Ongoing unlawful practices at work - they should know better?

[possiblecase]

Hi all,

 

Wondered if anyone can offer any advice. I have worked for my company for over 3 1/2 years. In that time I have been bullied, received lewd jokes and comments from lawyers and head of legal and when I have complained I have been told I am "too sensitive" "got the person all wrong" and "would work better with women". I was told "I obviously can't take a joke" and they want someone who can be relaxed and have a laugh with the team so its better that you're moving desks".

 

I was also told by a new line manager when part of my position was replaced that again I am too senstive when I put a complaint in writing over email about what had happened previously and continues to happen. I was told again to complain directly to that person, I was told by the line manager that he would advise not taking this any further or telling anyone more senior than this person as it wouldn't do me any favours. When I spoke with HR about the bullying and lewd emails and comments, I said I wanted it on record this time as everytime I speak to the head of legal myself it makes things worse as he treats me differently each time and starts ignoring me.

 

I told HR that this person should know better to send emails and make comments such as this in their position. They completely agreed with me and said they understood my line manager about not taking it further. I have been off work with depression before and although I was provided with very good support and I was stopped from working for a particularly bullying lawyer, the problems have continued and as I have been told not to take things any further I am scared what to do because of the power these people have and although I have had a history of depression from years ago, because of the problems I have experienced at work, it has made me feel worse. I do not want to speak to anyone now at work because I do not trust anyone.

 

I have witnessed the head of legal and lawyers openly talk about staff that "they know what they can do if they don't like it" even though this person has had serious health issues and again is scared to complain about bullying but has been bullied by the same people I had experiences with. The assistant that worked for the head of legal was forced to leave on a compromise agreement, even though everyone liked her and she had worked there for over 3 years. My bosses assistant told me she was "rubbish" and I would be "brilliant". This assistant and the head of legal are often in his office whispering and laughing and there are huge cliques which make others feel uncomfortable.

 

My boss told me this person was "fur coat no knickers and the relationship had deteriorated and she was rubbish at her work. I was asked to type the comp agmt for her whilst sat opposite her and she knew this. It was horrible and I had to keep it secret. So I know the underhand tactics these people use. I was told to replace her as well as take on another role as cover for someone else. He "didn't want to lose me from his team but there was also another role that people wanted me to do". I was put in a very tricky situation there and I felt that others perceived that I had something to do with her leaving as I jumped into that role. I did it though, in the current job climate, I felt that I had to do what they wanted of me. I was doing 3 roles. When the last lewd comment was made to me I was under severe pressure work-wise and suffering from IBS, and as I complained about the comment from the head of legal I was told by them a few days later that it was better I didn't work for him anymore. An obvious turnaround.

 

He has since replaced me with another assistant who used to work for him and he now ignores me and as I have had to be involved with her, I kept things as professional as possible but I have copies of emails between her and the head of legal about other people and myself whoch are really harmful. "What a tw*t" for example and complaining about me "let's exclude her". I will not go into detail but it is clear that she is more what the head of legal wanted - someone who will call people and laugh at others' expense and flirt. I have seen her do this about me and others. One email made me really angry and upset. There was no call for it and I feel that because I don't take a lewd joke I have been left out and ignored since. My point is that these people really should know better. I have never experienced this before in my working life. As I worked as a legal secretary for the employment lawyer and whenever a tribunal case is dismissed or won, the head of legal makes a point of getting champagne and celebrating in front of everyone in the open plan office. I really disagree with the ethics and feel scared to take the matter further as it is against the exact people who would be fighting a tribunal case.

 

Before xmas I started having panic attacks before going into work and I informed my line manager. I explained again to my line manager that the environment is bullying and I feel uncomfortable. He told me that "I needed to build bridges with these people" and "stop being so sensitive". He is friends with the head of legal so I guess he would say that. I was doing really well career-wise and have gone the extra mile for the employer on many occasions.

