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Hi all
I'm working for one of the UK's biggest banks as an apprentice. I've been there since August 2015 and have received two awards since starting; a Platinum award (including £1000) for Outstanding Performance, and also the 2015 Inspirational Award, for Outstanding Contribution to the Apprenticeship Programme.
I have also represented the company at numerous venues, giving speeches to heads of industry on why they should employ apprentices, meeting MPs at Westminster to encourage them to support apprenticeships, launch apprenticeship programmes etc and in two days am to participate in a forum regarding apprenticeships. In a few weeks I am also due to give a speech to over 300 business leaders, recruiters, head-hunters etc regarding apprenticeships. Last month I was invited to speak to the company's CEO and the UK heads from the company at the UK HQ, so obviously I'm doing something right.
However over the last few months I've been experiencing what I would describe as bullying from one of the assistant managers where I am based. It has all been subtle, but not so subtle that it has gone unnoticed by others, who have commented upon it and asked why she has it in for me. This woman was having an inappropriate relationship with a colleague, and several people complained as it was affecting the rest of us, as the colleague (and her) were disappearing regularly during working hours, and we would have to basically do his work as well as ours, which was often difficult. I (amongst others) was interviewed by the branch manager and one of her assistants and spoke up. Since then I have been subject to this unfair treatment.
I have documented dates and occasions of her behaviour towards me (and have some witnesses), and she has a record of bullying in previous branches she has been working at, and has been transferred from them as a result.
Recently she told a lie about me in a management meeting and was pulled up on it by another assistant manager who told her to stop lying. In attendance were the branch manager and her four assistant managers, one of whom is my line manager.
The branch manager has told me that if I pursue a grievance against this woman that it will get my line manager into trouble (it was her that told me about the incident, but it was another who pulled the bully up on her lie), as she should not have told me about this as it was in a management meeting and therefore none of my business. I get the feeling that the branch manager is trying to discourage me from making a complaint, as the opinion of my colleagues is that the bully "has something" on the branch manager, as this has happened before in my branch and things have not progressed.
Yea, it's a little complicated!
Anyway, I have a couple of questions:
1. Is lying about me a disciplinary offence, or even gross misconduct on the bully's part, remembering the industry we are in?
2. I was told this by my line manager (who is also an assistant manager) who had attended the meeting - will her telling me this get her into trouble if I pursue a grievance against the "bully"?
I know it's a little complicated, but I hope it's clear enough for someone to give me an opinion.
Many thanks.
Steve
I'm working for one of the UK's biggest banks as an apprentice. I've been there since August 2015 and have received two awards since starting; a Platinum award (including £1000) for Outstanding Performance, and also the 2015 Inspirational Award, for Outstanding Contribution to the Apprenticeship Programme.
I have also represented the company at numerous venues, giving speeches to heads of industry on why they should employ apprentices, meeting MPs at Westminster to encourage them to support apprenticeships, launch apprenticeship programmes etc and in two days am to participate in a forum regarding apprenticeships. In a few weeks I am also due to give a speech to over 300 business leaders, recruiters, head-hunters etc regarding apprenticeships. Last month I was invited to speak to the company's CEO and the UK heads from the company at the UK HQ, so obviously I'm doing something right.
However over the last few months I've been experiencing what I would describe as bullying from one of the assistant managers where I am based. It has all been subtle, but not so subtle that it has gone unnoticed by others, who have commented upon it and asked why she has it in for me. This woman was having an inappropriate relationship with a colleague, and several people complained as it was affecting the rest of us, as the colleague (and her) were disappearing regularly during working hours, and we would have to basically do his work as well as ours, which was often difficult. I (amongst others) was interviewed by the branch manager and one of her assistants and spoke up. Since then I have been subject to this unfair treatment.
I have documented dates and occasions of her behaviour towards me (and have some witnesses), and she has a record of bullying in previous branches she has been working at, and has been transferred from them as a result.
Recently she told a lie about me in a management meeting and was pulled up on it by another assistant manager who told her to stop lying. In attendance were the branch manager and her four assistant managers, one of whom is my line manager.
The branch manager has told me that if I pursue a grievance against this woman that it will get my line manager into trouble (it was her that told me about the incident, but it was another who pulled the bully up on her lie), as she should not have told me about this as it was in a management meeting and therefore none of my business. I get the feeling that the branch manager is trying to discourage me from making a complaint, as the opinion of my colleagues is that the bully "has something" on the branch manager, as this has happened before in my branch and things have not progressed.
Yea, it's a little complicated!
Anyway, I have a couple of questions:
1. Is lying about me a disciplinary offence, or even gross misconduct on the bully's part, remembering the industry we are in?
2. I was told this by my line manager (who is also an assistant manager) who had attended the meeting - will her telling me this get her into trouble if I pursue a grievance against the "bully"?
I know it's a little complicated, but I hope it's clear enough for someone to give me an opinion.
Many thanks.
Steve
