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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:
Yesthatismychildsigh · 06/11/2022 18:12

STARKAT8794 · 06/11/2022 18:08

Lady, get a grip! Your bully coward of a DH caused his own trauma, yes? Yet you want to embarrass the poor woman! It's not her fault, it's his! You should kick him out and get legal advice. He needs a psychiatric intervention. He KNEW he was doing wrong, risky behaviour! Yer he carried on, like it ok. Oh OK, because he's a bully it's alright! I'm engaged to a Orc and he's beautiful, muscular and crazy and very rich. But he's 1000000% loyal to me and I to him, 3.5 years of drama! I'm lucky! You need to question your wayward husband. Why did he get so personal and nasty with that woman, was he snagging her behind your back? Yuk! He will probably be warned, at the worst sacked. Then he could be charged by the Police with harassment and stalking! Get legal advice and protect yourself! Don't blame her, blame HIM! Married men messing about, yuk eww! I've been with my crazy badman, gymnasts body, Daniel Craig /Prince Harry lookalike, 3.5 years and won't even FLIRT with strangers because I'm his loyal lady! Protect your assets! Your world has imploded due to his extreme selfishness! Remember that! It's not her fault!

Are you well?

inigomontoyahwillcox · 06/11/2022 18:12

We sacked an employee who was harassing a female employee via messaging after an investigation. He was obviously given the opportunity to present his case - but the messages can't lie.

His work have to follow a prescribed process (inc being allowed to bring a colleague or union rep to the meetings ... it can't just be anybody though), which follows the ACAS guidelines for grievances/disciplinary investigations - but from what you've said it does sound like it could result in his dismissal.

user1471457751 · 06/11/2022 18:12

It's a bit difficult to believe you don't blame her when you've said you want to physically hurt her. Imagine wanting to physically hurt a victim of harassment because she's a victim of harassment. How fucked up is your thinking? Your husband is scum - and if his company has any decency they will fire him (and hopefully he will also be reported to the police).

I'm really sorry your husband has done this to you. But it is your husband who has done this. Not his victim.

2021mumma · 06/11/2022 18:13

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Northernlight22 · 06/11/2022 18:13

He really needs to speak to his union but the text messages don’t sound great. Sorry OP

Womencanlift · 06/11/2022 18:16

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I think you are on the wrong thread

lifeturnsonadime · 06/11/2022 18:22

Buildingthefuture · 06/11/2022 17:56

@Quveas you have no obligation to tell them WHO will be accompanying you. You can chose whoever you want. Your union rep, a colleague, your wife, your neighbour, a local stripper, it’s up to you. And if you chose your solicitor, they cannot stop you. None of which takes away from the fact that ops DH might indeed be a sex pest….

Building you are completely wrong about this.

There is no right to be accompanied by anyone other than a work colleague or a trade union rep.

www.acas.org.uk/disciplinary-procedure-step-by-step/step-4-the-disciplinary-hearing#:~:text=The%20right%20to%20be%20accompanied,be%20made%20in%20good%20time.

Some employers may allow it but most would not.

AdoraBell · 06/11/2022 18:22

@2021mumma looks like you’ve posted on the wrong thread.

HowzAboutIt · 06/11/2022 18:23

I'm engaged to a Orc and he's beautiful

Well I hope it isn't Oswald the Orc as he is MINE - MINE I TELL YOU!!!!

5128gap · 06/11/2022 18:25

Buildingthefuture · 06/11/2022 18:05

@5128gap…..that just isn’t true. A lot of industries don’t have a TU rep…you can be accompanied by anyone you see fit….

Its not the company that has the TU rep. Any employee who is in a TU can contact their union when they need assistance and are allocated a representative by the union itself. Sometimes that person is also an employee of the company, but sometimes not, but the union itself is not laid on or otherwise by the company.
Really, you shouldn't keep insisting something that isn't correct. If the OPs H turns up with 'anyone he sees fit' rather than a rep or colleague, they will be refused and he will have no one. (It would serve him right mind, but that's not the point, and I wouldn't want anyone else misled by your error)

Yesthatismychildsigh · 06/11/2022 18:25

HowzAboutIt · 06/11/2022 18:23

I'm engaged to a Orc and he's beautiful

Well I hope it isn't Oswald the Orc as he is MINE - MINE I TELL YOU!!!!

