Constructive dismissal and feeling depressed...

[KittyCat8]

My first post! But not a nice one I'm afraid...

I started a new job in August, just before finding out we were expecting our first. Unfortunately we were hit with hyperemesis from early on and I had to take a few days sick leave... which did NOT go down well with the owner of the company.
My line manager had approved my working from home on the days I couldn't make it in, but the CEO has made my life a living hell because I'm expecting... The names he was calling me, because I dared to be pregnant after only a few weeks of employment! After a month of abuse, bullying, harassment and mental torture I resigned last week on my solicitor's advice, citing constructive dismissal. We're trying to reach a compromise agreement but I know this man and I don't think he's going to pay a thing...

I am now at home searching for a new job, but feel I'm getting very depressed... The combination of the nasty things that were said - plus the fact that we need the money, never mind the credit crunch with related job scarcity, make me very miserable... I know I'm better off out of there BUT I'm still not sleeping at night from worry...
I'm trying to find a local job on a 4 / 5 month contract to tide me over until baby arrives, but I'm so demotivated right now I don't even want to get off the couch... Has anyone else been in this situation? How did you cope? Any advice?

Kitty welcome and sorry you've been having such a rough time.

Have you raised a grievance about this internally, or are you doing that currently? Has your solicitor discussed claiming sex discrimination as well as constructive dismissal?

oh kitty, don't let the b....... CEO grind you down - that is just what he wants to do, to take the fight out of you. I can understand your worry and sleepless nights about finding a new job in current conditions . It is very hard. Also, your pregnancy hormones are running riot - please take one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. Do you have a dp who can share your burden?

Hey Kittycat. I've had similar. I was close to being promoted to the board when the new MD found out i'd had a number of m/c's. from that moment on my life was hell, lots of bullying and attempts to demote me. I eventually got signed off sick by my GP as soon as I got pg again, because she felt I was at risk of intolerable stress and potential harm to baby if I remained in work environment. Spent whole of pg back and forth to company pursuing grievance claim.

TBH it is really very stressful going through something like this - I struggled and I am normally a v.fierce person. If I could have had a quid for every night that I woke up despondant at 2 in the morning I would be pretty rich.

You just have to remember that you haven't done anything wrong and cling to that. If you let them get you down over it all then they are winning, . A bully is a bully is a bully - remove their kicks by keeping yourself together and you remove their oxygen.

The other thing to focus on is that when it comes to legal battles it is a game of chess. If you take it personally you will struggle, no matter what gets thrown at you, you must try to view it dispassionately. And if you can try always to put yourself in his shoes and work out what he is thinking - that way you can anticipate how he will react and beat him.

If you have a good case you will win, regardless of what is thrown at you. And he will suffer. Try to keep your head up and come post on here when you need support.

Good luck x

Oh, and my career did not suffer long term, and I eventually got a compromise agreement of more than my annual salary, and 2 years later, the MD was about to be offered a board role in a big multinational, when the board suddenly withdrew the offer, apparantly because they found out about his 'difficulties' in treating staff appropriately It was a dish served very very cold....

Hello kitty sorry you are having such an awful time. please take care of yourself, no job is worth your sanity or your health & you have a lovely baby on the way.
I've been through a very stressful time since returning to work but it has made me so strong, maybe too much so .
You have your lawyer to worry about your case and you've all of us here to help- you've got flowery here too, so you're sorted, case closed
adore your story squiffy btw.