Bullying in the workplace

[Wilds96]

Hello everyone,
looking for some guidance if possible please. There’s many events that have lead up to this point but recently it has become too much.
I was informed I tested positive for covid by OH as part of our weekly screening, I call the manager to inform her. She literally says “ because you’ve not had your vaccine have you”. I said actually i did decide to and had my first dose and she responded “well when was that then”. The whole call was completely cold and almost angry. Anyway, fast forward one hour a colleague from another section messages me asking how I am and that everyone is being reswabbed - my manager had told everyone I was positive.

Throughout my time being employed by this particular department I have been treated, in my opinion, very poorly. The manager has disclosed things I asked her not to share (bullying within the unit) which led to me being further ostracised by others. I am one of the youngest on the team (nursing) and feel the manager takes her frustrations out on me as the older and longer standing members of the team do not ‘fall in line’ for her. It’s almost if the manager gets managed. She often humiliates me in front of patients and other members of staff

Where do I stand with all this? I’ve kept a diary of events totalling about 2-3 significant events each month. Should I be keeping a more detailed log even with the ‘smaller things’? Where do I stand with my private information being shared? Should she have asked or questioned my vaccine status in the way she did?
Many thanks,
W

[ULA]

How long do you believe the bullying has been going on? You seem to indicate several months and if so have you raised this with anyone more senior?

[echat11]

Hi Wilds96

It's good that you've get a diary / log of the incidents. Keep doing that. Bullying isn't great, it's demotivating, demoralizing, especially when you are doing your job to the best of you're ability. There are lots of things you can do.

Are you in Unison? Unions aren't my first choice for anything, but they might be a good sounding board for you.

You could raise a 'grievance', but do it informally first, ask for a meeting with her (tell her you are going to take a trusted colleague), make some notes before hand of what you want to say, take them with you, refer to them (easy to get tongue tied, notes always help) explain that you are unhappy, explain why, explain what you would like to change (her attitude etc.). Explain that if it doesn't in the next few weeks, you will raise a 'formal grievance'.
I don't know what rules nurses have, but you could discreetly record the conversation or ask her if you can record it..

[ULA]

The whole purpose of the ET1 is to set out in full and provide details to support the claims you are making in regard to both the unfair dismissal and racial discrimination, otherwise there is the potential that your claim could be struck out for lack of evidence.

What you now need to do is make sure that you complete the CMA and ensure it is sent to the respondent and the Tribunal at least 2 days before the PHR. You need to give yourself time to go through this in as much detail as possible. Given what you have said about the completion of the ET1 then the CMA may allow you at, I think it is point, 2.2 to maybe add further detail to support the racial discrimination part of the claim. You can use 2.3 to request those emails that you would like to be shared.

The issue that you potentially have if they did follow the correct consultation process is to prove that a) it was not a genuine process b) that your position being redundant, under the defined criteria for there to be a genuine redundancy situation were not met.

[Wilds96]

I have told my manager informally many times how I feel about the staff in general, every time I have approached her especially after I left crying one day she said “ I don’t know what to do about what goes on” she then said do I want to be referred to OH I said no thank you - I feel me being upset is related to the bullying that occurs in the unit. Fast forward 3 days, she’s referred me to OH without my consent which I understand she can do, I told OH everything and they cleared me fit to work and stated the manager needs to have a discussion about what goes on within the unit that is causing me upset as they sent me a draft before sending it to her they also agreed with me that this was not an issue for OH. she comes up to me and says “ OH have said everything is fine no adjustments” and walked away. I know at this point I should have been more direct and asked her if we could have the opportunity to address the issues as per the response for OH but I was thrown off by her approach to me and the disregard for the need to discuss ( I don’t think she knows OH sent me a draft). I would say it’s been the last 9 months, there are others who have left because of bullying (one wrote a letter explaining her reasons for leaving (this was over 9 months ago) and another colleague is leaving this week and has verbally told the manager what has been happening and again nothing has been addressed in 2 months. I think I am honestly scared of the repercussions should I make a complaint I think work will become even worse for me and no one is willing to speak up with me which makes it even more difficult. I am not currently part of a union but I know ideally I should be joining one at this stage, the only support I had is from the colleague who is leaving this week in terms of getting someone to accompany me with the manager. I just don’t know what to do going forward

[echat11]

You need to do something, the longer you do nothing, the more it will effect your 'well-being'. Join UNISON, speak to a Rep, they can accompany you to a meeting with her. Once she knows you have support from the UNISON Rep, she will be accommodating in her behavior towards you. But keep on top of the situation. Longer term see if there are any job opportunities in other departments, a fresh start might be good for you

https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/k...nd-harassment/

https://www.bullying.co.uk/bullying-at-work/

[Wilds96]

Thank you for your response I understand that I need to do something but when you’ve seen how it’s been handled for other people who have reported it it makes it even more difficult but i know things can’t continue the way they have been. I will definitely look into unison