I have been lending my line manger money....

[HellsB69]

Please can I have some advice? For almost 9 months my line manager has been asking me to lend her money. I agreed each time to start with as I was being paid back as and when we agreed Out of work we had a growing friendship and would often talk on the phone during the evenings. I didn't like to think of her struggling to pay her rent and genuinely wanted to be charitable and help.
Slowly the lengthy phone calls and her attitude at work changed towards me, mainly due to the fact that I refused to lend her money on one occasion. She made me feel used and I noticed that there was a distinct divide being created and that she was using her authority against me.
Just recently though I woke to a message offering me a half day in exchange for a further loan. I saw this as being accepted by her and the friendship potentially getting back to how it was so I gave her the money and she allowed me to finish at lunchtime.
This was a big mistake though and I feel that she realised very quickly shed bribed me. She was telling me her boss was being unkind about me, wanted me gone and had reported me to HR. This brought on a huge anxiety attack of which she wasn't expecting and to keep the anxiety attack away from everyone and the fact her lies may be uncovered she again sent me home. She promised me she would arrange it to look as though I had taken a last minute days holiday but in fact she put it down as sick asked me to complete a return to work form but then never processed it.
I am aware I shouldn't have lent her money or agreed to her bribe of half a day so I came clean to HR and reported her.
She is now suspended pending investigation but will I be punished for my part, which in reality I was genuinely only trying to help?

The op accepted the offer though. I think that muddies the waters.

That's a fair point. However she clearly states that the manager put her under duress and has been treating her badly when she refused a loan so I think that could count.

She also didn't process the half day as promised in the message.

Yes that's why I think a timeline might help - makes clear it wasn't some collusion iyswim

I do agree about the timeline idea, I think it lays things out clearly and factually which could benefit OP with HR.

Sorry I didn't mean it to sound like I was disagreeing with you, I think your post was really good advice.

Your line manager probably earns a higher wage than you.
Why would you lend them money ?
For the future if someone needs money suggest;
They borrow from their bank or credit card
They cut down on their expenses
They get a second job

Does she still owe you money?

For the future try to avoid lending ANYONE any money!.However I see you are now in a difficult position.Just tell the truth and say you were only trying to help,I think it is likely she has some sort of gambling problem or addiction ,as she is well out of order to ask a junior employee for a loan! .Chalk it up to experience and if anyone asks you again just say you cant afford to !

Do you still have all messages from your line manager that detail her relationship with you and the positions she has put you in? Do you also have bank statements that show you when and how much you have given to her?

As others have suggested, begin to make a timeline and print messages/statements to corroborate and show HR.

The manager will certainly be in a worse position as she has been abusing a position of power.

I hope it all works out, please do seek further advice from a union or CAB if need be.

I’m not an HR professional, but I am an investigator and have done Investigations for HR.

I would be examining both your behaviour separately. There is no doubt that your manager has, for whatever reason, manipulated you and what they’ve done would most likely be classed as gross misconduct. Assuming it is well evidenced, case closed and job done.

However - your behaviours should also be subject to scrutiny - she offered the opportunity to buy half a day off in return for lending her money, and you took that opportunity. I think a reasonable person could have expected that you would raise the issue with HR then, when in actual fact it sounds like you only reported it when you thought you’d have a problem with her manager. You had the evidence in the messages, you could have stopped it then. Whatever your motivation, i.e. if you really were that gullible rather than complicit, it doesn’t look good and might call your integrity into question.

you don't live near Yeovil do you OP? Sounds a similar tale....(but with she being a he)

Are you part of a union op? I’d take your rep with you if so ? If not you can always ask someone to attend to support you at your next HR meeting.
Yes you accepted the half day BUT she is your manager , this is her abusing her power , you could have well felt backed into a corner to comply and then decided to report .
Also if the company gets rid of you it could be perceived as not supporting the whistleblowing policy and bullying policy , bullying isn’t just name calling , it can be intimidation, exclusion until you do something for them etc so I genuinely think it will be a minefield for your company and not in their interests . stay strong

OP, Why were you lending her money and you must have known it was wrong? Your post is bizarre.

Was the holiday taken from your holiday accrual or in exchange for the money

If it was from your accrual and she was approving it I would view it in a different light than if she gave you a holiday that you weren't entitled to in exchange for the money

If you’ve still got that message I’d say you’re probably fine and that your manager is probably fucked. Using company money (sending you home) for personal gain is theft and gross misconduct. You behaved (largely) reasonably and though you accepting a half day in exchange for a loan (accepting a bribe in essence) doesn’t look good they’re in a much worse position that their manager was blackmailing you and attempting to bribe you. I would think that they’d sack the manager and you’d be left well alone but probably find promotions hard to come by.