Investigating grievances

[Quiffniff]

I’m on a preschool committee and we have received a formal grievance from a member or staff against the manager for bullying and harassment. It’s pretty substantial. Several months of documented events, plus as part of the investigation I have witness statements from people who were present at the time too. And some other written evidence of unprofessionalism in minutes (not minutes by the committee, but by the admin lady, so impartial).

At the start of all this, I read that grievances are rarely upheld so was fully expecting this to go the same way.

But I think this is so substantial that it can’t NOT be upheld?

I’m learning at every step because this isn’t anyone on the committees area of expertise. I am an investigator and we will pass all the info to a decision maker next week.

Perhaps I’ve lived in a bubble but could the manager actually be dismissed over this straight away? Or would she likely receive warnings first and actions to resolve.

I think I've posted on one of your threads before. I had a similar situation with one member of staff accusing another of bullying but in our case, the troublesome member of staff walked out and didn't come back.

It's a bloody nightmare and I identify with so much of what you say about other parents washing their hands of it and learning as you go. I think the people recommending HR consultants don't realise just how tight things are in most pre-schools. There is no way we could have afforded £60 per hour or whatever they cost. Completely out of the question. We muddled through the best we could with help from ACAS - think I was on first name terms with everyone in their contact centre. We also had a lot of support from our pre-school association but again, telephone/email support only.

Quiffniff have you got support from someone else on the committee? I had a lot of support from my Treasurer and another member of the committee and it helped me feel that I wasn't quite so much on my own. I know what you're going through and it's truly shitty. Very much spoiled my child's last year at pre-school and even now when I see one of the women involved I feel boiling rage and hatred at what she put me through.

Hi Silene, yes I think we have chatted before. I know - resources are scarce, there are no funds and we are all volunteers. So passing to HR or someone who knows what they are doing is impossible!

I think that’s exactly why and how this manager has got away with what she has, for so long. Volunteers change each year. They mostly don’t want this level of hassle, previous members have turned a blind eye, walked away, or trusted her when she has said the staff have made it up.

I have got support of several committee members. I’m definitely the ‘doer’ and the driving force but they will pitch in when needed.

I also have support from the local authority nursery development team, despite having a good Ofsted, they can see the committee need some support with managing the manager.

I have also found an HR consultant in the village with children who previously passed through the preschool. They are willing to assist and support with what needs to be done (for free!), to guide us through the process and the actions to follow. So that’s very fortunate for us and a huge weight lifted for me.

I read this before and was coming on to suggest you ask around to see if there are any HR professionals even if not directly connected to the pre school. I am really pleased to see someone has turned up to help you. I wish you the best knowing that you are doing what is right, even in difficult circumstances. Many people have shied away from this before, well done and thank you on behalf of those that have been bullied out of their jobs.

I'm very glad to see you have outside expertise now. Please put it at the top of the committee's to do list to find a way to get some funds ring fenced for out of the ordinary incidents in the future.