Workplace bullying continuing after you have left the job

[BarbaraPoppy]

Does Anyone have prior experience of this?

I work in recruitment and I left my job recently due to workplace bullying by my boss. Prior to leaving I was signed off on the sick with anxiety for 6 weeks due to the situation at work, I also had a 6 week course of talking therapy.

Three weeks ago I started a new job.

Very late at night, about 11.30pm, a couple of nights ago I received an email from an internal lawyer at my old business which accused me of approaching candidates from my old job and saying I wanted to work with them.

I haven’t done this. I haven’t contacted anyone at all. I believe my ex boss has made this up because she’s angry that I have a new job and because I was popular in my old job she’s trying to discredit me. I think she will have been telling people that I left because I couldn’t cope with the job and the fact that I have a new role will have really annoyed her.

Today I received the same letter again by recorded delivery post.

My instinct is to ignore these threats. They say they will take legal action if I do not cease but I have never done what they accuse me of so there is no evidence which would allow them to take things further.

I don’t want to do anything that would encourage my boss to continue to make my life hard. She’s a really nasty and vindictive woman. Is it better just to leave it?

I would write back to the lawyer, disputing the claim. Make it clear that you have not done this.

I would not point the finger at your old boss at this stage, just sound very surprised. Something along the lines of "I was very surprised to receive your letter as I have done nothing of the sort. Please stop accusing me of things I have not done."

Leave it short, and to the point, put no additional words in than you need. If you receive anything else, engage a solicitor to respond to them.

I’d write back or email the lawyer, purely to cost your old company some money, saying something along the lines of “thanks for your letter, I look forward to seeing your evidence”.

Are we talking about a simple cease and desist letter? They're not worth the paper they're written on, it's just a way for solicitors to earn easy fees.

Was there something in your contract that prevents you from contacting old clients long after you've left?

If you have legal cover on your house insurance could you ask them what advice they have? But I would tread with care here.

Thinks it’s just a cease and desist. It says they will take action if I don’t stop and tells me to delete all correspondence but there is nothing to delete. It’s entirely made up.

Well done for getting out of there. Your boss sounds like a complete nightmare.

I'd send a letter saying that you are extremely happy in your new job and have no wish to contact anyone at your previous place of work. That'll piss her off even more, knowing you're happy.

Do you think this is genuinely from a lawyer at work? Could it be her masquerading? Honestly she sounds completely nuts.

She is nuts. It will be from a lawyer - it was a big global business - but there’s no evidence. She will have said that she “has heard” I have contacted someone. She is always “hearing things”. She never has anything to say herself , it’s always “it has come to my attention”. She just makes stuff up.

I would collate all evidence, emails etc phone ACAS for advice. I would send a letter back asking her to cease all contact as you consider it harassment.

Did you have any restrictions in your contract?

Just the usual restrictions. I can’t approach any of their clients or candidates. I didn’t even log onto a computer while I was on sick leave and the new role is in a very different market.
My old boss is making it up to discredit me among ex colleagues because she’s very insecure and I was well liked and good at my job until she drove me out.
This has only happened since she’s realised I have started a new job.
I think she’s probably told people that I couldn’t cope and then she’s realised I have new job and is making up a story.
what I don’t understand is how the firm could send accusatory legal docs with no evidence and just take her word for it.

Couldn't that be considered harassment?

They need to do some sort of brain scan/study of recruitment managers because there’s something wrong with all of them.

I would actually take a firm line.

Dear

Further to your email of (date) and recorded letter of (date) which contained unsubstantiated and factually inaccurate allegations against me.

Please cease and desist all correspondence on this matter as I consider it unwarranted harassment.

yours