WWYD- work ignored 4 grievances

[Thestateofplay]

As the title suggests, I've had some serious and longstanding work issues and raised 4 grievances over a 6 month period (with one for not dealing with my grievances).

I've been signed off with severe anxiety/depression, all directly related to the workplace situation for 6 months.

Back to work next week (not through choice, but for financial reasons) and nothing is sorted. Work are ignoring me, I've no idea what I'm meant to do or anything. Very anxious, but at least I will be WFH.

What would you do in this situation? Very grateful of any advice.

TIA

I would try speaking to ACAS and see what guidance they can give you, i cant see how your workplace can just ignore all your grievances

Have they not acknowledged the grievance at all?

Are you in a union? Is that union recognised by your employer? How long have you worked there and/or do you believe the company is discriminating against you?

Based on the sum total of your post, I'd leave and find another job but I doubt it's that simple.

Have you made these complaints in line with their grievance procedure?

Are they all for different things?

Were they all made during the period you’ve been off sick? If so, I’d it possible that they think you may not have been up to undergoing grievance hearings?

What communication has there been during your absence?

What’s the nature of your complaints? Is the
anxiety/depression linked to them?

Are you in a union?

(HR professional trying to ascertain what advice you need.)

Are you sure you’re well enough to return, OP? I’ve read some of your other posts and it seems this isn’t only a work related issue. Lots of people return as they are about to go into half pay then find this is a mistake.

You also mention you have legal support for 2 grievances. Have you asked them for advice?

You mention making mistakes at work, and bullying and harassment. In my experience people sometimes use these terms when they are being actively managed. Is that a possibility? Given you work in healthcare (I’m NHS) it may be that the mistakes you are making need active management to resolve?

Sorry, think I misunderstood your private healthcare comment. (Must drink coffee before reading mumsnet.)

Hi all and thanks for your messages

There have been acknowledgements of the grievances as in pro formas, but never any active investigation of them.

I did engage an expensive solicitor and whilst it's been helpful, there's no magical answer to this if they won't deal with me. I was told to not go with Union as they're toxic...

ACAS have trouble engaging me until
Grievances are investigated, so feel I'm
Between a rock and hard place.

Yes, I've had a shit time recently, some of which I've posted here for advice. Trying to hold it together with the decorum and strength I have left to get through this. I simply cannot afford half pay, I have no choice but to go ahead and go back.

@TitsOot4Xmas

Yes, all in line with policy and procedure and run by solicitor.

@TitsOot4Xmas

Yes, anxiety and depression have been explicit. I've also more or less begged for an OH referral to discuss reasonable adjustments to facilitate my return to work. I provided a date 3 months ago- so ample notice- but all ignored. No OH referral.

It's now my reasonable belief they're trying to push me to the edge to resign off my own accord.

How do you know they haven’t investigated?

What did the acknowledgement say they would do?

[quote Thestateofplay]@TitsOot4Xmas

Yes, anxiety and depression have been explicit. I've also more or less begged for an OH referral to discuss reasonable adjustments to facilitate my return to work. I provided a date 3 months ago- so ample notice- but all ignored. No OH referral.

It's now my reasonable belief they're trying to push me to the edge to resign off my own accord.[/quote]
What does the sickness policy say about OH referral? You can usually self refer?

@TitsOot4Xmas

Because they have not done anything to do. In order to investigate surely they'd have to check facts / interview me?

In my experience (fairly senior) this has always been the fact checking and first stages of investigations in our organisation in.

@TitsOot4Xmas it said 'they note my comments and will be actioned accordingly'. Then nothing!!

@TitsOot4Xmas can't self refer without access to any of the right information or equipment to do so- locked out of my machine.

They've done everything possible to isolate me. No normal early intervention letter with access to employee assistance programme info. Absolutely nothing for 6 months.

I feel physically sick at the thought of it, and I wouldn't have believed this could ever happen or them to be quite so cold

Apart from the grievances (and presumably fit notes) have you contacted them?

Have you asked for help in unlocking your equipment? Have you asked for info? Not suggesting they are in the right at all but the management of sickness absence is a 2 way thing and submitting grievances without other communication (if there hasn’t been) may have made them scared communicate with you.

Are the grievances all for different things?

That sounds poor.

How long is your service? You mention your Union are toxic but getting them involved seems sensible since you feel none of the 4 grievances have been looked at

It would be helpful to know a bit more about what the 4 grievances are about.

IMO it can be counter-productive to throw too many grievances at them over a relatively short period. It may seem like a scattergun unfocused approach. However you are where you are on that, what you now need to do is think about what you want the outcome to be, and whether there are 1-2 key priorities out of the 4 grievances, that if you were to gain resolution for those, then that would be a positive outcome to enable you to move forward, and rebuild trust with your employer.

That would be my suggestion, to show a conciliatory approach and willingness to move forward, but do you think that's possible?

Your Union is probably at a loss what to suggest, as 4 grievances is a lot to deal with. It might be best to regain contact with them and discuss priorities, so they can help advise a way forward for you.

Sorry to hear this, I understand your frustration.

You need to dial this back & drill down to what the real issue is. Once you've identified this, you can address it & once the root cause is established it can either be addressed or not.

I'm going to assume these is ill health ref the OH request.

1. what is your work policy on oh referrals?
2. what is your policy on grievances?
3. who did you address your grievance too?
4. are all grievances you've raised about the same issue?