Looking for opinions

[anotherchange12]

I recently left a toxic workplace and am much happier. However, the MD is now attempting to set up a consultancy that includes HR and other things. They did some really really shady things at the workplace - but related to me, they hauled me into a disciplinary meeting for gross misconduct, but I didn’t do anything wrong, and also have clear, written evidence of this from a few sources. Including text and teams conversations clearly disproving it. They’ve done similar to others as well. At the time I just walked as I’d worked there under 2 years and wanted out - I jumped before I was pushed. Purely out of interest how common/legal is it to lie about something an employee has done to get rid of them. Has it happened to anyone else and should people know about this given they are now a director of a company giving HR advice 🤷‍♀️.

I get where you're coming from. However, how do you see this working in practice... how do you imagine "people" would find out what happened to you and your former colleagues? Do you see yourself starting some sort of public fact-sharing campaign against the MD?

If they are a member of a professional body (CIPD?) and they've broken professional standards, you could report them there.

Would you have a strong case for constructive dismissal (which, since you had less than 2 years service, it would have to be for something that was automatically unfair, and you'd also have to be within the deadline). They are very hard to win but that's the usual mechanism for dealing with work situations where you've felt forced to resign.

The other thing is that you've said that you're much happier now. There might be something to be said for letting this go and not giving the MD any more of your headspace.

This is all very sensible! And yes, I should not really give any headspace. And no, I definitely can’t see myself going ‘public’ whatever that means. It was just prompted by a few of my friends saying that I should have taken to further so it can’t happen to others - but definitely too late for all that now. Also interested in experiences of others this has happened to, just out of interest and for a mumsnet chat - is it common?!