Bringing up workplace issues to bosses boss?

[Manchestermanchester]

Our bosses boss is due for a visit and I was wondering if I should bring up issues I’m having with my boss? They are mainly surrounding medical appointments and occupational health - he’s not been following work policies. For example I told my boss about a hospital inpatient appointment i had and straight away he said “I’ll have to see if this triggers a sickness review” - I didn’t have illness for a while calendar year, company policy is 6 months and than it would be three instances. I’ve had no sickness for a year and sickness reviews aren’t triggered by medical appointments. He’s also refused to send me to occupational health and not managed a workplace injury. As my previous post I’ve been asked about medical issues, latest time I’ve told him about my new inpatient appointment and I haven’t been asked how long I will need of work.

The bigger issue is also my boss doesn’t manage people and I feel like it’s had a knock on affect when he’s on holiday or even day to day etc. There are also other issues like I feel like there is no authority or hierarchy etc being respected or forced. Eg someone is allowed to send numerous email to facility management when In my opinion it would be better to go via the manager (related to potential banning from the car park).

If I recall your previous issue with your line manager, it was related to him asking intrusive questions about medical appointments and procedures you have needed to take time off to undergo.

If you are still having problems with him, then it would be risky going to his boss to discuss his shortcomings. It could involve even more intrusive questions being asked.

Your point of escalation is your HR department and/or you manager. Going to your managers manager will not go down well if he is there on a specific agenda and wants to talk business, not get embroiled in local personnel issues.

I didn’t have illness for a while calendar year, company policy is 6 months and than it would be three instances. I’ve had no sickness for a year and sickness reviews aren’t triggered by medical appointments. He’s also refused to send me to occupational health and not managed a workplace injury.

If you believe it is a breach of his obligation as your employer, you should validate your accusation as to the aspects of non-compliance to policy, via a written grievance to him, or via HR, not involving his boss.

In short you could be opening a huge can of worms taking it away from being a 'local' issue to being visible to more senior management. What if he takes your manager's side as he may well do.....

I wouldn't fuck with the hierarchy without very very good reason.

Been there done that !

I'd write to your boss setting out concerns and asking for resolution.

Only if that doesn't result in resolution would I then consider a formal grievance.

Which should go to someone other than your boss, so his boss. HR would be able to confirm the most likely recipient, or allocate it if its sent to them first.

Ok thanks ladies.

he’s not been following work policies

Would you be following work policies by escalating straight to his manager like this? If not, I suggest you follow your work policies yourself & file a grievance.

What I will do tomorrow is speak to my boss and see his reaction to him saying he’s not following protocol for triggering a sickness review etc. As there hasn’t been a sickness review taken place I don’t think there is the need for a grievance. Wouldn’t it be better to approach our bigger boss for him to educate my line manger? Why start a form procedure when a five min chat will be ok?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/problems-at-work/dealing-with-grievances-at-work/

Formal *

You want the big boss to educate your line manager on what though? Your manager hasn’t actually triggered a sickness review has he? All he’s said is “I’ll have to see if this triggers a sickness review” i.e. he’ll look up your records & the relevant work policy & get back to you - there’s actually nothing wrong with that. You can’t expect him to have memorised your sickness / absence record off by heart & to be honest he doesn’t even have to remember the work policies either, he just needs to refer to them to make sure he’s in line with them before he does anything - there’s nothing wrong with him saying he’ll need to check.

The suggestion to file a grievance was with regards to all the other problems you list.

He has worked at the company for 30 years, he knows the policy. It’s also being used a threat I feel. When I told him about my next appointment he just asked “what is it for” instead of asking me how long will you be of work and will it affect your ability to work. He also asks way too invasive questions that weren’t necessary for a medical appointment. Medical appointments aren’t subject to sickness reviews.

My manager didn’t allow me to go to Occ Health and I had to put it in writing before he would do anything. He asked our boss who replied after a few minutes with the email address of occ health. So my boss obviously has more knowledge of HR, hence why he should educate his subdorinate.

Ok I won’t bring it up.

Going over people's heads... whenever I've done it I've come a cropper. You're showing them up, basically, even if you are in the right, and they'll defend themselves by blaming you.

That's not to say I'd never do it, but probably only if my only other alternative was to leave.

Yes. I’m just going to approach my boss tomorrow and be like “you know you aren’t following procedure, right?”.

^see what his response is.

The boss is coming to try and sort out another issue but we will see. Agh I could really do with describing the specifics to someone but I’ve got like no friends that are impartial.