Thinking to open a grievance on my boss.... Is it worth it?

[J4g3d]

So times are hard at the moment, the company i work for has completely changed their management and the regime is very different. They are combating us like we are criminals. Many dismissals, disciplinarys, counselling, targeting, sackings, resignations ...ect

 

My new boss is targeting me. Since his arrival of just over 1 year now he has on numerous occasions unfairly treated me badly, made up things and generally picked on me.

 

I will give you a couple of examples.

 

1. Accused me of not leaving my home on time (even though i do and i have a vehicle tracker to prove i do). Then shouted at me saying if i want to argue with him he will get a dossier together and get me fired.

 

2. Forcing me to skip a break in the space of 8 hours and then forcing me to go to another job which travelling would be 3 hours and would mean i come home 2.5 hours after when i should be home at the finish of my shift. So i worked 10 hours without a break.

 

3. He has texted me saying 'YOUR HEADING FOR BIG TROUBLE' when i told the company i need to take my lunch before i travel 2 hours to a job (this was 7 hours in my shift and on a separate occasion to the above)

 

This is just a few examples of MANY. and i know he has targeted 2 others on a couple of occasions but mainly focused targeting me.

 

Should i go to HR with a grievance on him? or is it not worth the hassle? If i did go to HR what does a grievance mean? just a slap on the wrist? how would they know im telling the truth?

 

I really just want to get on with my job, do my best within my contracted hours with no hassle!

[Emmzzi]

Actually if yiu drive on a tacho an anonymous tip off to the HSE (I think, may be VOSA, we have drivingg soecialist around here somewhere..) may be more effective. Raising a greivance will up the stakes for getting rid of you.

[renegadeimp]

1. Accused me of not leaving my home on time (even though i do and i have a vehicle tracker to prove i do). Then shouted at me saying if i want to argue with him he will get a dossier together and get me fired.

 

Covertly record any conversation you have with him. If you are working correctly, then you can tell him to go right ahead as you have nothing to fear.

 

2. Forcing me to skip a break in the space of 8 hours and then forcing me to go to another job which travelling would be 3 hours and would mean i come home 2.5 hours after when i should be home at the finish of my shift. So i worked 10 hours without a break.

 

This breaks employment law. You MUST be allowed a set amount of time as a break. This is set in stone by law, and only very specific jobs/employers are exempt.

 

3. He has texted me saying 'YOUR HEADING FOR BIG TROUBLE' when i told the company i need to take my lunch before i travel 2 hours to a job (this was 7 hours in my shift and on a separate occasion to the above)

 

I hope you kept that text. That's enough to get HIM disciplined and possibly fired.

 

As for what i would do, i would do the following.

 

1. If you can, speak to this manager and ask him to explain why he thinks your work is appaling and he feels the need to belittle and harass everything you do. You can record this covertly if you like. You dont need to tell him you are doing so.

 

2. If you feel anxious, or threatened by this manager, then you need to either request a meeting with his manager, or put a complaint in writing.

 

3. If neither of these solves your issue, then you must make a formal complaint to the HR manager. Once this is done, the company must take the issue seriously. Note here that you might get some flack of other managers. Just remember to keep your head down and keep a record of everything said.

 

4. If this does not solve the problem, then a direct letter outlining everything that has happened to date needs to be filed with the CEO of the company. You can give them a timeframe to solve the issue.

 

5. If none of this solves the problems you are having, then unfortunately it might be time to take a leave of abscence and contact an employment lawyer, as they have much more means at their disposal to sort things out like this.

Edited October 6, 2012 by renegadeimp

[J4g3d]

Thank you for the comments they were very informative.

 

Surprise surprise i have YET ANOTHER meeting next week with this manager, i have asked him what it is regarding but he completely ignored me.

 

I have had approaching 10 meetings this year alone. Been with this company 5 years and not had that i can remember a single meeting before this manager was in.

 

I pride myself in the work i do and im pretty sure im up there as one of the best (without sounding too big headed)r. Unfortunately i was told by a fellow colleague that knew this manager in a previous job, told me that when he doesnt like someone he does what ever he can to get rid.

[renegadeimp]

It sounds like you need to raise a grievance, or at least arrange an informal meeting with the highest manager at your workplace, and discuss things. Then you can go from there. If the manager you are having problems with has the authority to suspend or fire you, then you need to solidify your position.

[tinka]

Have you had appraisals in the last 5 years? If so and they didn't highlight areas of concern it would certainly strengthen your position if you raise a grievance. Also. are your meetings with the manager recorded or minuted? At your next meeting ask what specific areas of your performance he is unhappy with, and what he suggests you can do to improve iif he feels you need to...within current legal requirements, of course. Take notes of his responses...don't let yourself feel bullied, put the onus back on your manager to show how you are underperforming. Copies of your company policies regarding working hours, breaks, travel etc would also be good to have.

 

Good luck

 

Tinks

[moll 61]

Sounds like a bully to me, I have been fighting to have my grievance heard for nearly 6 months, finally something is getting done. A bully will never learn the error of his ways, unless someone teaches him that lesson