potential issues at work

[jj19]

hello
my first post here with a small dilemma if anyone might be able to guide me through
a new employee has recently joined the team and seems to have taken a liking to having endless digs at me and seems to have enrolled some of the younger members into this.
While the verbal jabs here and there are hurtful what is really giving me sleepless nights is how cozy he has gotten with our line manager who is also the director of the company..
He is an ex employee who has recently rejoined the team and a close friend of the HOD.
All in you may see my position as rather hopeless however before this came to pass i witnessed two of the main protagonists downloading pornography over the companies WiFi to another unpopular colleagues computer equipment and also browsing his personal history as a "laugh"
I have initially held onto this as i didn't want to alienate myself at the time, but now as it seems they are alienating me anyhow my best form of defense may be attack and make a complaint
I am unsure whether any real action would be taken seeing as they are all so close
As the company in question is a charity i wonder if i would be better off taking it to a charity commission?
Or if anyone would advise where i might be able to take this issue?
many thanks in adv
D

[Inca]

Re: potential issues at work

Hi and to LegalBeagles.......we have people on here who will be able to help you

[Eloise01]

Re: potential issues at work

I would seriously suggest that you not indulge yourself in tit for tat tactics and retribution - it is far more likely to result in backfiring on you. You observed some colleagues downloading porn? Any witnesses that you observed this? Any witnesses that you observed this who won't immediately deny it? So what is to say that YOU didn't do it and are trying to frame others? How about a really good explanation, at the very least, as to why you didn't say something about it at the time - this had to be a breach of company policy, and you kept quiet? Or how about the fact that you all are involved and this is a falling out among thieves? Whatever, I would lay bets on who will be disciplined or dismissed, and you would be at the top of my list.

II don't know what you think the Charity Commission are, but whatever it is that you think, they aren't. They have no regulatory powers over charities except in so far as their charitable activities. Forget whistle blowing - this isn't it, and this isn't a qualifying disclosure.

So you are left with your boss is friendly with the new member of staff. Not unlawful. And not something to have sleepless nights over.

And some amount of unspecified "digs" which, if they bother you that much, put in a grievance. But unless there is something more substantial than a few digs, again it isn't unlawful, and at the very best I would expect nothing more than telling them off. Which may make matters a lot worse.

So unless you can substantiate something more here, my advice would be to rise above it. If they can't see it is annoying you, then they'll likely get fed up.

[jj19]

Re: potential issues at work

Hi thanks
i understand your point of view but perhaps a falling out between thieves with me as the main protagonist blaming others is an over assertion and thankfully incorrect
it is worth considering that people are often afraid to speak out not wishing to be alienated or picked on by the crowd
But thank you it is good to have a look at it from an independent perspective
D

[Eloise01]

Re: potential issues at work

Just to be clear, I am not looking at it from an independent viewpoint. I am looking at it from a legal viewpoint. I am quite aware that you may have been afraid to speak out. I am also, unfortunately, aware that that isn't relevant and won't wash law. I have outlined a credible alternative viewpoint that THE EMPLOYER may take. One that could easily get you dismissed fairly in law.

[jj19]

Re: potential issues at work

Just to be clear, I am not looking at it from an independent viewpoint. I am looking at it from a legal viewpoint. I am quite aware that you may have been afraid to speak out. I am also, unfortunately, aware that that isn't relevant and won't wash law. I have outlined a credible alternative viewpoint that THE EMPLOYER may take. One that could easily get you dismissed fairly in law.

Understood
thankyou once again
i will take your initial advice and rise above it which is essentially what I had been doing
D

[enquirer]

Re: potential issues at work

i will take your initial advice and rise above it which is essentially what I had been doingD

And in the meantime, keep your eyes open.

If you notice any criminal activity by these people - pornography related in particular - try to obtain hard evidence. Jerks like these rarely ever stop, so you may well need a weapon in the future.

[jj19]

Re: potential issues at work

And in the meantime, keep your eyes open.

If you notice any criminal activity by these people - pornography related in particular - try to obtain hard evidence. Jerks like these rarely ever stop, so you may well need a weapon in the future.

will do, i would have thought the company could easily trace the activity log and as it was a personal computer item brought in by the aggrieved probably trace it quite easily to a specific piece of I.T equipment

there are other factors such as constant picking on this colleague for his physical appearance when he is out of the room and blaming me indirectly for any issues within the building also general racist comments (not directed at anyone within the company)
Also there is now a lot of cherry picking of clients leaving me and another having to pull the unpopular thankless shifts
really i suppose its a bit of a top-dog kind of rivalry but i am very easy going so tend to be seen to loose out which is why ideally i would like to appear to be ignoring it but at the same time building a sold case to throw at him/them should i need, dates times and thing said etc
i even had one of them saying i would soon be homeless in a rather snide manner, as i have a family it does play on my mind and rather depress me
If i did need to go outside with my problems seeing as they are all so tight would anyone be able to advise where may be a good start?
i am not currently a member of a union


