Sis off sick with workplace stress - 6 months - now company counterattack

Maryb50

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Hi!

What to do? My sis was off sick - we thought she wouldn't recover - from semi state body due to constant bullying by another admin grade. She's admin too e.g. files being transferred to bully as part of work and bully saying documentation wasn't on them, but sister had checked everything twice. Bully saying that clients had said she was late, when she asked clients, they said she wasn't late and they had never said that.

Saying that clients had said she never returned their calls, when sister rang them to say she sorry if she had forgotten to return their calls, they said she hadn't and they never said that. Bully said my sis shouted at her, but wouldn't give names of witnesses, and then said it was down the phone.

Now management are believing the bully without any investigation/3rd party investigation, even though my sister is the one who was off sick, and they have seen some of the things the bully has done.

My sister is still seeing a counsellor because of all this. The company sent letters asking my sis to come back and not leave - and now this is happening they are believing the bully, and talking about disciplining my sister. Company have delayed investigation constantly.

What does anyone make of this? What is the best approach?
 
I would take legal advice. I know a really good work rights solicitor who specialises in semI states bullying cases. I used him myself and have since recommended him to several colleagues and hr just crumble once they see his name.
 
Hi! Amte, could you pm me his number. Thanks so much. Can't believe this is happening 5 months after my sister is back in work!
 
I don't know the name of the solicitor that has been recommended, however, based on other messages posted by this poster, I had a consultation with the said solicitor and I was very disappointed.
 
I can recommend Craig Robertson of HR-SOS - my OH used him a few years ago and we found him to be excellent. He was cheaper than a solicitor too. No other affiliation.

You can get his details at: http://www.hr-sos.ie/
 
I don't know the name of the solicitor that has been recommended, however, based on other messages posted by this poster, I had a consultation with the said solicitor and I was very disappointed.

If you don't know the name of the solicitor, how do you know you had a consultation with them? :confused:

Or are you saying you had a consultation with a solicitor, whose name you don't know?! o_O
 
The facts here are sparse. The OP probably does not want to identify the company. However, thinking outside normal lines (and I could argue for the "bully" too) the sister here appears to be somewhat naive and fairly weak. The bully is well organised.

The sister has got to write down her side of the scenario from start to a current date and keep recording what is happening. The bully has got the higher ground because (a) it is alleged that sister shouted at her. (b) Sister is out sick and cannot defend herself. (c) I bet the bully is "well in" with management too.

Not unusual for management, they believe the last story told and worse again they way it was told. Worse again they probably believe that the bully is the victim.

A bully is a born liar and because they lie so much they can tell a good story shoving in some facts with the lies to augment their situation.

Déise Blue suggested sister to approach her union. Unions often pay the legal expenses of their members in situations like this. I think this is the best option. Furthermore, she will learn of her situation and perhaps have some decent un-naive representation on the matter.
 
marybe,
from the thread your sis is falling into unprovable verbal territory ie I said v you said.
Is she in a union ? (as per posters )if so they very probably have advice to offer.

If she doesn,t record things/date things /copy things etc , she is wasting her time .
Is there no personel department ? most semi-states have bullying type procedures.

From the sparse info , she would waste time getting a solicitor.
 
Has your sister filed a grievance against the bully? If she hasn't then quite probably as far as management are concerned, her side of the story doesn't exist. Whilst I agree she should approach her union I would also urge her to be careful with unions, quite probable the other party is also a member and depending on who she/he knows, they may takes sides (without making it obvious). I've seen that in the past.
 
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