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Really Really need advice my world has just crashed

438 replies

LIW4 · 06/11/2022 14:52

Sorry for the lengthy post but any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I've tried to give as much info as possible
I returned home from work on Wednesday to find out my husband has been suspended from work. This came on the last day of a 4 week holiday. He told me it was to do with intimidation but totally baffled as to the circumstances. I know suspension isn't a knee jerk reaction

He's not allowed to contact anyone at work inc the union rep.

Letter has come through the post and I've demanded to see it. it basically confirmed my thoughts that I'd not been told everything. He was suspended pending an investigation into intimidating behaviour, harassment and unprofessional behaviour.

I more or less said you must know something, who this is and why but he still maintained he didn't. He's been saying oh but you're working and we don't need the money like we used to.

He's right I do work, full time it's not bad pay but I digress.

Something didn't seem right to me, I've had suspicions of his behaviour for a very long time. Coming home late by some 90 minutes most days. Him getting tetchy and defensive if I said anything but insisting nothing is going on.

I checked his phone and I'm absolutely sickened. He has constantly been emailing/messaging this woman at work saying sorry (doesn't state what for) didn't mean it, I want for things to go back to what they were, let's meet up for a coffee and clear the air, sorry, sorry, sorry, I miss our chats, I can't talk to other people like I can talk to you, I love you-oh when I say that I don't mean it in a romantic way. I mean as a friend someone to talk to. What have I done I'm sorry. Please be my friend again

Now as much as the above hurts and it's blinding obvious to an idiot he clearly fancies this woman in a big way. One message wouldn't upset me as much as the thousands upon thousands saying the same thing over and over for the last 2 years.

This hurts, really hurts and I want to cry, scream, shout. I want to physically hurt her for basically destroying my family and my kids but I'm not blind either. I don't know how much I would have taken before raising it either.

Technically the above is bullying intimidation and harassment whether my husband chooses to bury his head or not over it. I can't believe he can't or won't see that

I've never met her, don't want to, she's not my cup of tea going by what I know of her, dropping off and picking her son up and dumping for months at a time from age of 5 onwards.

My question really is, would the above be enough for sacking someone. I've a job/its good/well paid but it's not enough to keep a roof over me and my kids roof
Arguably He's not implied or otherwise that he fancies her the wording is more around friendship if I'm correct that an investigation would focus on the actual content rather than a blind idiot would know you wouldn't bombard someone this much if you didn't want more.

Whether my marriage can survive this is a different matter. I know financially I can't afford the bills

I'm just looking for help and the liklihood that he would be sacked. I've included everything I know. His work otherwise is fine-I think

Also he has to attend an investigation meeting to get his side but won't be told of the facts till he gets there. I sort of understand this so that he can't come up with convoluted baloney like he thinks I'm swallowing.

I'm presuming He's going in and giving his side to the accusations set before him. He's told he can't have anyone with him.

Then they'll decide what action if any is needed and called to a disaplinary hearing. I'm presuming that he can have someone/union to this?
Would he be able to discuss/speak or is it final. He said this/she said this. We find you guilty after our investigation and we will dismiss for gross misconduct.
Can he challenge this/look for ways to sort/resolve

Would I be correct that they have already investigated it given they have suspended him pending an investigation?

I suppose all he can do is confirm he'll stop harassing/messaging and hopefully they'll accept it given their is no written sexual harassment or implied in the words. What's the liklihood this will happen?

Does anyone know how many cases like this end in dismissal?

Sorry for the lengthy post. It's been the hardest and most upsetting thing I've ever had to post/say in my life. Not to mention my heart is absolutely broken

I'm in Wales just in case the law is different to anywhere else in the UK

OP posts:
LIZS · 06/11/2022 15:01

If he has overstepped boundaries to the extent the colleague has been intimidated and harassed, especially if he is the more senior, then absolutely he could be sacked, sorry. The phone log sounds very onesided. Not sure why he cannot contact his union though.

Bumzoo · 06/11/2022 15:07

I think he sounds like he needs help.

That poor woman.

BigFatLiar · 06/11/2022 15:08

Sounds like he could be kicked out fir bullying/intimidation.

Don't see why he shouldn't contact his union, everyone should be able to seek advice, dven if they're guilty.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 06/11/2022 15:12

I want to physically hurt her for basically destroying my family and my kids

You want to physically hurt her? has she been sending your husband thousands of texts?

I've never met her, don't want to, she's not my cup of tea going by what I know of her, dropping off and picking her son up and dumping for months at a time from age of 5 onwards

Don't you sound lovely.

EndlessMagpies · 06/11/2022 15:12

I want to physically hurt her for basically destroying my family

Her? She's been subjected to years of harassment by your husband, and you want to blame her?

She's not responsible, he is. By the tone of all those messages, she's been trying very hard to fend him off, and rejecting his persistent advances for a long time.

Jasper2021 · 06/11/2022 15:12

He can have a colleague or trade union representative in the meeting with him.

Valhalla17 · 06/11/2022 15:17

Sounds like they've had a relationship to be honest

CornishTiger · 06/11/2022 15:17

You need to find your anger with your husband not this woman.

