Accused of bullying NHS

[megcleary]

I think I may get accused of bullying tomorrow (I have not bullied anyone) but does anyone know what will happen if I do get accused? Do I get suspended while they investigate?

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I'm sorry you may have this complaint against you. I have had one against me too, totally unfounded, but still not easy. It is hard to say what will happen as every employer has different policies and procedures. If you are suspended it would be on full pay, but they should also give you the policy they are following. I am an HR Manager, so if the worst happens, PM me and we can chat through stuff if you like.

Good luck

The NHS Trust I work for suspends the accused on full pay while the investigation takes place... this can take months.

If the accused is a key person like a therapist with a patient case load, they may not suspend - the accusee would most like be moved to a different area of work while the investigation takes place.

A complaint of bullying in the NHS doesnt mean an automatic suspension, I know people who have had complaints like this made against them and not been suspended, but I expect it will depend on the details of the complaint.

I don't know what will happen not sure if they will say it in front of the managers or just continue to say it to the rest of the team and deny it when questioned.

Do you feel bullied?

I feel unsupported in my concerns being taken seriously it all seems to be I must do whatever is the least hassle for those above me

The first part of any process is usually for the person feeling bullied (or their manager) to point out your behaviour to you (how it makes them feel) and ask you to stop. If the behaviour then continues the complainant may then take out a grievance. This step can happen first if the behaviour is serious enough. If a grievance is taken out an internal investigation then occurs. The person accused is rarely suspended in my experience (although I have seen temporary redeployment while an investigation is in progress; suspension on full pay normally only occurs if the employee was felt to be a serious threat to their colleagues, patients or the Trust).

So they are calling you a bully to the team but denying it to the managers? Then I would insist your line manager, you and the accuser sit down and talk this through. If the person denies you have bullied them then I would tell them (with the witness- line manager- present) to stop saying so as this is defamation of your character. If they then persist ultimately you will have a case against them. If your manager refuses to get involved then go to their manager or HR. This must be addressed.

Thanks for the advice that she has called me a bully has been put in writing by another team member, tomorrow I don't know if the line manager will bring it up or continue to tell me to leave it be.

Hi Megcleary how did you get on today?

Hope things go OK, are you in a union?

I am in a union, all the stuff she came up with was deemed by my line manager as me doing my job not anything to do with bullying and a comment was made that people can bully from bottom up too. So hopefully it has ended but what came across was she hates me.

Pleased your line manager is supporting you. It might be horrible that someone hates you but the good point is that any complaint would now be seen as vindictive and nothing more :)