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Original poster

Employment law advice recommendations please

36 replies

BetsyBobbins · 24/05/2023 13:15

Hi there.

NC for this.

I've been suffering with a bully at work for over three years now. It didn't used to be that bad when my previous team manager was in post but we have a new team manager who started last September and it's his first team management job. He's very wet behind the years and also that kind of of person who is extremely non confrontational and happy clappy positive all the time.

The bully is a classic narcissist and very clever, she's a clinical psychologist, so her bullying leaves no traces obviously. If confronted she will DARVO (it's happened before). This person has a got a reputation for bullying people out of their jobs and she's been there for years.

It got to the point where I'm currently signed off sick with stress. I tried to raise this with my team manager (I needed to tell him I was going to be off sick) and at first he didn't believe me. Fair point, I'm not asking him to believe me but he could have at least listened. However all he did was to digress and virtually victim blame me, ie, "Only you can make you feel bad about yourself, I don't give anyone that kind of power", and I was like WTF I'm hearing? .

Is there any place besides Acas for employment advice? I tried my local CAB but all they did was to point me to Acas. I'm joining my union asap but I'm also prepared to pay for a consultation with an employment law lawyer but wouldn't know where to start looking for one.

Sorry for the long post and any help appreciated, thank you.

OP posts:
sadieshavingashindig · 26/05/2023 10:32

OP, do you have home insurance? Might be worth checking your policy in case you have legal cover included, which you may have forgotten about

Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 26/05/2023 10:46

sadieshavingashindig · 26/05/2023 10:32

OP, do you have home insurance? Might be worth checking your policy in case you have legal cover included, which you may have forgotten about

OMG! I do have and it includes legal help. Thank you so much for reminding me. Even if it's just a consultation it's already worth it.

OP posts:
supercatlady · 26/05/2023 10:52

I found the union next to useless. I joined well before the issue started, but they seemed disinterested, even when it got to the point of being offered a settlement agreement in response to a bullying claim.
OP my advice would be to check the company policies on bullying and follow them to the letter and hold the company to account to do the same.
also check your home insurance as you may have free legal cover through that.

supercatlady · 26/05/2023 10:53

Ps our home insurance cover supported my husband including representation at tribunal - best of luck

Original poster
BetsyBobbins · 26/05/2023 10:56

supercatlady · 26/05/2023 10:53

Ps our home insurance cover supported my husband including representation at tribunal - best of luck

Thank you, I do have legal cover through house insurance and will investigate this.

OP posts:
Whatyoutalkingabouteh · 30/05/2023 22:10

Redannie118 · 24/05/2023 13:59

@Quveas thats absolute rubbish.I used to be a union rep( as did my husband) and pretty much everyone who joins does so because they have an ongoing issue. The moment you join you are elligible for help and support for whatever issues you have. Its spreading rubbish like this that stops people getting the help and support they need.

OP - as well as the standard on-the-ground help your union will give you, they will most likely have a free legal advice line manned by trained legal advisors. Ask your rep for contact details.

Not the case everywhere I’m afraid. Our unions will not represent until been in the union 6 months… which I find ridiculous as people tend to join when they need support

Ellecheshire2023 · 21/08/2023 06:50

Looking for some advice if anyone has any previous experience.

I was recently made redundant but i don’t believe it to be fair or genuine. I started working for the company about 8 months ago. I passed my probation at 6 months and was given a pay rise with the rest of the company in April.

I did sit down with my employer and stress concerns that i did not feel very secure in my
job. I was assured that they were very happy with my work and that the company was fine and that i had nothing to worry about.

I then found out i was pregnant. Due to a few complications i told work earlier than planned. My boss did pull me in the kitchen one day and asked me if it was a coincidence i was announcing i was pregnant not long after passing probation alluding to the fact if i had still been in my probation period my pregnancy would have been an issue.

A few weeks later i went for my 12 week scan and unfortunately found i was in the process of miscarrying.

A couple of weeks ago my boss sent me a text saying “when i get back to the office can we have a quick chat” He took me in the communal kitchen and closed the door he then said “it’s not working we need to let you go” “kind of last in first out” (i was not the last person to join the company). I asked if they would like me to work notice he said no you can pack your desk and go now. I was so stunned i couldn’t really respond.

I really believe this to be discrimination under the equality act and this is all to do with my pregnancy and the company are worried i will get pregnant again.

Anyone offer and advice ?

Thanks so much in advance

Igmum · 21/08/2023 07:08

Hi Elle, so sorry this has happened to you. I have no advice about this but suggest you start your own thread otherwise people won't see this

Aprilx · 21/08/2023 15:07

Ellecheshire2023 · 21/08/2023 06:50

Looking for some advice if anyone has any previous experience.

I was recently made redundant but i don’t believe it to be fair or genuine. I started working for the company about 8 months ago. I passed my probation at 6 months and was given a pay rise with the rest of the company in April.

I did sit down with my employer and stress concerns that i did not feel very secure in my
job. I was assured that they were very happy with my work and that the company was fine and that i had nothing to worry about.

I then found out i was pregnant. Due to a few complications i told work earlier than planned. My boss did pull me in the kitchen one day and asked me if it was a coincidence i was announcing i was pregnant not long after passing probation alluding to the fact if i had still been in my probation period my pregnancy would have been an issue.

A few weeks later i went for my 12 week scan and unfortunately found i was in the process of miscarrying.

A couple of weeks ago my boss sent me a text saying “when i get back to the office can we have a quick chat” He took me in the communal kitchen and closed the door he then said “it’s not working we need to let you go” “kind of last in first out” (i was not the last person to join the company). I asked if they would like me to work notice he said no you can pack your desk and go now. I was so stunned i couldn’t really respond.

I really believe this to be discrimination under the equality act and this is all to do with my pregnancy and the company are worried i will get pregnant again.

Anyone offer and advice ?

Thanks so much in advance

As previous poster said, you really should have started a new thread not post on the end of an unrelated one as people might miss your post.

I don’t want to be insensitive but to just focus purely on your rights, how long as it between your miscarriage and your dismissal? As I read it, I cannot really see that it could be argued that this was discrimination.

Did they at least pay you your notice even if they stated you didn’t need to work it? If they didn’t, then sounds like wrongful dismissal.

prh47bridge · 21/08/2023 19:23

I find @Ellecheshire2023's post confusing. She says she has been with the company about 8 months, but also implies she passed probation in April. If probation lasted 6 months, that would mean she must have been with them about 10 months. However, the sequence after that is that she finds out she is pregnant, informs work who imply it would have been a problem if it had come up during probation, then finds she is miscarrying at the 12-week scan. If she passed probation in April, that would suggest she miscarried last month and was dismissed near the beginning of this month.

That sounds to me like she may have a case for discrimination, but she would need to consult a lawyer who specialises in employment law to see if she has enough evidence to support such a claim. If they didn't pay her in lieu of notice, she certainly has a claim for that.

Ellecheshire2023 · 22/08/2023 12:16

Hi there,

Thanks for this yes i wrote it quite late. Yes you’re right with timeline. I miscarried middle of june and was back at work approx 2/3 weeks then they let me go with no warning. There had been no mention of my work being a problem and they said it was due to a down turn of work but i left on the friday and they advertised 3 new jobs on the monday not for my role but i believe i could have done them. I also still had access to the diary and it’s full of work 🙈

Thanks

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