I think either something happened sexually between them and she backed right off and your husband has harassed her for more. Or your husband has harassed her for more than friendship at work.

Either way it’s a husband issue.

astronewt · 06/11/2022 15:18

He's been stalking and harassing his work colleague for two years. In writing! While married to someone else! What a fucking prize he is.

Yes. He can and should lose his job for this. And probably will, because the message trail is irrefutable. He should lose you too.

His victim has done nothing wrong. Nothing.

Get yourself together and get ready to face life on your own, is my strong advice.

ThingsIhavelearnt · 06/11/2022 15:21

astronewt · 06/11/2022 15:18

He's been stalking and harassing his work colleague for two years. In writing! While married to someone else! What a fucking prize he is.

Yes. He can and should lose his job for this. And probably will, because the message trail is irrefutable. He should lose you too.

His victim has done nothing wrong. Nothing.

Get yourself together and get ready to face life on your own, is my strong advice.

Stop victim blaming the woman and start dealing with your husband

start by kicking him out and get some counselling

he is a bully not a victim

lifeturnsonadime · 06/11/2022 15:23

He should be dismissed for that.

You should reserve your anger at him. It's him that has caused this. Not her. If he's acted so badly towards her that she's had to put in a work place complaint then I have no idea why you think that is HER fault.

I am sorry you are going through this OP, this is not something I could forgive him for.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 06/11/2022 15:23

He's a fool if he doesn't resign tbh.

Chomolungma · 06/11/2022 15:25

Yes he could be fired for this. And rightly so. This kind of harassment is taken much more seriously these days. That poor woman.

Tabitha888 · 06/11/2022 15:25

You want to hurt another women who your husband has harassed! You need your head checking out!!!!!! Women like you are part of the problem. How dare you

Womencanlift · 06/11/2022 15:25

My best friend suffered bullying and sexual harassment from someone like your husband. It was years ago and she still isn’t over it. Her confidence was so shot that she is probably about 3-4 years behind in her career than she should be and only starting to recover now.

So I did feel for you until you said you wanted to hurt HER for ruining your family. No sweetheart that’s your dick of a husband that’s done that

Georgeskitchen · 06/11/2022 15:27

Putting everything else aside, if he is a member if the union they are wrong to say he can't contact the union rep. That's what the union rep is for

BellePeppa · 06/11/2022 15:28

Why do you want to hurt her? That’s warped.

determinedtomakethiswork · 06/11/2022 15:29

What were her replies to him? I'm not sure why are you blaming her for this!

Venetiaparties · 06/11/2022 15:32

Op this could easily, very easily be escalated to a police matter.
What has happened is totally unacceptable by any measure.
I am sorry you are devastated, but this is not the other woman's fault. Your dh has become extremely sick and deranged, I too believe it was an affair. It is unlikely he has got so worked up over a friendship.

He needs to resign immediately before he is sacked, and find a new job and say nothing further to his poor colleague.

In your position, tomorrow morning I would be getting legal advice and information about how much you could charge a lodger(s) so you can stay in your house. There would be no going back for me after this. No way. He is depraved and a stalker - at best.

Lj8893 · 06/11/2022 15:32

How on earth are you finding this poor woman at fault here??

Shinyandnew1 · 06/11/2022 15:32

I want to physically hurt her for basically destroying my family and my kids

How has she done that?!

BronwenFrideswide · 06/11/2022 15:32

You want to hurt her for the way your husband has behaved?

You and your husband sound as bad as each other - someone else's fault,

Yes he absolutely should be fired for gross misconduct and I hope he is - he has harassed this woman for two years.

tealandteal · 06/11/2022 15:33

At the investigation meeting he will be told what they have found so far and what questions they still have. He’ll be asked to provide evidence for his side. They can’t ask him not to contact his union however. As he has been suspended pending investigation they have likely found/seen something that warrants further investigation which is why they have suspended him.

They should then let him know the outcome of the investigation eg no further action, formal disciplinary or informal warning. If formal disciplinary they will need to let him know what the potential consequences may be, so if there is a potential for dismissal. He can appeal the outcome if this meeting.

However it sounds as those this poor woman, regardless of her character and anything about her children which is irrelevant to this situation, has quite a lot of evidence. I’m not sure how it could be seen as anything other than harassment.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 06/11/2022 15:33

suppose all he can do is confirm he'll stop harassing/messaging and hopefully they'll accept it given their is no written sexual harassment or implied in the words. What's the liklihood this will happen?

Yur husband has been suspended for intimidation, harassment and unprofessional behaviour with thousands of messages over two years and you want it to just go away if he says sorry?

I'll add the caveat that obviously we have no idea what led to him messaging her in the first place but bloody hell, the woman must have been at her wits' end with it.

caffelattetogo · 06/11/2022 15:33

He can and should take a union rep with him. That's within his rights whatever he has done. He should not resign. They may pay him off to leave, it allow him to stay. Resigning is the worst option, although you should leave him. He sounds like a real piece of shit.