Can my employer ban all contact with colleagues after a grievance?

[JellybeansNellybeans]

Long story short, after I submitted a formal grievance at work I was sent a letter informing me I must not have any contact whatsoever with company employees, access company work systems, or enter company premises. Is this allowed?

I can understand they may not wish for me to discuss the grievance with other employees but I would like to be able to talk to my friend (who is also a colleague) outside of work. Would it be unreasonable for me to push back on this?

If it’s out of work, they can’t police what you do.

Have you left?

Sounds like they have suspended you?!

Id be more bothered about that

Would you taking to your colleague give them the opportunity to say you have influenced any investigation that is happening after your grievance? I’d be wary tbh.

Apparently I’m definitely not suspended as I asked them this. Although it very much feels as though I am.

No, I’m currently off sick on the advice of GP

It’s common for workplaces to say the process is confidential and you cannot discuss it but this sounds a bit extreme.

I would ask them for the process, if they routinely advise this during a grievance and also their reasoning as to why it is required… as surely it affects your ability to work?

If you aren’t formally suspended that would be very unusual.

However if you are this is a common clause in certain industries. Your contract should detail this.

Companies dont always follow the correct procedures, especially when someone is off sick. Did you email yourself all the evidence before you raised the grievance? Always a wise thing to do in case they try to bar you from company access (as they appear to have done).

Are you in a union? If not and they have failed to follow the correct procedure you could have a claim against them and there is a possibility of negotiating a payout. If the company is at fault they dont want you continuing to work there and thats the time to lawyer up. A friend of mine got a good payout (and they also had to pay her lawyer) for bullying when they had failed to follow the correct procedure. She used the money to start a business.

YOU put in a grievance about someone else and now you are the one being told to keep away? Are you sure a grievance had not been put in about you also?

Are you able to give an idea of your grievance?

Depemds on your industry. ACAS is very helpful explaining employment law you can ring them.

I don't know, but could it be that you're allowed to contact colleagues via their personal phone numbers and emails, but not via the company ones? That would make sense to me. I don't see how they can policy your personal and social life.

I think it depends on the circumstances; at face value it sounds ridiculous and totally unenforceable. Unless your friend/colleague has anything to do with, or might have in future, to deal with your grievance in which case there could be a conflict of interests. If your friend has nothing to do with your case then I would ignore it and speak to my friend freely. I’m going to guess you work in Education.

This.

If you’re not allowed to access company systems or enter the premises, sounds like they have suspended you?

Did you go off sick to avoid being suspended?

I think we need more info!

Yes more info needed. Seems very strange to do this if you’re just off sick signed off.