 

HR now want to meet up with me according to a message I have received but I just don't know what to say. They have very little involvement with my department because it is so senior and they assume nothing like this happens and when you tell them it does, it seems they don't know what to do about it. I want to get better and be my old confident self. The time at this company has made me so low on confidence. It isn't just me who has felt this way. My line managers often say "I put myself down too much", "he only has good things to say about you so I can't understand where you are coming from". Of course the head of legal is completely wonderful around all the important people.

 

I am so intimidated by the environment now and I don't want to go back. It will only go on but I don't think it is right that I have been so good to them through all of this and I don't want to leave without fighting my cause. Why should these people keep getting away with treating people who work hard like this. They always make me feel like its my fault. I am signed off with depression but I don't know what to do next. Can anyone advise? I'm really scared and frustrated about what to do.

 

Thank you so much.

[papasmurf1cx]

Hi welcome to the site.

 

Fighting solicitors will be a hard task, that is for sure. But that does not mean that they are invulnerable, they should know better. Arrogance is their weak spot. You have already gathered some evidence, it should be easy enough to gather more and you KNOW what you need to gather in.

 

Being scared goes with the territory when you stand up to bullies. However the one thing that bullies always fall short on and don't know how to handle (other than bullying more fiercely) is someone tackling their bullying ways.

 

First things first, do you have legal protection cover attached to you home contents insurance to enable you to fight them ? If not perhaps you should get some now and stick the job and gather more evidence before showing your hand.

 

When all that is in place and a period of time elapsed, perhaps you should be putting in a formal written grievance. I am assuming that you are female and the perpetrators are male so references to 'lewd' comments amount to sex discrimination.

 

However you also seem to have illnesses, IBS, panic and anxiety attacks. These may amount to a disability, and may be aprt of any claim in the future ie they MADE you ill. So best see your doctor and get it noted on your medical notes... tell GP THEY caused it by discriminatory practices and bullying etc.

 

Solicitors are vulnerable to not only the courts but to their professional body. I am sure you know that so when you strike you strike HARD on all fronts.

 

Hope that helps for now.

[Marianne7]

I just want to say that I can really understand how you are feeling ~ I went through a very similar scenario to this (in medical field, not legal). I, too, was told I was too sensitive but it felt as tho' I was completely in an Alice in Wonderland world. I felt I was a strong person, having had cancer(op and chemo), marital and financial problems, a son with mental health issues, death of a parent and worries about surviving parent, and still carried on working throughout, except for 6 months for op and early chemo sessions.

So, for what it's worth, I wish you the best of luck with whatever advice the experienced caggers give you on here.

[possiblecase]

Hi,

Thanks for your really quick response - it means a lot! With regard to home contents insurance, I don't currently have any so if I applied now (being signed off at the moment), would that mean it would make my chances of claiming slim in the near future? I do have savings set aside. Ideally I would prefer a clean break from these people. Preferably in terms of a compromise agreement. I have put together a chronology and have quite a few emails that back up my claims, I wondered whether it would be worth sending that to my employers saying I am going to a solicitors with this information for advice and that as my previous complaints in writing have been ignored and I have been advised not to take out a grievance that I have put together this information. I would prefer to leave with a reference as I have been really good in my jobs I have worked in and I know I have made a good impression with a lot of people there so I am worried all that hard work over 3 years will have been wasted if I didn't get a good reference from them in the future. I wonder if the evidence I have will be so incriminating that they will jump at a compromise agreement?

Many thanks again in advance!

[papasmurf1cx]

They won't 'jump' at any thing. They will fight you.

 

I do understand how you feel, getting away and a new start will feel like escaping. You are the only person that can dictate what you do. Ultimately it is whether you are a fighter or a quitter. There is no harm in being either. You need to keep healthy and if that means walking away then so be it.

 

Just be under no illusions that they will do as you want them to do. They have their own agendas and that does not include you. They are as likely to crack open the champers at you leaving. One thing lawyers don't like is having to pay costs out of their OWN pockets.

