What would you think of this situation?

[Magicstar1]

I’m looking to see if I’m reading too much into this.

A woman is working in a manual / factory job. Her boyfriend works there too, and his father is the supervisor. The father often shouts and berates her for working too slowly / incorrectly etc. until she’s in tears. The boyfriend doesn’t get involved.
She doesn’t speak to or acknowledge any of the other men in the job, she doesnt really make eye contact either.
The three of them live in a rented house and share one bedroom to save money.

This is in my DH’s place of work....we’re concerned about her, but I don’t know whether to say something.

That does sound odd. How do you know they all share a bedroom?

So the woman, her boyfriend and his father all sleep in the same bedroom? Are there other people sharing the house too? Seems a bit odd to me. What can you do though and who would you say something too?

DH knows ... it’s not a secret. They’re not from this country and share to save money.

It must be awful to live / sleep in one room and all work together all day.

Dodie66 - I know...I just feel worried for her. Maybe their HR needs to have a word with the father about his blatant bullying in work. I just think that if that’s happening in public, how is she treated outside work.

Hmm it maybe their choice, it possibly wouldn't be unusual in some cultures especially if their sole purpose of working here is to make money. Could you get hold of some information, leaflets etc, from organisations that can help people who are vulnerable and leave them in the ladies loos for example?

I don’t work there but the leaflets are a good idea. Thanks

In some cultures several people sleep in the same room. Having your own room is still a relatively new idea, even in places like Britain. Father sounds like a bully- that should be reported or does he shout at all the workers or women?

Does she ever appear happy? I'd be concerned that she wasn't there by choice.

Is your DH able to step in and tell him to stop the next time he reduces her to tears? Can your DH speak to the father's bosses about the bullying? Even if he does it anonymously, it might make them look into how he's behaving.

Are there any women working there she might talk to who would be willing to try & befriend her?

If you get hold of some leaflets, could you try and get one on trafficking? (UKHTC/The Poppy Project etc). I'm not suggesting she has been trafficked but if she's in a situation she feel she can't leave either because of lack of money or her immigration status, it might point her in the direction of agencies who can help her.