DH has been suspended, I'm 38 weeks pregnant.

[lostsocks]

My DH works for a large company in a supervisory role. Before his shift started today his manager asked him to meet him outside of work, and informed him that he had to suspend him as a staff member had complained that last week on a shift my DH had shouted and swore at her. Obviously he didn't. The staff member is a young girl and she and her mum went to see the manager to make this complaint formally. Another staff member in the same role as my DH has also been suspended for allegedly shouting and swearing at her during the same shift.

DH's manager has told him that he will need to investigate the allegation and will let him know the outcome 'in the week'. In the meantime DH is suspended - not sure whether this is paid or not.

I'm 38 weeks pregnant, and my DH was entitled to 3 weeks paternity pay - hopefully this will be resolved by the time I go into labour. I'm devastated. We have a mortgage and a baby on the way and DH losing his job means that our whole world could collapse around us. I do work, and I have just started my mat leave. I will receive 6 weeks 90% pay and 12 weeks half pay then SMP. We were on a tight budget when DH was employed full time - and DH not working at all, even if I was in work full time, would not be do-able even as a short term arrangement.

I'm not sure of his rights, he has not been able to give me any more information than what I have told you, and didn't think to ask important questions when his manager spoke to him. No union rep or anything. All he seems to have been told is that his manager will investigate and let him know, with very vague timescales.

Any advice about what he needs to do next, who he should contact, what the procedure should be etc, is very gratefully received. Thanks.

No advice but just bumping for you as it seems such a worry at 38wks pregnant. I'm sure he's entitled to contact his manager again and ask for things to be clarified. Perhaps he could arrange a further meeting with someone else present?

Hopefully, someone with HR knowledge (FBB perhaps?) will be along to help soon. Good luck!

Is your DH a union member? If so he needs to get on to them.

You might find your household insurance will provide legal cover - it's worth looking for this.

I can't advise on much of this, as its changed a bit since I dealt with employment issues etc

but if your DH has been working for this company for over a year, then he's not going to lose his job over this, even IF the complaint is upheld, it will be a warning only & as shes made complaint about others too, that sounds very unlikely, more likely they'll get rid of the girl instead - suspension will depend on your DHs contract, but usually it is WITH pay.

Speak to ACAS - number online or in phone book, for free confidential advice

good luck, relax & try & enjoy his impromptu week off

If your dh works at a large company, he needs to find out which unions the company recognises
Get in touch with the local reps (details will be on internet)
They will help him, even if he's not in a union yet
I can recommend the gmb
union
All the best

Thank you everyone, I have just found the contact number for ACAS and I am going to tell him to ring them now.

I agree it does seem dodgy that his manager met him alone outside of work and that he has been immediately suspended with no procedure - verbal or written warning or disciplinary meeting being held, this would be the case in my job anyway. Apparently he was given a letter but said that he was so shocked he put it in the bin - not the one in our house or I would have dug it out.

I have told him to ring HR but he said he was advised that he can't talk to anyone. I know this won't be the case, wondering if he should contact his HR department as well as ACAS and what he should ask HR when he does contact them?

He's just called ACAS, apparently his manager was within his rights to meet him as he did, bit shocked by that. Anyway ACAS have said that once he is advised of the outcome of the investigation he should call them back for further advice.

DH said that his manager told him that the young girl will probably retract her complaint once she realises that DH and colleague have been suspended but it's not about that, is it. It's that a staff member can just throw any allegation about and it could potentially result in someone's world crashing down - whether it does or doesn't shouldn't depend on the same colleague just retracting their allegation! Will be keeping a log.

Hi

I work in HR so maybe can shed a little bit of light.

Any complaint like this must be investigated and many employers ( including me) will suspend while the investigation is taking place.

In this case the complaint is bullying based so it makes sense to suspend, as otherwise the person who complained could say they are now being harrassed. Removing your DH from the workplace prevents this.
Suspension should be paid, as its only for investigation and I believe the standard is up to 2 weeks and then if they need to they can extend.

As for meeting him alone outside of work, its not how i would do it, but maybe he was trying to save your DH embarrassment of having to leave the workplace in front of his staff.

These complaints are hard, as you say it can cause the accused alot of stress.
Were there any witnesses your DH can think of that would be able to support him in the fact he did not shout?

I would imagine the next stage would be to call him in for an investigation meeting, to discuss the complaint in detail. Your DH will get more information at that point and will be able to prepare his side better then. This meeting he will not be allowed someone to come with him but if it moves to disciplinary than he will, so if he is a union member he needs to call them now so they are involved from the start.

HTH

3teenhell - there are no witnesses, the manager has said 'it's her word against yours', I'm not sure how they will investigate that. I suppose both will have to write statements?

DH is not in a union, is it possible for him to join one now and be represented if he needs to over the next few weeks? I thought you had to be a union member for a couple of months before they would offer representation?

Hi

If there are no witnesses then yes both will have to make statements.
I would deal with this by looking at both employees and also the fact she has complained about another and probably come to the conclusion she was maybe being over sensitive.

if he is not a union memeber i doubt they would be willing to get involved now, but maybe worth asking the question, as i believe some will.

I think the comfort here is that common sense will prevail.

If there is anything else you need answering let me know.

Have they confirmed that he will be paid while suspended?

Thanks for your help, yes he now knows that he is suspended on full pay, the waiting will be the worst bit. If he is allowed to return to his role, he's going to be very nervous about reprimanding staff members on his shift in case someone just makes an allegation like this again, I can't believe someone would make up such an awful lie which has such consequences on a whole family! Well, I can believe it, worse things happen, but we've had such a run of bad luck lately and we were so happy this morning talking about the baby and preparations and it feels like there's a big cloud of doom over our heads now. I had planned to go and pick up DH's 30th birthday present this afternoon (he's 30 on saturday) but have cancelled it, I'm not paying for it now just in case.

Its really tough and he should be able reprimand as its part of his role.
Fingers crossed they deal with it quick