Bullying at work

Adex123

My job description has not changed since I join the company over 6 years ago, the business need is still there. I am constantly overachieving my targets (I am number one in the team's top results). My managers say "core job is not enough", "we raised our bar over time", "we have higher expectations". 6 months ago I was put on 2 monitoring periods where I had to perform apart of the core job business analysis and management strategy setting work (clearly not related to my role). I was informed that I failed them bringing me closer to the dismissal. With no holidays in the last 6 months, blocking internal transfer to another team, my manager started to verbally attack me from a power position. I made a panic attack and the ambulance was called.

With tasks beyond the core job, being micromanaged, having no support but negative feedback & creating a negative scenario in order to justify the dismissal, with contradicting communication, menacing language there is a toxic environment. Currently I am on a medical leave due to exhaustion and stress.

Clearly it's a scenario the managers are following to get rid of me. Is there anything I can do? I love my work and my company but clearly working with my managers seems like not possible. I could fight to get an internal transfer or I could leave and eventually ask for a compensation. I would appreciate any advice on what my rights are, how should I behave and say.

Thanks a mill.

forgotten password

mobbing is called bullying in english

Esel

forgotten password wrote: »

mobbing is called bullying in english

Your post might somehow, by someone, be construed as being helpful... :rolleyes:

Let me try to help the OP by rewriting their post:

Title: Bullied at work

My job description has not changed since I joined the company over six years ago, the business need is still there. I constantly overachieve my targets (I am number one in the team's results).

My managers say: "core job is not enough", "we raised our bar over time", "we have higher expectations". Six months ago I was put on two monitoring periods where I had to perform a part of the core job business - analysis and management strategy-setting, work which was clearly not related to my role.

I was informed that I failed them, which apparently brought me closer to dismissal. I have had no holidays in the last six months, and have been refused an internal transfer to another team. Then, my manager verbally attacked me, from a position of power. I had a panic attack and the ambulance was called.

While being given tasks beyond my core job and being micro-managed, I was given no support, and only received negative feedback which created a negative scenario (in order to justify dismissal, I think). I received contradicting communication, combined with menacing language. This has now created a toxic environment for me. Currently I am on medical leave due to exhaustion and stress.

I believe this is a scenario the managers are following to get rid of me. Is there anything I can do? I love my work and my company, but clearly working with my managers seems impossible now.

I could fight to get an internal transfer or I could leave and eventually seek compensation. I would appreciate any advice on what my rights are, and on how I should proceed.

The above 'quote' is not from the OP. It is a paraphrase.







@Mods: Hope the above is OK - just trying to help the OP.

MarkAnthony

You have three options

i) Use your company's internal dispute resolution system; probably informally approaching your manager, then his/her manager, then formally approaching his/her manager or HR. I have universally found this to be as much use as a chocolate teapot.

ii) Approach an employment solicitor and seek their guidance, probably leading to the option below but in a way that cause much less stress.

iii) Leave

The very best of luck OP.

Cushie Butterfield

It looks as if everything has been covered by above posts but bear in mind the difference between resigning from a job (possible constructive dismissal: onus of proof lies with the employee) & being dismissed from a job (possibly unfair dismissal: onus of proof lies with employer).

Tread carefully, document everything so far as you remember it & going forward as it happens. If you are a member of a trade union contact them ASAP. If not speak to a solicitor specialising in employment law.

Speaking to someone experienced in these matters & is able to offer constructive help & support will give you the strength to untangle youself from this muddle & hopefully aid in your health recovery, which is paramount.

Adex123

Hello everyone and big thanks for the answers!

Indeed, what I did was to put all my thoughts on paper, document everything, evaluate my options, consulted the Citizen Information legal advice service and kept speaking to my family, friends, GP and counsellor.

The scenario that suits me is leaving. Unfortunately the legal case against the company requires huge input of energy, time and money and not sure that at the end of the confrontation I will be happy. Spoke with someone who did it and shared this learning with me. What I am planning to do is an internal grievance procedure against my managers in order to make sure that my voice was heard and hopefully the management will stop treating other employees like that.

Cushie Butterfield, would this be the "constructive dismissal" you mentioned?

MarkAnthony

Adex123 wrote: »

Cushie Butterfield, would this be the "constructive dismissal" you mentioned?

I don't wish to speak for that poster but advising you whether it is or is not given the facts you've presented is clearly legal advice. Speak to an employment solicitor; you're far better negotiating from the inside than trying to mount a case from the outside.

Adex123

Thank you very much for that. Would you be able to recommend a good employment solicitor? Eventually via a private message?
Thanks a mill!

Cushie Butterfield

Adex123 wrote: »

Cushie Butterfield, would this be the "constructive dismissal" you mentioned?

You can read more about constructive dismissal here on the CI website. It's freely available for all to see so I don't see how it would breach the forum charter as regards legal advice, or at least any different to advising you of three options as in post #4: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/dismissal/constructive_dismissal.html

MarkAnthony

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

You can read more about constructive dismissal here on the CI website. It's freely available for all to see so I don't see how it would breach the forum charter as regards legal advice, or at least any different to advising you of three options as in post #4: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/dismissal/constructive_dismissal.html

Advising on it's existence certainly isn't legal advice. The only issue is any sort of advocation of it as a course of action without specialist legal advice. I'm not for one second suggesting that's what you're doing or would do; quite the contrary your advice seems measured and considered. However, the amount of people that do advocate it 'down the pub' staggers me. They chiefly fail to consider the facts in their entirety if they do have any experience of it or in most cases have no practical experience whatsoever.

conorh91

I know this sounds like an overly-litigious approach, but a major problem in employment litigation is a lack of documented evidence. If you are going to issue a complaint, put it in writing. Maintain correspondence, and maintain records generally.

That's not legal advice it's practical advice. If nothing else, managers tend to take written complaints more seriously than verbal complaints, and all sides tend to be better-able to thoroughly and calmly articulate a point of view.

And needless to say, when you do express a grievance to a manager, never do so in the heat of a moment.

EganTheMan

Sounds terrible . . .Sounds like a horrible place to work . . . .

At least keep a very detailed Diary and "fight them at their own game" insist on everything being in writing

Do you mind me asking you - are you Assertive by nature? Being submissive / passive sends out messages to bullies?

Adex123

Thank you everyone for the tips & link. They are very useful.
I have everything written and I met a lawyer today.
That makes me so much stronger as now I know what I can and what I can't do. So my choice is done on solid grounds.

Assertive/submissive: I usually try to present my point of view but I was told that I am not able to take feedback and was told to put down my head and do what I'm told.