Bullying in work place

Macha · 16-08-2007 9:55pm #1

Hi guys,

My boss at work is a total bully. It's not so much a problem now as Im leaving in a few weeks but our HR dept are woeful & I'm being conned out of some money.

Who are the best people to talk to about this? Health & Safety Authority? I know they did that Code on Bullying a while back..

thanks

T

whassupp2 · 16-08-2007 9:57pm

Talk to your trade union if you have one??

Macha · 16-08-2007 9:59pm

I work in a recruitment agency...I don't think we have one

BostonB · 16-08-2007 10:43pm

Depends entirely on what the problem is. If hes conning you, the police.

zoemax · 17-08-2007 11:35am

Before you leave ask to see the company's bullying and harressment policy and the company safety statement. The bullying policy should detail how to make a formal complaint in the event that you consider you are being bullied. Make a formal complaint to the company as per their bullying policy.

If they do not have a bullying policy or a bullying risk assessment in the safety statement then they are breaching statutory requirements. Write to them and tell them you consider that you are being bullied in work and give details. At this stage you should also contact the HSA and make a formal compliant to the workplace contact unit (http://www.hsa.ie/publisher/index.jsp?&1nID=267&nID=326). This should get them moving:D

Be aware that the definition of bullying in legislation is quite specifc. For behaviour to be considered bullying it must be repeated inappropraite behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour consists of:

Purposely undermining someone;
Targeting someone for special negative treatment;
Manipulation of an individual‘s reputation;
Social exclusion or isolation;
Intimidation;
Physical abuse or threats of abuse;
Aggressive or obscene language;
Jokes that are obviously offensive to one individual by spoken word or email;
Intrusion by pestering, spying and stalking;
Unreasonable assignments to duties which are obviously unfavourable to one individual;
Repeated requests with impossible deadline or impossible tasks

A once off incident is not considered to be bullying.

Make sure you document incidents for back up and if possible keep in contact with witnesses to incidents.

Good luck.

Macha · 17-08-2007 5:29pm

great, thanks

With all the spying and gossiping on in my work place, it's like a snake pit. Can't wait to leave - and take my money with me!

Just one other thing - my boss got wind that I was leaving, asked IT to check my internet & emails to find what I was up to and then confronted me - is that allowed??

thanks

T

Stephen · 17-08-2007 11:58pm

I imagine you were probably made sign some kind of computer/internet/mail usage policy when you started working there giving them the right to look at your email if they want. Seriously bad form though. We'd never do that where I work (i'm in IT) unless there was a legal reason to do so or something.

Sounds like a truly sh1tty place to work.

Macha · 18-08-2007 9:25am

Yeah - in my exit interview form they asked "Would you recommend XXX to your friends as a place to work?"

I was tempted to write: "No, only my enemies"

Yeah I know they're allowed to look at my internet/email. But surely you can't force someone to give their notice before they want to!

Me thinks I'll be making a formal complaint on Monday...

RainyDay · 18-08-2007 8:59pm

taconnol wrote:

But surely you can't force someone to give their notice before they want to!

That's called 'being fired'.

taconnol wrote:

I'm being conned out of some money.

What kind of money? If they are not/will not pay your agreed salary, you'll have certain rights - see http://www.entemp.ie/employment/rights/ for more details.

Macha · 19-08-2007 1:47pm

Well I'm not being fired as such, or asked to leave early but I am only obliged to give 4 weeks notice. It was when I had 7 weeks to go that I was forced to tell them - then I was chastised for my lack of honesty :rolleyes: But how was I to know that I wouldn't be asked to leave early, etc. Surely it's my choice to say when I want to leave? I really felt like I was being hounded.

As the for money, I was promised that my health insurance would be paid as part of a deal after my first salary review. It never happened and when I brought it up with the boss, I was told that unfortunately it could only be paid from date of renewal, conveniently leaving me out of pocket.

Grr!!

ps - thanks for all the info and supportive comments guys

flash harry · 19-08-2007 2:17pm

are you going to a competitor??

Macha · 19-08-2007 8:23pm

nope back to uni

RainyDay · 19-08-2007 8:55pm

taconnol wrote:

As the for money, I was promised that my health insurance would be paid as part of a deal after my first salary review. It never happened and when I brought it up with the boss, I was told that unfortunately it could only be paid from date of renewal, conveniently leaving me out of pocket.

Did you get anything in writing?

Macha · 19-08-2007 8:59pm

not as such, but I sent an email to the boss, reminding her about what we had agreed and she replied back saying "oh yes" or something to that effect.

So yeah I guess I do have something in writing

RainyDay · 19-08-2007 9:18pm

Make sure you bring this email with you when you leave. Contact the Employment Rights section of the Dept of Enterprise to explore options for getting payment.

jimmyoc · 29-08-2007 6:08pm

Hi i work with An Post and one of the people in our office belches loudly most mornings. last year i made a note of the times and dates of this for a month and sent it to HR ,it stoped for a while but has now started again.i have no doubt this is aimed at me,but it is a bit much to take at 7am or there abouts most mornings .this man has bullied me in the past and has got away with it.whats going on now is about all he presumes he will get away with.An Post have a policy on bullying,i am of the belief its for show only . jim.ps. Any ideas out there to stifle this bully.

Jumpy · 30-08-2007 9:53am

jimmyoc wrote:

Hi i work with An Post and one of the people in our office belches loudly most mornings. last year i made a note of the times and dates of this for a month and sent it to HR ,it stoped for a while but has now started again.i have no doubt this is aimed at me,but it is a bit much to take at 7am or there abouts most mornings .this man has bullied me in the past and has got away with it.whats going on now is about all he presumes he will get away with.An Post have a policy on bullying,i am of the belief its for show only . jim.ps. Any ideas out there to stifle this bully.

Burping is not bullying. HR may ask him politely to try and tone it down, but personally it would make you look worse than him to actually document it and present it.

Bullying in work place

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