Title sounds like I'm a crazed stalker or something, but I'm really not.
So for a little context, my partner suffers with some mental health issues that I won't go into. This has meant she has had to take time off work previously. On top of this, she is being bullied by a colleague in the place. After multiple times notifying her management, absolutely nothing was done about it. This is to the point where we feel the workplace is unsafe for her to be in.
She was due to meet her manager about this today. 9.30 am roles around and I get a call from her asking for me to pick her up. I reschedule my meetings, hop in the wagon and hightail it down there. She comes outside, sits in the car and said her manager is waiting for me. I'm a little bit more experienced than her in the workplace so she wanted me to explain things more eloquently than she might otherwise be able.
I meet with the manager, step into his office and shake his hand. Let's get down to it. I expressed concerns that there has been no reasonable accommodations made to support my partner in work. His response? “I've gone above and beyond”. Could he explain how? “I've spoken to her for several hours and organised a lift home for her”. OK sir, talk about shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted. Tell me what you are doing to ensure her safety in work?
After what he said next, I nearly fell out of my chair. “How is this my responsbility? What would you have me do?”. Well, this guy obviously is unqualified for his job as employers, in my country, have a duty of care to their employees regarding health and safety. And yes, mental health does fall in to this legislation. Obviously I politely let him know. What should he do about it? Well, he could start by ensuring these employees have minimal contact. “I'm not running I kindergarten” he replied sharply. Well I probably wouldn't trust him to run one either. He asked again what would I have him do? You are the manager sir, it's your damn job.
I told him that there is no need for any disciplinary. You just need to mitigate any fallout from this immediate situation, alongside putting a safety plan in place to ensure my partners wellbeing. “How is that my responsibility?”. I again reminded him that employers have a duty of care. He wasn't getting it. I outlined that leaving a job due to bullying is constructive dismissal. Still not landing. I told him we have the dates, times and details of every incident alongside dates, times and details of when she notified her management. This. Guy. Still. Didn't. Get. It.
He once again asked me how it was his responsibility. Unfortunately, my frustration was getting the better of me. I told him there was no value in continuing our conversation and asked to speak to the owner of the business. No response, but he repeated that damn question. I had to ask “are you really this dense that you aren't getting this?”. Then he asked me to leave. I, of course, left without incident. I took solace in the fact that this poor excuse of a manager had tears in his eyes as I left.
Back in the car with my partner. She fills me in on the details of the meeting that preceeded my own. This waste of space called her an attention seeker, said everyone in the business was laughing at her and had brought this all on herself. God. Damn.
My partner will be handing in her notice tomorrow. She has several interviews lined up already. I'm just sat here wallowing in the fact that had I had the full context, this guy would have really had something to cry about.