unfair dismissal

[smiley]

hi, I was made redundant recently from role that i have held for the last 3 years. I have been put on garden leave for 6 months, i have been put under an extreme amount of pressure, and have been signed off work, with work related stress. I put an appeal and grievance in againest the company for unfair dismissal. The appeal has been overturned, and they have not as yet responded to my grievance, i have had several threatening phone calls from board memebrs, to tell me to drop my case, and this week i have been suspended, from work whilst, they potentially investigate a gross mis-conduct situation into fraud, but given me no details of my apparent wrong doing!! i feel like ive have no where to turn , and want to walk away, however i can not let someone ruin my career as well as my sanity, I feel like ive fallen into a " bad movie", please please, has anyone any advise??

[The Debt Star]

Re: unfair dismissal

Hi, I am very , very sorry to hear how bad things have been for you. First off, you are not the only one that has gone through this. It goes on every day and a lot of people suffer the distress you have described. Believe me. It just feels like you are the only one that has gone though it.

My view is that you should ask to get 30 mionutes free advice from a solicitor specialising in employment law. 'Phone around some local firms or use a google search to locate firms that will offer an initial meeting to see if there is any mileage in bringing a tribunal claim.

You had 3 years' employment so your employer HAD to correctly follow their grievance procedure. Unless there was gross misconduct (which they are investigating). Besides, even if they allege there was GM, and dismiss you, it is up to them to prove it and constructive dismissal cases often focus on these issues, where employers fabricate GM to get rid of an employee who doesn't "fit in " for one reason or another.

On balance, reading what you have said, i would say that you might well have a valid claim if your employment is indeed terminated OR if you choose to leave because they have efefctively driven you out of your job by their conduct.

[enaid]

Re: unfair dismissal

I used these people recently as I had an office close by
http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/ if you ring you can make an appointment to see someone who deals with employment issues. They were great with me and am now dealing with my case through ACAS another organisation you should get in touch with imo.
Enaid x

[The Debt Star]

Re: unfair dismissal

That's good advice from Enaid.

Smily, try not to let the b4stards grind you down. Get proper advice and you will soon feel stronger and more in control.

[smiley]

Re: unfair dismissal

Thank you, just can not think straight at the moment, and keep, going through all the reasons, why they might want to do this. i understand the need to reduce cost, but why not treat me like my 6 other colleagues, who got finished at the same time?

[Guest]

Re: unfair dismissal

If you were made redundant, then how can you also be on garden leave, yet at the same time, be signed off work, or make a claim for unfair dismissal and also be suspended?

Do you currently have a job?

If you were made redundant, then technically, the job that you had no longer exists. People are not redundant, jobs are. Is there somebody else doing what you used to do?

[smiley]

Re: unfair dismissal

Hi, I was made redundant in July, and asked to work my notice away from the office. I kept getting invited in to attend meetings, then when I got to work they would cancel the meeting and ask me to come back another day, then do the same again. This and a few other things caused me a great deal of anixiety, therefore I went to see my doctor and get signed off sick. I then received a suspension letter, stating I was suspended whilst they did an investegation, I receive full pay whilst on sick, however yesterday I went to my bank and I have not been paid. I got a letter from work saying that since I am not avaialble for work they dont have to pay me? even though I have a sick note covering the time off can anyone please help, I am now desperate due to having no income, and my employers appear to be none stoppable in my downfall, ?

[Amethyst]

Re: unfair dismissal

how long is your notice period?

[The Debt Star]

Re: unfair dismissal

seems to me they are trying to dodge paying out any more redundancy money. yet more evidence they are abusing due process.

[smiley]

Re: unfair dismissal

6 months

[Zazen.Warrior]

Re: unfair dismissal

The worst part of this is feeling like you are the only one who has ever been treated this way and that you have been singled out.

Once you discover that it is almost custom and practice for employers to treat an employee like this once they have made them ill it helps you to get it all into perspective and move forward.

And yes I have been there. My best advice might sound a bit negative but here goes: don't trust anyone associated with this job and expect people to lie about you and to you, then it won't take you by surprise when it happens.

Try to record any meetings you attend. Minutes of such meetings often bear little resemblance to what actually happened.

I cite a meeting I attended under similar circumstances, I arrived 20 minutes early, bid everyone a polite good morning and waited to be asked to take a seat.

When I later SAR'd for the minutes (and everything else) I found it had been minuted as 'X arrived 20 minutes late, seemed very angry, didn't speak and sullenly threw herself into a chair.'

Fortunately by then I had it all in perspective and was able to laugh at these pitiable people who earn their living treating people like this.

[smiley]

Re: unfair dismissal

I agree, i have spoken to ACAS and they say all the things they are doing are wrong, and they are not allowed to not pay me, I have to ask them to pay me and see what they say,

[The Debt Star]

Re: unfair dismissal

Glad you've gone to ACAS.

[Ruby]

Re: unfair dismissal

Hi everyone, have not logged in for a while and I have missed you all in soooo many ways!!!
The reason I have not been on site is QUESS WHAT almost the same situation has happened to my husband!!!

What a world we live in - I wonder about human beings at times how can some people sleep at night!?

My husband has not managed to clear his name as yet however he has received his 12 weeks pay (he was with the company for almost 17 years) and the way we are feeling right now is that he is well out of the company. He had been overlooked for promotions in the last few years and now we know why. Some b*****d at the top had taken a dislike to him and was blocking it. Life is too short, and unfortunately he has wasted his time in a dead end place.

Both my husband and I have been on antidepressants because of all the stress and my husband has and is still having a good flow of interviews so hopefully a job will be forthcoming soon.

Big hugs to everyone xxxx

[Master Yoda]

Re: unfair dismissal

Hi Ruby. It happens more often than we realise. People just don't talk about it for the obvious reasons, primarilly because we feel no one really understands; the personalities and circumstances of each work place are different but the same pattern of intimidation, scapegoating, bullying and damaged egos repeats itself over and over again up and down the country every day.

The main problems are the loss of confidence and the very real issue of the next employer getting wind there was a probelm before. In my experience, it doesn't matter what the circumstances were, there is a problem when it eventually 'gets out' and of course you can't mention it at interview because you won't get the job. It is very difficult but he is not alone and he will get through it and over it. Time heals. Oh, and the people that treat others like this usually end up having it heppaen to them sooner or later.