 

Remember arrogance is their weak point.

[honeybee13]

Hello there. I'm sorry you're going through it.

 

Have you spoken to ACAS or the EHRC at all? I don't know how much they will offer you, but it costs nothing and sometimes talking to someone [as well as forums] can help you clarify your thoughts.

 

My best, HB

[stu007]

Hi

 

Just a thought they may be Solicitors but by employing individuals in there company they still come under Employment Law and yes it may seen difficult due to them being solicitors but they have no right to treat someone in this way and just dismiss it shocking behaviour.

 

One thing that hasnt been mentioned yet have you asked HR for a copy of the company 'Whistleblowing Policy' and also remember Grievance Policy.

[possiblecase]

Hi again,

 

Thanks for the kind words and clarification that they are in the wrong! Sometimes I start to believe them that I am being too sensitive! My beliefs though remain and I know this doesn't happen elsewhere as company policies do not allow it. The HR department seem to just ignore anything that goes on in my department - until they have to that is.

 

They've now written me a letter to say they want to meet up with me along with my line manager. Of course they are pretending to care but I have gone down this route time and time again before so unless the head of legal is going to somehow change overnight and become a wonderful human being with mutual respect in the workplace then I can't see how things are going to change as he is essentially by being this way, allowing others to act the same and its all one big joke. When it comes to staff's feelings of course, they don't care. I have read through the company's harassment policy which goes along with what I say of course, the problem is, is that a "senior manager" will need to help carry out the investigation (a person more senior than the head of legal) is essentially the FD or Chief Exec. I cannot foresee that someone less senior could be appointed in these circumstances. I have had no problems at all working for the FD/CEO. They are in fact really nice and I feel awful and time wasting to report all of these issues to them.

 

I think this is why my other line manager and HR have told me not to take things further (i.e. follow the grievance procedures), they are essentially scared of what to do. I think it may have been brought to their attention by my line manager who works very closely with them and I am sure they would be unhappy to hear of what has been happening. If they had to choose however, I know they would stand by the head of legal - how would it look on them! The FD hired him and has worked with him at other companies. This is why this feels so complicated and overwhelming for me. I am going to have to stand up to highly influential and successful people. I am just a humble secretary with a bit of PA experience under my belt but I have worked really hard for the company.

 

The job I have been asked to do now also means that I have to be extremely positive about the company, and I cannot complain about career progression whilst I have been there. I will not say what the new role is as I need to remain anonymous but is it a very unique role and I have to deal with and build relationships with highly influential people to ensure the company comes across well to the market. With all of this hanging over me, I feel I cannot carry out that role.

 

I will try to find the whistleblowing policy and see whether that sheds any light. The policies apply more to the main area of the working business and due to my department's leaders' "arrogance", they feel they are above that. I wonder what HR think to all of this.

[Blueboy666]

Possible case, do not be blinkered by HR, i have yet to meet that are representative of the employee. They are an insurance policy for the company and nothing more.

It is important that if you should consider going down the route of an ET, then you have to have at the very least submited a letter asking for a grievance hearing. As without this proceedurely you wouldnt get far at ET.

Best wishes, and as an Equlaity Rep i will follow this link closely and advise when i feel its needed, as its about time we ended this cancer called bullying spreading through our work places.

Best wishes.

[possiblecase]

I am now going to raise a formal grievance (finally). As I have complained in writing to HR and line manager before, and it states in the harassment procedures that they should have advised me to take out a grievance at that stage rather than advise me not to take things any further, I am raising a grievance that the have broken their own policy as well as sexual harassment and victimisation since my informal complaints. I wondered if I need to send email evidence backing up my claim at this stage or should I hold off and let the company investigate? Any advice much appreciated. Also, the emails are quite old - a year ago plus others from the start of my employment, will that be a positive thing for the company?