Bullying in the workplace, please help if you can!!!

[Ihaveanaccount]

Hi there,
I’m already a regular user on here but wanted some advice for a friend. But was concerned that I might be recognised through questioned I’d already asked and don’t want this to come back and harm them

My friend is being bullied by their manager at work (we both work there), the manager has already made comments that they want to ‘replace’ my friend, and is giving them impossible tasks in order to set them up for a fall. And has even comments to me that they are looking for the new person for my friend’s job. The manager regularly has a go at this person for things they either didn’t do, or things that he would let go with the other colleagues. By the way this isn’t just them telling me, I have seen this for myself.

My friend is great at they’re job, and the assistant manager has said that the manager feels threatened.

My friend has also been very ill lately due to the stress this has put on them, they have wanted to get out for a while, but with this climate it is not so simple.

I was wondering if you could give any advice with how to help them, we’re worried that if we report the manager, they either won’t believe us. Or it’ll cause worse repercussion for my friend.
Thank you!

[TWR]

Going through it myself. Take details of dates, times, who was present if & what was said, log it in your diary, what the situation was, if there was a problem, could other people could Handel it, was it against H/S. was it a part of their job? If the person is off on stress, dates, time/type of tablets, when she/he was put on them, did they take tablets before this started, get every possible detail's if it comes to a Sacking, Is the person in a union, if not, it is a MUST. people out there must be aware of their rights regards Bullying.

[boxtops]

Can she get impartial advice from ACAS? - their helpline is not only free, but helpful, have a look at their website.

Is it a big company? ours has a bullying and harassment policy - do you have an HR department?

[Ann]

Please tell your friend to stick it out and not to leave - that's just what the disgusting manager wants. This happened to me, I left a great well-paid job which I loved, all because I was so stressed due to the bullying tactics of a new manager, who wanted to make his mark. Most long-standing employees in our department left because he was so obnoxious and a devious bully. I regretted leaving immediately and was gutted to find he was hounded out himself six months later. I had taken voluntary redundancy after working there for 24 years, so I couldn't go back. My bank balance has certainly suffered over the years because of HIM!!

[Ihaveanaccount]

Yes, it is a huge company, thank you, I will have a look at ACAS

[sherrardk]

Do you mind if I report the second answer so it gets 'disappeared'?

[boxtops]

If it's huge they must have an HR department, and personnel policies. My suggestion would be that your friend contacts the HR department and asks for a confidential chat with someone. If it's a big company they must have policies to deal with grievances - it should be detailed publicly on your intranet if you have one. Don't let her feel alone - managers can't be allowed to get away with this sort of behaviour. If nothing else, and she has to leave, constructive dismissal comes to mind, and no company wants to be accused of this. Check out all your employment policies. Do you have access to Occupational Health services? as your friend's been made ill by work, she can self-refer to OH if you do have this facility.

[Ihaveanaccount]

please do!!! I've reported it several times, but it won't go :( stupid computer!

[boxtops]

I've done it too.

[Eve]

Me too. Definitely keep a log of everything and get ACAS advice. Is there anything like workplace support there?

[Ihaveanaccount]

Thanks boxtops, yes they do have a HR department. The company we work for is one of the bigger companies in the country.
I will tell my friend to look into speaking to HR, although we don't have access to computers really in our jobs. I know I've been really vague about everything, but I've tried to keep what kind of company we work for out of this. Even don't to not suggesting the gender of the people involved just because I'd hate for something bad to happen!
I not quite sure where to find all these policies are, our manager is not overly forth coming with them.

[Ihaveanaccount]

There is like a 'whistle blowing' phone number in the company, I'm unsure that it would be suitable?

[boxtops]

It sounds as if, although you work for a huge company, it's being kept very locally managed. YOu need to be able to get round/above your manager (who's keeping vital information from you, by the sound of it). When you were sent your contracts of employment, were they signed by someone in HR? That would be a name to phone and ask - even if just to find out where to find the policy about bullying and harassment.
The whistleblowing number - IMO you could use that - it's for confidential reporting of bad/illegal practices.

[Buenchico]

As explained here
http://www.theanswerb.../Question1050961.html
moderators can't remove individual answers. If you're really 'panicky' I could (at your request only) ban your new username, which would mean that this entire thread would disappear.

[boxtops]

That would be a shame chris - I think there is some good advice on here, but I'd agree that this might be the only way to do it, if Ed's not yet picked up the Reports.

[Ihaveanaccount]

yes, it is locally managed. we have an area manager above our manager.
We have to phone in order to get in touch with HR as we have nothing on site, which causes problems with getting numbers without or managers knowledge :/

[Ihaveanaccount]

Thanks chris, I will just hope that, either it gets removed eventually or that no-one notices, fingers crossed!

[Wrongn3mber]

Am I missing something here, why open another account when you could've just as easily asked this in your normal username, unless your friends boss uses answerbank and knows who you are???

[Wrongn3mber]

Oops, sorry I just realised.

[boxtops]

Three cheers for the Ed, all is well!