What to expect being a key witness in a bullying grievance

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just that really.

i don’t want to give too many details away in case it is outing.

i work closely with the individual who has raised the complaint. I just want to prepare myself for what the next steps may be.

If this is an internal workplace grievance then you’ll be invited to an investigation meeting and asked to provide your recollection of any relevant events. You are not being investigated, the situation is and you should just recount the facts as you know them. These interviews are usually conducted by a manager who is unrelated to the events so is unlikely to be named as someone who saw them happening or who was actively a part of them. What they are trying to establish in the early days is whether there is cause for the grievance to be made into formal disciplinary process.

Agree with the above.

The role of the investigation and hearing manager is just to establish the facts of what went on and will be impartial to the case.

Is there anything in particular you’re nervous about op?

Thank you @InfoSecInTheCityand @Iocanepowder

@Iocanepowderi think I’m just finding the whole thing very stressful. I am still working with all people involved. I’m also pregnant and tired/hormonal and trying to protect the baby from stress ☹️

Then I suppose the best thing to do is what is needed anyway, you stick to giving facts of what you witnessed rather than biased opinions or speculation. And then leave it at that.

Also relay your fears to the hearing manager as it is their job to reassure you.

As @Iocanepowder said, keep your comments entirely factual.

Dont say things like ‘I think she was feeling a bit upset by….’ Or ‘I’ve heard that xxx told xxxx something and that might have upset xxxx’.

Keep it to statements of fact:

• I saw this happen on this date, at this time, in this place.
• Imwas present for a conversation between xxx and xxx, this is what I remember xxx saying to xxx
• when I heard it, I perceived the tone to be angry/patronising//happy/professional
• I am aware that xxx was also present for the event and may be able to provide more information

They should interview everyone concerned , you should not make assumptions, or give any information that you don’t absolutely know to be correct.

Are you senior to the person making the complaint? I mention this because depending on what happened there may be an expectation you should have intervened.

@LadyLapsang I am more junior than the people involved.

thanks @InfoSecInTheCity @Iocanepowder these are good tips. I will keep everything factual and will look to note down dates/times/incidents on Monday.

One thing I have observed is that this person (the bully) can be very nasty / rude to other people too and coincidentally they are always women (bully is a man). Is this something you think I should mention?

I was a key witness and I told the truth, meaning one of our seniors was found guilty of bullying and harrassment. . It has been difficult as my old boss moved on, but I still have to work with the person I spoke out against. But I don’t regret it, and to be fair to senior manager, we still are polite, even though she knows what I said about her. I was interviewed and that was my involvement done. Ex boss was very grateful I stuck to my word that i’d speak out if she brought a grievance against senior boss.

There might be someone in the meeting from HR as well as a unrelated manager. Notes are taken then you might be asked back later to confirm what you said was true to sign off those notes officially. Just going off my own experience as I worked for quite a large organisation. I was totally stressed out by the process too as I found it to be very disruptive to normal working relationships.