Named in a grievance. So stressed.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

I received a letter from my manager (NHS) on Monday saying I'd been named in a grievance and calling me for interview. The letter says I can take a union rep or colleague. I spoke with my manager and she said she cannot reveal any details about the grievance or even in what capacity I have been named. I cannot speak to any colleagues about it and cannot for the life of me work out what's it's about (I've actually only been back from maternity for 8 weeks).

I'm worried sick about this (not helped by my union rep not answering his phone).

Anyway I guess I'm asking is are they allowed to keep me in the dark over this? I've checked our policy and it's mostly about the person raising the grievance. How can I possibly prepare a defence of I need one without even knowing what this entails. I'm struggling to even function at work with the worry of it.

Thanks everyone.
I went in alone in the end. It was the initial fact finding interviews.
It is a bullying and harrasment complaint with at least 10 people named as perpetrators including myself. My part in it is very small and I'm still none the wiser as how I'm actually involved because the "incident" they mentioned I have no recollection of and the complainant says I said something pretty innocuous but the context was bullying apparently. I'd be gutted if someone thought I was bullying them and I'm really upset that I've being named since I feel I've supported this person so much since she started 2 years ago, we've even been out socially outside of work.
Will be a few weeks before I hear anything since they've so many interviews to do.
Thanks again.

Oh and I'm keeping unison until all this is over obviously.

So stressful.

Wow!

Did they tell you what it was you'd said?

If she feels bullied by ten people, that's pretty grim.

In one way you must feel better, at least you know you're not the major accused and that you didn't knowingly do anything untoward. Sounds like you're just part of a team who have been named and I hope for you that the victim will make that clear. I believe you.

I agree Walter I've been bullied in the past and it sucks, but I can hand on my heart say if I have said something she's interpreted as bullying then I did not mean it in that way. I did say in the meeting that I'd be more than willing to go to mediation or whatever to discuss this with her. I actually feel quite hurt to be honest, we were only discussing this last week about meeting up for coffee and cuddles with my baby and all the while this had been happening. Obviously she felt she couldn't approach me about it.

OP I'm glad you know what you're dealing with now & it's good that you don't feel you did anything. Are you allowed to discus it now with the complainant to explain?

I don't understand why she dragged you into it? Perhaps to strengthen her case, which is dreadful behaviour.

I hope it all works out.

well she wouldnt have been allowed to mention it to anyone.

Hope everything works out for you OP, that is strange that you had plans to meet up for coffee yet she had already started a grievance process with you included. Surely if you'd actually bullied her in any way she wouldn't want to meet up outside of work.

Hopefully it doesn't drag on for too long!

april I agree.
Yes. She couldn't have mentioned the grievance but then don't go being obviously lovely and friendly etc.
To be all nice as pie and arrange coffee and then stab the knife in like that, something is up.

Bullying accusation or not, that action in itself would make me thing the 'victim' in all this isn't entirely blameless or lovely.

I know that sounds awful but workplace bulling is truly awful and for somebody to report 10 people when one has been nothing but lovely (and the victim was planning a social out of work meetinf) makes me smell a rat.