Is my Aunt being picked on?

[kittya]

I have already posted this on Which questions and answers but Im reposting incase anyone else has any answers as time is clocking on. Sorry, if its long.

My aunt is a carer in the community and due to retire in two years. She has a new boss. Early last year she was accused of stealing a statue from an elderly client and was suspended pending investigations, the statue was then found in the old ladies house and my aunt received a full written apology. Now, someone has accused her of swearing at a client (she doesnt even swear in RL) and been rude, the old lady cant remember which carer it was but said she had blonde hair (my aunt has blondish hair, as do alot of people) her new boss has taken it upon herself to say that it was my aunt and has officially recorded this. It is very upsetting and stressful, as you can imagine. The boss got her in the office and said "thats two incidents on your record now, one more and you are out" this is after 25 years of impeccable service? what should my aunt do? she works for the council. She has been trying to get intouch with her union rep for two weeks and he has never rang her back. She is really suffering and fragile. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

I'm sorry I don't have much advice but that is outrageous talk from your aunt's boss. I would think he/she doesn't have a leg to stand on - the first incidence was proven to be false and in the second case the evidence is unreliable. Your aunt should keep a record of everything that is happening. also keep trying to contact the union and keep a record of that as it may be useful to show that she was taking that action - and the union needs to step up - that she is what she paying into the union for. Good luck.

She said to me tonight shes paid that union for twenty odd years and the rep cant even be bothered to ring her. I would love to give that boss an earfull myself!! if only. Shes 63 and on her own. Shes highly thought of by all her colleagues and is the first one to swop shifts and do overtime when they need her. Its a heartbreaking way to go out of your work life. I cant help but feel that her boss wants her to go, but, I wouldnt know the reason.

Sounds like a nightmare boss. Firstly, the incident last year is not 'on her record', she was found innocent and received an apology, there was no formal warning or anything, so that definitely can't be used against her.

The recent incident, when you say "her new boss has taken it upon herself to say that it was my aunt and has officially recorded this", in what sense is it recorded? Was there a disciplinary procedure? Unless there was and a formal warning was issued, again that's not 'on her record' anyway. And the 'one more and you're out' thing is rubbish as well.

It sounds as though your aunt's boss has got it in for her for one reason or another, is ignorant of proper procedures and is trying to intimidate your aunt.

As she works for the council she will be protected by some quite stringent procedures and is in no danger of being sacked or anything like that, so there's no need to worry about that immediately.

As you say, she has paid an awful lot of money to the union so the first step is to make them work for it. Her rep is useless so she needs to go above his head. The union rep will have a supervisor and a head office and probably a complaints procedure as well. If your aunt knows or can find out the supervisor, that's the first place to start, but the head office of the union is also somewhere to go. Once she's got the union doing something for their money, they should be able to provide reassurance about procedures where your aunt works and hopefully advise her how to deal with her boss. A formal grievance is the obvious route but it's something to consider carefully especially when it's about her line manager.

I would also recommend she speaks to someone in HR in confidence as well. Again they will be able to advise her of how she can deal with the problems she's been having, and reassure her about procedures in place to protect her. It may be that lots of other people have concerns about your aunt's boss and someone needs to be aware of what's happening.

Something else she should do is get hold of the disciplinary procedure and grievance procedure. She will see from those that her boss can't sack her and that there is a mechanism for ensuring disciplinary issues are dealt with fairly, giving the employees the right to representation and appeal. Knowledge is power and that should make her feel a bit more secure hopefully.

Thank you so much. Trouble is that she is getting on abit, I just wish I was there to help her. Ive got a feeling that the company who she works for is contracted by the council but, I could be wrong. I need to speak to her today. The boss sounds like a nightmare, it couldnt be anything to do with the fact that my aunt is over 60 could it?

So she might not be directly employed by the council? In any case to get council contracts companies usually have to show that they have robust policies in place so they should still be there.

Could be her age, don't know. Is there a 'retirement age' do you know? Employees have the right to request to stay on now, perhaps he's trying to put her off doing that? Difficult to say really.

You were right the union man said they should put in a formal grievance.