It all started last year at my workplace when I witnessed a member of staff being verbally abusive to junior colleagues . I spoke to my manager about this and explained what I had witnessed . This had happened in the past but because the member of staff was related to the company owner nothing had been done . The member of staff was spoken to about this incident . A few days later I was called to the office the same member of staff had put a grievance in about me . Several complaints they were all made up complaints I was shocked beyond belief which was made worse by the managers reaction to these complaints the chat wasn’t informal and I felt like the member of staff was being believed . I got very emotional I felt cheated frustrated angry . I felt unable to carry on with my duties that day I spoke to my manager about this up until this incident I’d had a good relationship with him . He didn’t even reply said nothing she could do I’d missed my lunch break and needed time to get on top of the stress I was feeling but I wasn’t given this time . I spoke to my manager twice the second time saying I needed to go home I was in a mess I was ignored so I made the choice to leave and went home . I emailed my manager explaining this . The next day I was sent a disciplinary and told not to come back into work until the disciplinary date . I was mortified I’d spoken out and now felt like I was being punished for this . I came back into work after 4 days to the disciplinary meeting I was asked why I walked out I explained why and how I was feeling how I tried to discuss this with the manager first I wasn’t believed and was given a gross misconduct final written warning . I was shocked I’d had a perfect work record before and couldn’t believe why this was happening . I was told that the previous grievances about me were classed as hear say I knew this was the case I’d done nothing wrong and knew they would have no evidence of this but I felt with the gross misconduct I was still being punished in a way for this .
The relationship with the member of staff that put in the grievance was difficult but I remained professional and got on with my job but all of this was still at the back of my mind and made me feel very vulnerable in the job that I loved . I was a senior member of staff and was put through my management training I’d been there 10 years and got on with most of my colleagues there were a few that didn’t like me I was aware of this when I was given a senior role they didn’t think it was fair and felt the role should of gone to them as they had worked there longer . I did my best to build relationships with them . They became very friendly with the member of staff who had put it the grievances about me lots of staff did as she was related to the manager so she became everyone’s ‘best friend’ very quickly . I think this all contributed to the grievances . I became very aware during all of this that I was disliked by a few of my colleagues this really hurt me more then I should of allowed it to . I became more and more uncomfortable in my role and lost my confidence I knew I should just leave but I was worried about finding new jobs with a final written warning against my name and having such low confidence I made the mistake of staying there . The current manager left and a new manager started we didn’t really hit it off in the beginning I didn’t like her management style and some of her ways I struggled to get use to but I remained professional and did my job . She quickly became friends with the staff that didn’t like me and very friendly with the member of staff related to management . That made me feel quite vulnerable as I worried what was being said to her . I had my first supervision with her and she made it clear she had been made aware of the issues in the workplace I stupidly became upset yet again which I was cross with myself about as it made me look weak . The new manager made it quite clear to me that I didn’t fit within the team during handover staff would be given jobs to carry out each time it was like I was invisible I wasn’t communicated to any senior role jobs were given to other staff and I was losing my place there . I was becoming more and more depressed and had low self esteem . I few instances happened were the manager had put an action in place that were not right one being illegal and the other putting people at risk I confronted her about this explaining my concerns she told me I was being a hindrance . I decided enough was enough and put my notice in I gave myself two months to find another job I felt really positive about this but sad as I was leaving a job I once loved . A week later I was told I was being put on gardening leave and marched out of the building I asked why and was told it had become evident that I was struggling with the new management and this was effecting my performance . I again became very upset I’d done nothing wrong and would not have the chance to say good bye to friends and clients at work or leave in a dignified way . My confidence took yet another big knock and I struggled at job interviews as felt I hadn’t got over what had happened at work . I still have no job as I don’t have any confidence due to what happened I don’t know how to move on from what had happened or make sense of any of it I feel frustrated that I didn’t defend myself more and cross that I became so emotional . I feel like I can’t move on from it all as worried about references as I know all employers will want a reference from most recent employers this worries me what will be said about me . I know that 5 members of staff have left since this has happened another senior and two managers as they didn’t agree with the new managers practise so I know it wasn’t just me that was targeted . I just don’t know how to move forward