No contact outside of work hours

[liv4321S]

Hello, wondering if someone can help me please.

I am a civil servant and have recently been suspended. Work have informed everyone of my suspension AND told everyone to remove me off of all social media platforms and to make no contact with me what so ever.

I on the other hand have been given different instructions, I have been told not to speak to anyone about the suspension. Why have I been told different? I'm sure this in breech of the human rights act.

Is this even legal?

Thanks in advance.

In what way would this breach your human rights? If you're suspected of misconduct in a work environment and you may try to influence proceedings then it seems fairly standard to advise you not to be in contact with colleagues. However there may be GDPR issues about telling others you've been suspended and they shouldn't contact you because that involves disclosing personal data, so they would need to have robust rationale to justify that. I would hope civil service would be knowledgeable enough about that but you may have specific information that counteracts that?

If any rights are being breached surely it's theirs?

Their employers shouldn't be telling them who they can/cannot have on their social media.

Human rights act article 8 states right to a private life without interference. They have interfered haven't they.

Surely they can tell people not to speak to me about the suspension but not to completely block me out?

And if if they can do this, why are my instructions different?

This is the first time anyone had known this to happen. I can recall 4 suspensions of other people and no one was told anything or to not do anything regarding them.

Thanks

Exactly what I'm thinking here.

You username has me in stitches hahaha

Who has told you about the social media? Are you 100% sure that's true?

The two people that have spoke to me. They sat in the meeting.

Honestly, I think it's going to depend on the reason for the suspension and the nature of the allegations/investigation. And specifically whether it may involve other colleagues. Potentially your (and your colleagues') rights to privacy are in play, unless there's a justification as to why they should advise no contact. I would think it'd be quite a high bar to say no contact and it shouldn't be the automatic advice given, but it could be appropriate if the allegations are of a nature that could be influenced by contact between employees or even collision.

Compared to what others have been suspended for in the recent year, mine is very low level and the others were not treated as I have been.

It's just weird that I have been told differently, surely if that was the case I should have been told to remove everyone. And people who have been suspended before should have had the same treatment because the severity of there was off the scale compared to mine.

It makes sense you'd be frustrated then. And it's concerning how common knowledge it seems to be when people are subject to disciplinary procedures - in my CS experience it's always been kept very quiet. So there might be a wider confidentiality issue in your department.

With your specific issue, the only thing I'm left thinking of severity isn't the cause, then there's something they think might have gone on with other colleagues or that colleagues could be called as witnesses. Does that resonate at all?

And if you're in a union, please speak to them. Or staff council if you're not in a union. You're going to need support on this.

One other involved. There still at work. But surly that could altar the investigation alone? If the didn't want any form of contact between then everyone involved should have been removed

Hmmm. That is odd then in terms of contact. It sounds as though they've determined that whatever you're accused of is more serious than the other person, hence the suspension. But I'd expect them to explain that to you. Do you have union membership at all? You really do need their support in this if at all possible.

You need to speak to a union rep, I would think you would be better off with an area rep than one who works in your office. Were you marched out by investigators or just told by your manager? We obviously don't know what you have been suspended for, if it is something like bullying or theft then it would most likely be by your manager, or if it is something like breaking the official secrets act or falsifying records then it is more serious & would involve being marched out. There will be a hearing either way & having a union rep to represent you would help, the union can also provide a solicitor if need be as well.

You could query with HR if this advice is OK. Maybe your manager is acting beyond their remit?

Yeah I have a union and they're shocked themselves and come to a loss at why they have done this to me.

I was walked out, no one has contacted me since other than my union.

They tried to investigate me for numerous different things before this but never had the grounds. I think it's a witch hunt if I'm honest.

Someone else has just been suspended for FAR worse and I mean bad! But no one's been told to remove them. I just really do not understand.

I reported it first and was told to shut my mouth by the manager. The second involved then reported it an hour later to the same manager and was took serious, why wasn't I? I reported it first yet I'm now treated the way I am.

Can I ring my HR department?

Why not? - or even better phone and ask for a contact and put your questions in writing in an email so they are accountable for the advice given.

Good idea @Winter2020 then I've got my evidence and not just what I've been told!!