D

[Inca]

Re: potential issues at work

deleted

[Inca]

Re: potential issues at work

[QUOTE=jj19;351393]will do, i would have thought the company could easily trace the activity log and as it was a personal computer item brought in by the aggrieved probably trace it quite easily to a specific piece of I.T equipment
i think it was done by the younger member to impress the new person however as they had literally just completed community service order days before for being caught hacking in an unrelated to work incident it could be potentially very serious How do YOU know this? Is it true or workplace gossip?
there are other factors such as constant picking on this colleague for his physical appearance when he is out of the room and blaming me indirectly for any issues within the building also general racist comments (not directed at anyone within the companPut in a grievance then,,and name names..Racism should not be tolerated.
Also there is now a lot of cherry picking of clients leaving me and another having to pull the unpopular thankless shifts Speak to the Management,,any such behaviour will be noticeable by the shift pattern
really i suppose its a bit of a top-dog kind of rivalry but i am very easy going so tend to be seen to loose out which is why ideally i would like to appear to be ignoring it but at the same time building a sold case to throw at him/them should i need, dates times and thing said etc
i even had one of them saying i would soon be homeless in a rather snide manner, as i have a family it does play on my mind and rather depress me Again,,speak to the Management..they can't sort out what they don't know about
If i did need to go outside with my problems seeing as they are all so tight would anyone be able to advise where may be a good start ACAS I s'pose?
i am not currently a member of a union Join one ASAP.

The thing is JJ...the advice Eloise01 has given you,whilst it might not sound pretty,is infact the LAW,,Employment Law (she is a Barrister (ret'd).) and although she is very forthright she is also VERY right.

[jj19]

Re: potential issues at work

Thanks , I understand that and have thanked her, I am not here for sympathy but legal advice

i will join a union immediately, not indulge in tit for tat, keep my head down and make extra effort at work. I am still very popular with certain members of staff and will work on that.
I will consider making contact with management in relation to their behaviour. It is difficult when the HOD is also involved they tend to sit there snickering or actively join in on the abuse
I have witnessed a previous member being removed and the way they did it was by first isolating and hen continually undermining that individual.
they all drink together and it feels like they concoct their strategy around the pub table..


thanks again
D

[scoobydoo]

Re: potential issues at work

I think you are doing the right thing. It is difficult, but if you do what you are paid to do, that is do your job to the best of your ability and try and keep out of the sniping then hopefully in the long run their antics may wear thin and hopefully they will get their come uppance in the end. You could keep a diary of events for your own reference if you wish - but try not to get too het up on small detail. In the long run if the management have rules regarding internet use etc then that is up to them to monitor - and they may already be doing that.Hope things improve for you as it must be difficult working in such an atmoshphere.

[Eloise01]

Re: potential issues at work

If I may say so, all other considerations aside, there is something very wrong in an organisation where the chief officer employs someone to shake up the existing staff. And I am not taking sides on who is right or wrong in making that statement - simply pointing out that something is very wrong. I would suggest that you seriously consider getting another job. I sincerely doubt that things are going to get better and I am not sanguine that you will prevail against a management strategy.

[jj19]

Re: potential issues at work

If I may say so, all other considerations aside, there is something very wrong in an organisation where the chief officer employs someone to shake up the existing staff. And I am not taking sides on who is right or wrong in making that statement - simply pointing out that something is very wrong. I would suggest that you seriously consider getting another job. I sincerely doubt that things are going to get better and I am not sanguine that you will prevail against a management strategy.

yes i agree, however there isn't anything in my field locally and i am reluctant to move the family just now, i am unsure why that comment was said as an aside to me, in retrospect i don't think it was directed toward or about me as it could easily be seen as being a clear indication of intent but at this stage who knows but it did make me think.
personally i hope i am still useful enough to the department for them to keep me on as i perform tasks that they are currently seemingly reluctant to, if i can keep my nose clean and head down for another couple of years i should have things in place to be able to move on my own terms
However i am worried whether i would even be able to get a reference as i have seen reference requests from previous employees go largely ignored, making it awkward for them to gain further employment i would imagine
which is a good indication of how matters are often conducted, there isn't any direct attack but more of deliberate ignoring of requests, snide backstabbing and potentially damaging passive inaction, it isn't what they do as much as what they don't if you will
Essentially i hope i am instinctive enough to navigate this without it becoming a race to the bottom
many thanks once again
D