Saying my boss was fiery and unprofessional at times

[joedi2022]

Hey, anyone understand employment law?

I've been under investigation at work for saying my boss came across as fiery and unprofessional at times. I said this in front of another colleague, I was attempting to highlight how he came across at times, the conversation was cordial but the day after it HR wrote to me to tell me I was under investigation and if it was proven I did make these comments it would lead to dismissal.

I genuinely thought this was a huge mistake, but it appears not.

I can provide evidence of this fineness and unprofessionalism, but HR weren't interested they said that the investigation was into whether or not I said this and nothing else, this is a public sector organisation.

I'm worried sick about losing my job and only income, anyone with any employment law experience can offer any advice?

The letter you have received will have said 'could' lead to dismissal.

Once the investigation is completed they will decide whether it proceeds to a disciplinary hearing.

If that finds against you the outcome will be determined by how seriously they take it.

Dismissal results either in repeated cases of misconduct or if it's gross misconduct - based on what you've told us I don't think it's gross misconduct.

Again based on what you've said you might be looking at a written warning.

If you want HR to look into your boss behaviour then you need to lodge a grievance.

I also think “comes across as….” is very different to “is” fiery and unprofessional.

No of course I don’t. Like everyone else on the thread I am basing my comment on what the OP has written. No need for the snotty comment.

But the OP hasn't in any way stated what they said or how they said it. So, as I pointed out, there is a vast difference between an opinion and what might actually have been said. Given the OP has said next to nothing then there isn't much to base your opinion that it is "very childish" or "fiery behaviour". For all we know it is the OP's approach that is "childish" or "fiery". I would agree that the story seems somewhat bizarre, but that may be because there is so little of it. Certainly, I am, as I said previously, stunned that HR would proceed to a formal investigation based on the little that the OP has said - a "cordial conversation". So there must be an awful lot of information missing or a completely inept HR department. And much as I frequently dislike our HR, I couldn't ever describe them as inept. Sneaky, two-faced and prone to collusion yes, but inept, no.