Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

[martinhartman555]

My friend name is martina. She has started a new job in a company. Since i have experience of 3yrs. But Problem is the level of work she has to do here is below her actual skill and knowledge. She really do not like the working there as her manager, supervisor or co-worker’s actions or words create a harassing atmosphere. Some times the way her co-workers watching her she feels very uncomfortable. What she do? Please help.

[matt3942]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

Hi [MENTION=66181]martinhartman555[/MENTION]

In the first instance - and without knowing more information - I would advise having an informal discussion with the manager (or someone from HR, or a trade union representative) to bring the issue to their attention and give them an opportunity to put things right. If that fails, you should make a formal complaint using the employer's grievance procedure.

If you don't mind my asking, can you provide some details about the types of behaviour?

- Matt

[stevemLS]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

An employer has to provide work that broadly accords with the job description for the post your friend applied for, that it may otherwise be below her level of knowledge and skill is generally irrelevant, there are many graduates flipping burgers.

On the second matter, without passing any judgment (as there is insufficient information to form one, I have experienced several times in the past situations where there is an incident of some sort and then an individual becomes utterly convinced that every time somebody speaks quietly, they are the subject of the whispering, every glance is interpreted as having malevolent intent and so on.

It becomes a vicious cycle which can have a horrible effect on the "victim".

Could that be the case here?

[martinhartman555]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

Thanks for your advice. I will definitely discuss with my friend. The atmosphere is very bad, the seniors target her, I mean to say they mentally tortured her about the work and sometimes they also do bad comment on her looks and making laugh. Can you provide some legal laws against this. If you know any legal company from which I can take some legal advice. Atleast we must know the law against this, before taking any step.

[matt3942]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

Hi [MENTION=66181]martinhartman555[/MENTION]

It's difficult to advise without knowing more information but you could look at the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. This protects you from behaviour that makes you feel distressed, humiliated or threatened. You need to have experienced at least two incidents from the same person (or group) on at least two separate occasions for the act to apply. There's also the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 which obligates employers to ensure its employees' health, safety and wellbeing.

In the first instance I would advise an informal conversation though, and take it from there.

- Matt

[teaboy2]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

I wouldn't refer to the the protection from harassment act just yet as without knowing presisely what is being said and what they are saying about her work etc, its impossible to say if shes being harassed or not. And mentioning it now may cause her more problems and end up with her being dismissed, which they can do within the first 2 years for any reason apart from under certain circumstances!

I'm assuming her first language isn't English, (as i assume English isn't your first language either?) so maybe its a simple issue or language barrier. Perhaps shes not performing the tasks up to company standards and they are talking to her about her performance being under par. As for her looks, well again without knowing what was said, its hard to say if its harassment or not it could again be a language barrier issue!

[matt3942]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

I wouldn't refer to the the protection from harassment act just yet as without knowing presisely what is being said and what they are saying about her work etc, its impossible to say if shes being harassed or not. And mentioning it now may cause her more problems and end up with her being dismissed, which they can do within the first 2 years for any reason apart from under certain circumstances!

Agreed, which is why I said "you could look at" - you need to make sure the act applies before relying on it.

In any case, start with an informal discussion with you line manager and see what happens.

- Matt

[teaboy2]

Re: Hostile Work place in a company. How one stand up against it?

Agreed [MENTION=67649]matt3942[/MENTION] - Informal discussion with her managers is best way to go especially if as i suspect the issues are down to basic language and communication problems, which may also impede on her ability to perform the work to the companies expected standard of performance.