the investigation.

It’s none of your business why Annie does different work to you.

If you can’t cope with your workload you either raise it with management or leave for a different job.

He should never have raised his voice at you but you have no idea why certain people may be put on lighter duties. If you have an issue, you should be taking it directly to management, especially if you feel you’re taking on more than your fair share.

Her light duties are none of your business

Annie may have conditions that are not visible to you. Let’s say she has fibromyalgia or lupus or anything that restricts her from heavy lifting. Tommy shouldn’t have gotten all shouty at you, but to keep talking about Annie in that way could be seen by management as contributing to a hostile work environment. They are trying to cover their own butts because the last thing the want is litigation.

Tommy has freedom if speech to tell you what he thinks as much as you have freedom to gossip

you brought up a grievance in an inappropriate way you should have gone via the union

their are many reasons a person cant do heavy work not just pregnancy

Hi again,

Thank you all for your replies. This is gonna be quite long, so I hope you have enough patience to read. As I already said, discussing reasonable adjustments is futile because the company doesn't do them: if you bring a sick note saying 'amended duties', you are sent home until it expires, as they claim they have no alternative work for you. Annie used to do the harder tasks just... immaculately, so was moved to the easier ones as a reward. Yes, she proved the hard ones are not impossible to achieve... but they are achievable for her, not for me! I am not like her, I lack stamina, physical strength and struggle with speed and motor coordination since childhood. The management see it, but they want us all to meet the standards and are forcing me to do something I am simply not capable of.

This is why I got frustrated and resorted to whingeing to a colleague. Also, however absurd it sounds, I've even started dreaming to get pregnant just to get a long break from all the graft, because then the company will have a duty to move me to a desk job... I haven't shared it with anyone because people will think I'm bonkers! But I'm not, I'm just tired, exhausted, desperate and envious.

The industry I work in is logistics. The harder duties involve picking various goods into cages, and the lighter duties are transporting full cages to the loading areas. When picking, speed and quantity are strictly monitored, but when transporting cages, there are no performance metrics, so you don't have to constantly rush; simply not being too lazy is enough! I really dislike this unfair difference, because if you underperform in picking, they start putting you on improvement plans and can eventually dismiss you.

Her health is no. Of your business. You sound awful.

It seems a very strange place to work. You’re all paid the same wages?! Sounds like a communist company. Anyhoo, something will happen to change things.