Walking back into a ****storm tomorrow

[ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay]

I've been away on holiday for a week, back in the office tomorrow. There was a bit of a crisis happening before I went so I wrapped up as much as I could and did a decent handover. It's all blown up, my boss (CEO) has been sending furious emails and I've spent the week keeping a face on for DH and the DC while lying awake for hours at night thinking about it. My team have handled it like troopers but have also been messaging me and have set up a meeting first thing tomorrow before CEO gets in so I'm not blindsided, bless their thoughtfulness.

I'm going in extra early to clear my desk before my team get in, in case I'm getting fired. I don't know how I'm going to hold it together TBH. I've told DH that it's bad, but not how bad. He just said it's a bank holiday, don't worry about it until tomorrow. I'm tired, my holiday was ruined and I just want to go in and get it over with.

Is there anyone you should report the fudging to? Professional body or regulator?

Is it something like a housing association?

I'm so sorry and hope you find the right thing very, very soon. Once the trust has gone, it's gone.

Is whistleblowing on the horizon?

@ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDay Speak to ACAS to understand your rights. If they leave you in a position where you’re forced to resign, you may have a constructive dismissal case.

I think I'd be sending a carefully worded email pointing out the risks of their behaviour and the fact that you have a regulatory role to carry out, and the ethical duty of that role comes first.

I'd also feel like calling out the mansplaining.

@ThrowMeAwayTheVeryNextDayI’m sorry OP. I will say though, I’m so confused by your update, I thought everything was sorted?

I agree with this.

If you are unable to perform a "legally defined (and legally protected)" role because management is not co-operating, you are entitled to whistleblow. If the company is regulated and requires a licence to operate, your whistleblowing could bring more problems for them than they anticipated.

Depends on whether you have the appetite for an almighty fight. They might pay you to go quietly instead. Get legal employment advice.

I’m sorry to hear this.

You have obligations in your role so keep yourself right - don’t make any regulatory mis-steps for this pair.

Document everything - including setting things in writing for them - it can’t just be verbal.

I had a situation with CEO & other C-suite. I was ready to resign over an ethical matter. I was so angry at first it had even happened but took a day, kept a cool head and laid out the facts and future calmly. Board / regulator / shareholders would become aware. Could they say to all and sundry their approach was correct. That stopped them both in their tracks.

Set it out again in writing. Then assess when the chips fall.

Please make sure that you take legal advice,
this - on the face of it, sounds like constructive dismissal, And if that’s not an accurate representation of what happened- you “may” have a claim.

be kind to yourself xx

So sorry to hear this. No professional advice to give but as others have said be kind to yourself and try to take time to work out and what you want.

It’s hard to say without knowing the nature of the role but I would consider if you need to make a whistleblowing statement through an external confidential channel.

If (say) you’re an auditor and have unearthed something and believe you’re right but it’s being whitewashed by the partner, then I’d definitely do it. Your own reputation is at risk.

If you can get out without this hanging over you in future, then I don’t blame you for that either.

Only you can say but it’s clearly a difficult spot. Good luck OP.

Are you a QP?

If yes I wouldn’t be fucking about and if you don’t know whether you are or aren’t then you are not and don’t worry about it.

If you did the best with the info available and kept him
informed, if the potential outcome was a @@@storm why did s/he leave all with you and not take action?

Whistleblowing was my first thought too.

They are trying to cover up whats happened and I cant help wondering why if all they would need to do is throw the VP under the bus.

What else does the VP know that they are too big to get rid of?

You need legal advice.
Be very careful to document everything that happened today in that meeting, word for word.
Email it to yourself.
I would think they are quite capable of screwing you over.
Legal advice regarding a protected disclosure is wise.
Treat them both as hostile and gather all paperwork, phone logs.
Perhaps ACAS can advise you too.

I haven't read all the messages, but I would not want to work here. Your CEO was unavailable during holiday time, but your holiday was ruined because the office hounded you? It is not worth your health or your peace of mind to be in that environment.

Are the VP and CEO in cahoots??
Depending on the seriousness is there a more senior stakeholder to engage (Board;Chairman) or regulator.
All sounds well dodge

The more I think about this, the more I think that you need to get in as soon as you can before they decide to cut off your access to anything.

Hard copies if possible of all important emails and docs that prove your innocence, and legal advice.

They are hoping to scare you into leaving quietly without dropping them in it.

Can you screenshot emails etc from home/phone, if you are not allowed to download them?

It was sorted if the "facts" that came to light had been the whole story. But they weren't, so if CEO and VP had left well alone when I was off and let my team do their jobs, it would be fine now. Now we have to reverse the reverse and they don't want to because it looks crap.

It's similar to the Mitchum deodorant recall that's just happened. At Mitchum, a change to the manufacturing process had an unexpected effect on the formula and people got chemical burns, so they recalled it. Imagine they knew the product wasn't to spec but no one would know it was them causing the burns and the chance of it happening was miniscule, so they decided not to do anything about it.

There is a regulator but weirdly, the role doesn't come with a whistleblowing or any process for doing it. It's one of the holes left by Brexit.

Do not resign. Constructive dismissal is very hard to prove. Take time out with a sick note. Document everything. They sound like shits.

Good point.

OP, pretend to cooperate and agree with them whilst gathering all your evidence and seeking legal advice.

Don't threaten them or show your cards until you are ready.

So this was all caused by them panicking?

Pretty much. It would have been fine if they'd left well alone. Initial queries from the regulators and eagle-eyed customers, sorted with good communication, then done. Now we have a whole tangle to sort out and no way of coming out of it smelling like roses.

Definitely humour them until you have copies of everything.
Do not resign.
Get legal advice.
Consider the Grievance process and go out sick if necessary.
You need good legal advice.
Do not trust them an inch.

They sound like complete incompetents.
That can make them dangerous.

Sounds like CEO and VP are thinking they will get away with it.......or not......

There may not be official whistleblowing but unless you all signed NDA's, thats all in your and your colleagues hands.

Definitely get legal advice (check your house insurance, you might have cover). Sounds like these two are stupid enough to hang themselves if you play it right.