I'm being bullied in work at the minute, it's something that has gone on for about 2 years but I've always been able to hold my head high and stand up to her which she has hated. I've done extremely well in my job and have always been able to prove my worth and rise above her relentless targeting. Sorry, this is a long post but I'd appreciate any advice.
I've been able to cope with it until now, but now I'm pregnant I'm finding it extremely stressful. The person in question is a director in the senior leadership team and I'm two levels below her.
The bullying consists of relentless scrutiny on every aspect of my job, minor admin mistakes turn into a full saga where my manager and director get pulled in, other staff get quizzed and I'm asked for a direct apology to her, she withholds budget approval for every one of my projects until the last minute despite paperwork etc. having been submitted months in advance (no reason) and then releases the budget leaving me with v little time to complete work, I'm the only person in the directorate who has to write a fresh business case for every project I do even where our activity plan and budget has been approved (even repeat projects we do every year).... There's nothing in my performance record that would require this.
Because it took her so long to approve the budget for my last project my timescales went from the required 5 months to 10 weeks. I worked 10 hr days, 6 days a week to complete the work, while undergoing IVF which ended in miscarriage the week before my project launched. I worked through. Work knows about my IVF.
Right now, she is fixated on an admin issue that didn't meet the normal processes due to circumstances, genuinely out of my control, to do with paying an existing supplier. I apologised and offered an explanation. She asked for a further letter of apology and explanation and said she would have to consider what further action she would need to take. I'm not sure if that's disciplinary action against me, or sanctions against the whole team. I provided the letter, in the hope that she would accept that and pay the supplier for the work done. She refuses to accept the explanation and has gone through it line for line asking for proof of conversations, further explanation, what alternatives did I consider etc.
I have reviewed our disciplinary procedures and what she is doing is conducting an investigation, she has consulted other members of staff to confirm dates and other facts in the letter and copied in my manager and director. She's withholding payment to the supplier until she's satisfied. I have nothing else to say. At the same time I need to start work again with this supplier (again, much later than I should be due to budget hold-up). It's damaging my relationship with the supplier and putting my next project at risk. With mat leave looming in five months, this is extremely stressful.
With regard the investigation, she hasn't followed any of the outlined procedures - it's supposed to be independent, HR should be involved, it's meant to be framed as an investigation with an outline of potential next steps (disciplinary etc.). It's also supposed to be attempted to be resolved informally first.
I need to put an end to this once and for all, for the sake of my pregnancy. I get no real support or protection from my manager or director, this director has cultivated a real culture of fear whereby if someone challenges her she makes things extremely difficult for them so until now my superiors have been more concerned with keeping her placated.
Next week I plan to approach her and ask outright:
A. Am I being investigated? These are the reasons I think so....
B. What are the actions that you intend to take (disciplinary or otherwise)? (I'm more than happy to defend myself if it is disciplinary in the right environment with the right support. If it is disciplinary it's enormously disproportionate to the issue so my thoughts are it won't be. If no disciplinary, then what are the further actions?)
C. Why the intense focus on this one incident when it happens regularly by others? It's also genuinely a minor issue with a long-standing trusted supplier and a relatively small sum of money.
If there is no formal investigation and no disciplinary action then I want to put an end to the matter once and for all and move on.
I don't know how to approach this. I've already had an informal conversation with HR about the impact the relentless scrutiny has on me and I know my director and manager won't want me to take it further, her behaviour these past few years toward me has been a headache for them but they don't really defend me for fear of repercussions.
At this stage I'm happy to go it alone and fight this myself. I spoke to our employee assistance programme and I will seek further legal advice through them. I'll speak to HR again on Monday and let them know what I'm doing and why, and get their assurance that this matter will be settled once I get answers to my questions.
I can't work in these conditions for the next five months so I want it to end so I can just go back to doing a good job. I also can't get myself to the level of stress and burnout as in my previous project. My number one priority is my baby that we fought so long for.
I guess what I'm asking is does anyone have any advice on how I approach this with HR, with my manager and director and finally with the bully?
Thanks for reading xx