Workplace hell

[TealWriter]

Need some advice pls
work in the NHS, work culture is toxic, we have lost 2 people in two weeks due to supervisor and management not doing anything about bullying, it’s total chaos with everything, we’re in housekeeping, supervisor has no clue, and it has come to light this supervisor has been writing in a handover book to another supervisor about staff, slagging people off, when these people have been bending over backwards to cover shifts! It’s like a kick in the teeth! I think this said supervisor is not fit for the roll and has no idea to manage her staff.

its a whole A4 page of bitching, do you think we should go to HR about it?
Or tackle her straight about it, one staff member has also gave in her resignation today and called in sick due to mental health.

Take photos as evidence - it might mysteriously disappear if she realises it’s been seen. Then take evidence to HR.

Yes picture has been took! Do you think HR will do anything?

@TealWriter are you in a union? If not, join asap. Make notes of everything. Then get a meeting set up with HR, take the union rep, and get them to deal with it. Writing derogatory comments about staff, if it's not something like 'x didn't do y' , could fall foul of several employment laws so yes, HR will have to act or give a bloody good reason why not.

Be aware that hr will probably turn this back on you. By simply saying that you shouldn’t be taking pictures of the handover book because of ‘xyz’ reason.
Unless you want to leave/be managed out it’s not worth raising a fuss over as it’ll be easier for them to make it a ‘you’ problem rather than actually deal with a problem supervisor.

I had similar issues with an NHS job recently. It was truly awful and for the first time in my life I actually dreaded going to work.
I took the first opportunity I could to get out which was a temp agency job,because nothing was worth the grief on that level, and I haven't looked back. Some toxic work cultures are so embedded that sadly they can't be changed.

What exactly do you want HR to do?

It's like something from Mean Girls 😉

I don't think it's at all appropriate & yes I think it needs to be shown to manager. At least make it clear staff have helped & that this is not actually a true reflection.

Your trust will have a freedom to speak up guardian (their details should be on the intranet) you should be able to contact them confidentially or even anonymously to raise this if you can't speak to your manager. They should be able to help you look at options which might include union / HR / higher management and work out what would be most helpful.

Now I believe what they say about the nhs and its toxic environment, so much bitterness and jealousy, I just can’t get my round it all, especially the note in the book! It’s hit one girl really hard and she rang in sick today, it’s making me feel ill too, and I’m on A/L this week! Dreading going back Monday!

There will also be a bullying and harassment policy about somewhere you can have a look at which will likely include steps that should be taken to support.

You might also want to get some general support from occupational health if it's causing stress or from an external support service (your ICB might provide wellbeing support, usually tells you on their website).

If you're supposed to be on annual leave this week why do you even know who called in sick today or what workplace drama has happened today?

That's your takeaway from this?!

Have you heard of WhatsApp? Or the internet? People use them to communicate with each other. HTH.

one Lady complained about her being bullied not long ago management didn’t do a lot, spoke to the others had a meeting in the end the lady left for another job, so did another and one has now resigned also, it’s management that are the problem they just sweep it under the carpet!

If the op is dreading going back to work because she has such poor boundaries that she's been enmeshed in workplace drama whilst on annual leave, that's her responsibility not her employer's.

The first thing OH or an EAP or any other professional will advise is that she takes responsibility for her own wellbeing and establishes appropriate boundaries and self care. Spending your week off getting worked up about stuff happening at work when you're not there isn't any of those things.

Contact HR and the union pronto. If not for you then for the sake of your colleagues

Thanks all will think about what I’m going to do. 😁

Ahh the good old toxic nhs work culture

Simple hr rule
The company is the first priority
Then managers, then middle managers
Then office staff
Then manual staff and cleaners

If you want to cause a ruckus higher up you need solid proof or it will be your arse on the line at some point