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!

[boxtops]

If you Google your company name and "HR telephone numbers" - you just might find something.

[TWR]

I do not intended for you to disclose the Comp I Have, but it seems it involves care?? I do not think I'm far out on this! this is where my problem started. give your friend my regards but advise her/him, do not let this get the person down, I am fighting for my reputation as of now, & I will win!!!!

[Ihaveanaccount]

Thanks, I looked for our head office number and found that. So I'm sure we can find HR from there. Thank you so much for all your help. I just hope we can sort this for my friends sake!

[Ihaveanaccount]

P.s thank you ED!

[boxtops]

Let us know how you and your friend get on!

[saxy_jag]

As well as HR, does the the company have an occupational health department/provider? When my husband was having similar problems a couple of years ago he discovered that he could self-refer to his employer's occ. health partners. They were amazing - acted as a go-between with his employers, offered counselling and coping strategies and backed him up every inch of the way.

I'm with the others here too - encourage your friend to keep a log of anything that happens, and you do the same too. Also, if your friend is member of a trade union, then get them on board. If not, it would pay to join one ASAP.

Take care.

[buildersmate]

To get back on topic, having kept a couple of examples of events, with notes on what happened, when etc. approach HR and explain the situation stated you are being bullied and wish to raise a grievance. Company has to treat this seriously and investigate the allegations using a manager to investigate not involved in the situation. The issue with bullying (that any decent HR department knows) is that it is the perception of the individual being bullied that has to be considered.
HR departments know that there is quite a bit of case-law at employment tribunal related to bullying in the last few years - and failure to treat a grievance seriously runs the risk of the employer resigning and claiming constructive dismissal at Employment Tribunal.
No need to join a union at all.

[Mosaic]

Buildersmate and I agree to differ on this, so I would simply state my view that it is risky to go ahead without a union rep close by you, and with union legal advice to fall back on.