Suspended over allegation, but not sure whats going on

[halia]

Hope someone can help me here.

2 weeks ago I went into work only to be called aside by my boss and told that I was being suspended because there had been an allegation against me that I had been drunk in work hours.

I defended myself briefly at the time, stating that this wasn't the case but I was in shock tbh. I was sent home straight away and given a letter saying it would take no more than 5 days to investigate this. I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone from work while the investigation was taking place. I know this is normal and I did my best to deal with the "are you OK" queries I got from work colleagues who are also friends.

I sent my boss an email to update him on my workload as I have clients and I wanted to ensure that no-one turned up for an apt when I wasn't there. I did ask if I could send a vetted 'out of office' type email so that people would be told I was off on 'family emergancy' but my boss didn't answer that question.
I also asked for copies of work policies which I have still not received.

The following monday I got a phone call from my boss asking me to come in for a meeting to discuss the result of the investigation.

I offered to go that afternoon but he said tuesday.

At the meeting (which was just me and him) he barraged me with questions, about all kinds of things, he kept firing questions at me, at one point he asked 4 or 5 questions in a row then barked at me when I didn't answer straight away.

He also made ANOTHER accusation that I had gone into the workplace one day when i had been forbidden from going in.
I replied that I had only been in on the day he said I could to pick up my gym kit and that I had been seen by 3 other staff members. He says he saw me on CCTV on another day - but the day/time he said I was at my sons school.

Anyway I got out of the meeting not sure what was happening, he said I still couldn't talk to anyone and took my keys off me. He said he had to talk to someone in HR and then he would get back to me the next day (weds)

I didn't hear anything at all for the rest of that week, I sent 2 emails. One was an updated workload list the second was an email asking (again) for copies of disciplinary policies & procedures and written confirmation of the allegations.

Today I got a very brief email sent at 5pm, saying that he had tried to call me - but he hadn't rung me at home so he must have used my work mobile number which I had agreed to turn off so I COULDN'T be contacted by clients or colleagues.
It didn't say anything except to call him on his mobile.

I'm really confused and worried, I dont' want to talk to him without anyone there again, or to do a phone call because of the way he intimidated me when I saw him last.

Help?

(oh I don't have a union and I've been told I can't talk to HR because they are supporting him btw)

halia - please don't give up. Your manager has NO evidence against you as the alleged incident never happened and he has completely failed to follow a fair procedure so far. He would be CRUCIFIED at a tribunal if he continues to behave in this manner.

Really, speak to the HR dept at the main charity. They are quite likely to be of help and are unlikely to be under his thumb as they are not working directly for this manager so they are unlikely to be impressed by his bullying tactics.

i hope that you are doing ok. ive been watching with interest.

have you heard anything from the idiot yet??

Take ACAS advice with care it is very variable, depending on who you talk to. ( I went through a situation where two different people gave different advice) do you have free legal helpline with your home insurance or proffessional body or try CAB. If he is not following procedure he is not complying with employment law. Speak to HR as well stating your concerns clearly and concisely. Meeting you without any witness for either side is unbelievable and surely renders any conversation nul and void as there is no proof what has been discussed.

As an aside I don't feel discussing the pros and cons of HR on this thread is helping Halia.

Halia - if you are disabled the the Disability Law Service may be able to help you, although I know they are pretty overloaded at the moment. Their website is www.dls.org.uk/ .

It does sound like he is attempting to construct some sort of sham case against you - if you can get the date of his CCTV 'proof' then perhaps your son's school could provide a written statement confirming you were on the premises at that time. Good luck & don't let the bastard grind you down!

I'm sorry to hear your having a rubbish time at work. I would strongly recommend you taking a small dictaphone device into any meetings you have or hold it to the phone line (but don't let on to anyone you have this). You will then be able to type an actual transcript, which you can type up he said, I said etc and use as evidence should you need to at a later date. My husband went through a rough time at work where an employee doctored an application after he had put his answers down (he had to re apply for a job as there were redundancies looming) and he had them by the short and curlies in the end with a transcript of the truth!! This woman did not have a leg to stand on and he blew her out of the water. Best of luck.