HR or union now? Long - sorry

[Pleasemrstweedie]

I'd appreciate some advice on this. I've been having trouble with my manager since last September and am unsure what to do now. In that time she has:

Materially changed my job description without any consultation and insisted that she followed procedure in doing this. She also said she could not have discussed it with me because we were not in the office together over a three month period, which is incorrect. Her manager has apologised to me, her excuse for not talking to me was that she had been very busy. As a result of that conversation I have been working under protest since 9 September, but this is being ignored.

Following appraisal I had a letter from the CEO telling me I was due a bonus. When I asked my manager when this would be laid, she said that it was a mistake. Cue two days of waiting for a definitive response from HR, after which I was told I could keep the money. The issue was that she did not understand the process. As they apparently did not intend me to have a bonus last year, I am not expecting one this year.

I have asked for a meeting to discuss my new responsibilities, but this has been declined. Instead, I muddle on, which is very stressful and am constantly told that I am doing things wrong.

She has waited three months to ask me about a conversation I had with someone before Christmas. I cannot actually remember the conversation now, so cannot defend myself, but may well have been able to had I been asked sooner.

I have to share a small office with this woman, who is sometimes friendly and sometimes not so I dread her coming in in the mornings.

Other than that, my confidence has gone and my anxiety levels are rising.

I have previously spoken to ACAS who simply advised me to talk to her, but she won't engage. I spoke to the Union briefly over the bonus issue and they were quite supportive.

I am the main breadwinner, with a semi retired DH in poor health, so resignation is not an option, but I need to find out what my options are.

Do I go back to the union, or do I go to HR? It's a large organisation and I wonder if there is a process whereby I could be moved. I have no confidence now in my manager or her manager and it is beginning to feel as if they have no confidence in me.

If you've got this far, thanks.

That's right - HR are management. Sometimes a rather pleasant arm of management as I've found but, at the end of the day, there to follow the company line.

The union is probably the right approach now. A good rep will have the experience, the training, will know who's who and will represent you sensitively and effectively.

You have my sympathy - small office and dreading someone coming in each morning. It's horrible and not something that you should have to endure any longer. It's something that even took me to my GP who told me that many of her nicest patients were bullied at work. Her anger at the whole notion of being marginalised or bullied at work was evident as she saw so much of it in her practice.

You said something about being moved. Is this is a real possibility and do you know if any openings/is there somewhere in the organisation where things are likely to be considerably better? Again, be advised by the union as well as by any other sympathetic contacts you may have.

Hope things improve a lot for you soon.