😂😂😂

slightlysnippy · 06/11/2022 18:25

I dismissed someone a couple of years ok for similar behaviour , chap contacted a female colleague everyday for two years using company tools and his personal email. HR said it was a easy dismissal decision, so I'd be surprised if he keeps his job,

Not sure why he is not allowed to contact union rep, he is allowed someone to attend all the investigation meeting's with him

Yesthatismychildsigh · 06/11/2022 18:27

@Howzaboutit - it is nearly full moon.

5128gap · 06/11/2022 18:28

slightlysnippy · 06/11/2022 18:25

I dismissed someone a couple of years ok for similar behaviour , chap contacted a female colleague everyday for two years using company tools and his personal email. HR said it was a easy dismissal decision, so I'd be surprised if he keeps his job,

Not sure why he is not allowed to contact union rep, he is allowed someone to attend all the investigation meeting's with him

There's no right to be accompanied to investigation meetings only the disciplinary.
You're right he should not have been told not to contact his TU. That procedural error on their part could cost them.

Yellowbird54321 · 06/11/2022 18:32

Erm, what's an orc?

VivX · 06/11/2022 18:34

What a shock it must have been to you. I have sympathy for you and the woman at your husband's workplace. Your husband, on the other hand, appears to have spent the last two years harassing another woman and almost certainly he'll lose his job. So, as PPs have said, he'd be better to resign straightaway.

It seems unlikely that your marriage will survive this. But concentrate on getting your affairs in order first. Good luck.

namechanging21 · 06/11/2022 18:36

Yesthatismychildsigh · 06/11/2022 18:27

@Howzaboutit - it is nearly full moon.

Dunno about the full moon but we've definitely drifted into the twilight zone! I'm now trying to picture the Orc love child of Daniel Craig and Harry...

crumbsneverdid · 06/11/2022 18:37

I can't get over him telling you he didn't know who it was about!

That poor women. I've been harassed and it's no fun. Can't imagine what it would be like to work with someone who does this. Thank god she found the strength to go to her employer; couldn't have been easy, and how many times must she have told him this was going to happen, and he still didn't stop?! He certainly risked it all!

You have my sympathy OP, I hope you find the strength to leave this man or to find him the help he clearly needs.

Megifer · 06/11/2022 18:37

Buildingthefuture · 06/11/2022 18:05

@5128gap…..that just isn’t true. A lot of industries don’t have a TU rep…you can be accompanied by anyone you see fit….

This is woefully incorrect.

Op yes you can probably expect him to be dismissed.

He should be given the evidence they will be referring to in the investigation though, bit strange they haven't referenced any on the invite. He should request this and for the investigation to be rearranged so he can prepare.

My non-HR advice is he should resign, it might not stop the process but at least he'd look like hes now trying to do the right thing by wanting to avoid putting everyone through it.

And fgs don't tell him he can take anyone in the disciplinary with him. Yes employers are advised to be reasonable and consider companions that are not union rep/fellow employee but that would be for an unusual situation e.g. someone with a disability affecting their comms who wants to take a friend who understands how their disability manifests. Certainly not in this situation.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 06/11/2022 18:39

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

What? That poor woman!

OhIdoLike2bBesideTheSeaside · 06/11/2022 18:40

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.

This is excellent advice
She maybe doesn't even know you exist

LIW4 · 06/11/2022 18:42

Your right
Thanks so much

OP posts:
Christinatherabbit · 06/11/2022 18:42

Have you any idea where he has been for the hour and half daily he's been missing for? There is a lot you are in the dark about here and you need to try and get to the bottom of it all. Like others half said this woman should not be the one you are directing your anger towards. It must have been a terrible shock so I can appreciate your head must be all over the place.

CentralPennsylvania · 06/11/2022 18:42

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😂

maddy68 · 06/11/2022 18:43

Firstly. The only person he should be communicating with IS his union rep. Also on many household insurances you have a legal advice line. Call it.

As for the rest that's up to you. But for now he needs your support , the rest can come later