Bullying at work - help!

[WorriedWitch18]

Hi,

I believe I'm being bullied, harassed and targeted at work by another member of staff, I can't go into too much detail but had been happening for approx 5 years

This is a 2nd evening part time job that I work. I've worked there over 10 years, this other person only been there 5. No complaints in my work, I am good at my job, lots of praise from others and customers, I do majority of cleaning, maintenance etc, other person walks around like they're of importance.

I daised a grievance formally at the end of July. I respectfully asked that they did not inform persons name in it of my complaint until I was given a fair chance to meet with the directors, and discuss my case. This request was refused, and one person has disclosed the contents of my grievance to the individuals. This has allowed said persons time to remove ALL EVIDENCE of their behaviour - including paperwork, staff handover paperwork, and start rumours amongst others (I have copies of all evidence as I've been compiling this for a while.

They've refused to acknowledge my Trade Union (not recognised in this employment). I've been waiting on a meeting since July but it's repeatedly been postponed stating he's on holiday, 3rd time in 4 weeks now.

I don't know if I have a legal leg to stand on. I've exhausted channels that I had access to (in house formal grievance policy). I don't know what my next steps are, my Union can only advise me so much as the employer has refused to acknowledge them - and has stopped CC'ing them in their communication.

Help! I'm really stuck, on anti anxiety meds and I'm kind of trapped - it's not as easy as getting another job, I've tried but other places need hours I can't fill - I have a job that I love that is what I'm qualified in, this is a 'top.up' employment and other places offering same job aren't the same hours.

Speak to Acas straight away and tell them what’s been going on and what evidence you have. They should be able to advise you.

It is good that you have managed to keep the evidence you have. It will be some wriggling colleague has to do to explain why you can provide a copy but theirs has suspiciously disappeared

Write everything down. Make sure you have evidence of everything. All conversations with anyone from the company keep in writing

Definitely talk to ACAS and ask to go to early mediation - it will hopefully kick your employer into action.

It’s good you have copies of the evidence. Make sure you have a timeline.

You really cannot expect to raise grievance and then not have the person mentioned in it not be informed. I am with your employer on that and as you have kept your evidence, it really doesn't matter what evidence they have since got rid of.

Your employer has to allow you to involve a Union representative, whether it is a recognised union or not. Do you have a copy of the grievance procedure and can you see where they are not adhering to timelines?

I have copies of nothing relating to any of the employer procedures, they've all been locked away and the person with the key is the person I have raised a grievance against.

I'm not asking for them never to tell the person, I feel they should've been professional about it and listened to what I have had to say and looked at my evidence before informing the other person. Rather than just coming out with Y has raised a complaint against you stating a, b and c. Informing the other individual has allowed them to hide evidence, spread rumours, they're still making accusations. They've also added their name to a rota that I'm rota'd in on, no doubt to make things as uncomfortable as possible, and when I've flagged this as inappropriate given the current circumstances, I was told 'xxxx writes the rotas and they can staff shifts as they see fit'. There's already one person left because of this individual and her behaviour wasn't as extreme as what it is towards me.

I have a call scheduled with ACAS tomorrow morning

I would still maintain that it is not your right to determine how and when they go about their investigations (other than they need to adhere to policy). You are entitled to get a copy of the grievance procedure and you are entitled to involve your union representative, so I would push those two things.

Just a warning. If this bully is someone they rely on greatly in the work place because they are highly skilled , a key holder or maybe related to management they will side with that person . Bullies do what they think they can get away with . If this is the case for you then I would look for another job .