@custard - I've got a little employment law experience from my previous legal role, and might know someone who could advise better as well, if you wanted to drop me a PM. Entirely up to you, don't feel you have to! :)
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
potholes near the entrance to peffermill industrial estate
(105 posts)-
Posted 11 years ago #
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custard - I know you said that your workplace union reps were no use. However, it might be worth getting them to call in the full time officials, who should know what they are doing and will be able to access some heavy duty employment lawyers (if required) at no cost to yourself. Depending on your union, you may be able to contact your full-time official directly.
Please don't try and go it alone, as the odds are stacked in your employers favour. If your union really is no use then I'd take WC up on his offer of assistance.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Custard, you should definitely speak to your union and see if they can appoint a legal adviser.
Two bits of advice:
- Take notes of all meetings with management, with date, time, what was said. Compile into a folder which can give a narrative of what's been happening
- Ask a union rep, another employee, or a friend to accompany you to any meetings. This is your right and may help with corroboration if any threats of dismissal are made.Posted 11 years ago # -
sadly I have been through a stage 3 dismissal procedure before
I had a torn cornea that caused me ongoing issues
so i have seen 1st hand how useless my union is. I 'won' in the end. luckily there is a forum of fellow workers who helped me massively
At my last meeting I had 2 union reps! who basically sat like ornaments
I also raised an issue with the H&S rep(not just affecting me) and wwas told it seems fine. when i raised the issue came earlier the day. I was told they dont work then......
no doubt when I return to work I shall have another round with them
I was promised a occupational health referral last time. this never happened
so I'll need to flag it up again.Its annoying as Im working my ass off to try and heal/do my best
I have paid for physio,sports massage and have taken on a trainer.
Im at the gym(not now due to the pain) 5 days a week at great cost in sleep/pain to myself!Posted 11 years ago # -
There's nowt as kafka-esque in life as the endlessly farcical helter skelter world of corporate disciplinary and counter grievance...
Good luck, Custard
Posted 11 years ago # -
@o_0 too true. the sad thing is that I'm good at my job!
however its just not good enough. I dont fit into the clique and as such have to fight my corner most days.Just been to the GPs and got a very helpful doctor
He has put me onto some sort of pain pad I put on, to try.
I previously had amitriptyline which whilst it worked, blew my head off and made me barely functioningPosted 11 years ago # -
custard - as a workplace union rep I find your experience really disappointing. Is there any way you can bypass your local reps and get full time officials involved? If not then it might be worth finding a well informed and supportive colleague to attend meetings with you and get them to take notes, so you can focus on the meeting rather than note taking.
Make sure you have access to a staff handbook/rulebook or whatever your organisation calls it plus your contract and get to know what you are entitled to. Ask for everything to do with your case in writing, particularly copies of HR/management notes of meetings. Crosscheck your own meeting notes with the HR/management notes - dispute any disparities between the two.
Do not sign or agree to anything in a meeting - it's never a good idea - take some time to reflect on things.
Please chase up the occupational health referral with the most senior HR person you can find and keep badgering them until it happens, as they can be useful allies in dealing with management (if they are any good).
I'm sure you probably know/do all of this already - but thought I would mention it just in case.
Posted 11 years ago # -
We are a very big company
I did actually contact HR previously regarding my grievance. it was basically being ignored
they simply replied back stating the dont deal with stage 1 grievances yada yada
I eventually got things going by contacting a regional manager
of course now he scowls at me every time he is in the office.....
no doubt I have been flagged up as a troublemakerI'll be chasing up the OH consult
sadly on reports ATOS(who they use) are very much on the employers side it seems
The worst is Im covering a full job in the work that needs covered. I have done it before and do it well.
The managers all happily admit it,then cant seem to grasp the basic concepts regarding workloads. unless you are in the 'gang' of course.
I asked them in mid November about the staffing for Christams and assumed they would at least bring in the extra staffing they have done in previous years.I was at them every weak and warned them I couldnt do all the work they were piling on.
So now they have one less staff member in the busiest period of year. madnessPosted 11 years ago # -
custard - yikes! Seriously, you need to get some independent advice. From what you have said you may well have the foundation for a claim for harassment/bullying. In addition, the effect of your injury may possibly fall within the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010 - in which case your employer has to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate you.
Good luck in dealing with this - I'm disgusted with your union reps. Honestly, if they can't assist in a case like this then what use are they (stick with the union though as they should provide legal representation if this ever goes to a tribunal, and that really costs a packet).
Posted 11 years ago # -
Your HR not dealing with stage 1 grievances is absolutely remarkable. It's as if your work is actively trying to create a constructive dismissal case... You're racking up one hell of a claim.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@ Wilmington's Cow . yup it is madness but its the style of management they have. adversarial doesnt even come close.
I was actually dismissed before through sickness.
They had me bang to rights with the time I had off. however at that point my eye was healed(medically confirmed) so they just decided to sack me as a 'lesson' to other workers.
unfortunatly as is there way(as my posts have shown) they failed to follow their own procedures,ignored letters etc
So I won an appeal(after 2.5 months away!) got my job back,back pay etc
you would think this time they would be following procedure to the letter. they know I know the procedures,but still act like this.My posts make me sound like the most militant worker on earth :o I'm really not(or wasnt)
Posted 11 years ago # -
"My posts make me sound like the most militant worker on earth"
Actually no.
Of course (depending which paper you read) "militant worker" is someone who'd rather be on strike...
You sound like someone facing an uncertain future due to an unfortunate accident/incident (I get the impression you wouldn't be being treated any differently if it had been work related).
Seems clear you WANT to work, have been good at your job and would continue as a useful/experienced member of staff if allowed/encouraged by a better management.
You seem to be a victim of a style of 'modern'/militant management that might fit with the times 'we are all in together' - but is actually counterproductive. It might put all your fellow workers in fear of their jobs, but an unhappy workforce is unlikely to be a productive one.
Good luck, perhaps now is the time to list your experiences and 'transferable skills' and look for an employer who would appreciate them.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@ chdot
yeah theres a lot in my life thats in limbo
work being one of them
The accident came at an inopportune time for me
The way I see it is Im sitting tight until i at least know whats going on with my shoulder/armPosted 11 years ago # -
After a long time off the bike(and selling a lot of my stuff/MTB :(
I decided to go on the bike
9 miles from home and.......Posted 10 years ago # -
AWESOME POWER!
Posted 10 years ago #
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