Suspended from work!

[BeckiF]

Maybe W & R can help me here. I am a manager and went back to work today after Xmas break and was taken straight up to the conference room where a string of allegations were made against me and I have been suspended on full pay. The allegations range from the ridiculous (i.e we only play my choice of music in the office, when I'm in a bad mood the office suffers etc. etc.) to the serious (i.e I have touched this male member of staff on the back of the neck. We are a tactile office and there are others far more tactile than I).

I am devestated and in utter shock. I am not able to talk to anyone from work except my director, and yet this guy remains at work and could be saying goodness know what. I've been there 2 years and he has been there 6 months and has already been moved from one dept as he wasn't up to scrathc and I agreed to have him in my office! This is the thanks I get.

What is my position?

sympathy...know how that feels

Oh Becki - I think they are taking a scattergun approach and hoping that something will 'stick'. BTW, did you read about the case where a woman who was dismissed for abuse of the company's internet by sending and receiving loads of personal e-mail (some of them were sexually explicit to and from her lover). the tribunal found that she should have received a warning and not been dismissed and she was awarded about £25,000. I know that figure is probably just headline grabbing and she probably ended up with a fraction of the sum, but I thought you would be pleased with the principle of the decision!

I think the best bet is to just write back politely but firmly denying any accusations and stating that you are entitled to the payment under the contract and if they fail to pay it, you will make a claim to an employment tribunal for unlawful deductions. You can tell thenm that they can take this letter/e-mail as a formal grievance being raised by you, however, you do not wish to attend a hearing as it is not in the interest of your health, however, if they ask, in good time, for any additional information then you will do your best to provide it before they consider your grievance.

Out of interest, do you know which organisation is advising the company on employment matters? Is it Croners?

nightowl, what is happening with your tribunal claim - have you had a hearing already?

later this year sis, have had the case discussion and papers have now all been submitted. they have made themselves look like the bumbling fools they are the last couple of weeks. came out with lots of lies but no evidence to back it up. still winds me up though.

Yes Sis, is it Croners. I have written back saying things are getting farsical, and given info as to the dates they say I was off (one set of dates starts on a Saturday!!), and reiterated I just want my record cleared and monies due to me ... got yet another e-mail from the MD asking was I going to be attending a meeting on Friday (when I've already told them 3 times that I won't be attending any further meetings!!). I dunno ... I've got plenty of time to go through it all and I won't give up, and have told them that I won't be intimidated. I have remained polite throughout though (as hard as it as to be so!).

Keep referring back to your letter which said you won't be attending work for meetings/hearings etc. Keep at it - as you say, they seem to be trying to wear you down but I suspect they are wearing down the poor advisers at Croners instead!

Hiya Sis - am further delighted that this morning on checking e-mails I sent dp from work, there are mails that cover me for ALL the days that they say that I wasn't there!!! HURRAH!!!

Sis - I have an e-mail from my ex-employers that includes this, is it true:-

In relation to your beliefs that you have been treated differently to other employees we can not deal with this under the grievance procedure but will give this due consideration during your appeal against disciplinary action.

Do let me know!!!

If the complaint is about being treated differently at a disciplinary hearing then it would make sense to consider it at the disciplinary appeal hearing. If the appeal is successful, then the situation will have been rectified and you will no longer have been treated differently. On the other hand, they are leaving themselves open to claims of failure to follow the proper procedure refusing to consider something that you raised as a grievance, under the grievance procedures. I think they are tied up in knots over the whole situation now and are as confused as we are!

I think the best bet wouold be to write back as repeat that you have raised it as a grievance and want it considered under the appropriate procedures and if the company will not do so, then they should do you the courtesey of telling you why. You may also want to mention that you feel that the company seem, at best to have been obstructive in the manner they are handling your complaints and appeal - particularly in view of the fact that you have already told them that it is adversely affecting your health.

Hiya Sis - well they have gracioulsy let my last day be today. They have tied themselves up a bit, asking for all sorts of info that they have already have. My insureres have passed it over to a solicitor who will let me know if they will take the case on (if they feel they have a 51% or more chance of winning) ... none the less I am out of there, but will not let it be until I get what I feel is justice.

Oh becki at least the employment is now terminated and it is, hopefully one less thing to stress about. I hope all goes well on Monday with the new job and that this lot cough up some money for the stress they have caused!

Nightowl, sorry, i missed your reply earlier in the thread - I hope you will keep us updated on what happens at the tribunal or, hopefully, if the make a reasonable offer. Good luck - at least you know you don't have to worry about getting caught out because you are telling the truth.

Get this! I get a a mail form my old work today telling me that as I didn't provide more info OR attend the grivance hearing they assume I don't want to follow it up! Duurrrr!!! Ive told them about 6 times WHY I won't be attending AND provided the info in the same format as my ex-colleague who raised the initial grievance ... what is WRONG wit this company??!

Becki, I don't think I have a new e-mail address for you but I was wondering how the new job was going.

I hope you wrote back to your ex-employers saying that you do want to follow it up as staed in all your previous correspondence and that as they are saying you didn't attend a grievance hearing - they did actually hold such a hearing so could they let you have the minutes of the hearing and the outcome.