Robin Hood

For the last few years, the Tories have re-negotiated employment rights to the employer’s advantage claiming that doing so would benefit the economy. It was the EU in the main which prevented them going too far, along with some of the stronger unions.

The Tories version of give and take is also worth noting. They gave us The Equality Act 2010, which means that we can’t be bullied at work or harassed and discriminated against on protected grounds of gender, race or disability etc. But then they made it prohibitively expensive to take an Equality Act 2010 case to tribunal or court with court fees running to thousands.

With the EU out of the picture following #Brexit, workers rights and employment law will be looked at again by the Tory right wing.  I’m worried about the forthcoming employment agenda.

We need the strongest Labour government in opposition now. We need the strongest trade unions. I’ve got a lot of respect for Jeremy Corbyn, but this is too big a job for him. We need, um...

 

Robin Hood?

The Go-To Guy

The hibernation I mentioned in my last blog lasted a little longer than anticipated,and I’m sorry for that, but at least the result of it is that I have a new novel coming out in October. The hard work paid off!

But let’s not waste any time in being back at Bullied by the Boss with all things bullying, harassment and employment related.

Ordinarily, I have never allowed adverts on my blog. Over time, people have told me I’m crazy: “Monetise!” they shout. But I don’t want my readers to be distracted by adverts for coats, deodorants and soft drinks when they’re looking for solidarity and support.

I’ve also been approached many times over the years to blog about companies that promote related services. As a rule, I always politely decline.

But recently I got thinking about advertising. There can be great value in personal recommendations. I set myself to working out who would I turn to if workplace bullying were, God forbid, to happen to me again. If I found myself bullied at work and my life again reduced to a daily misery of unhappiness and humiliation, who would I call?

I realised that during my break from blogging the landscape of employment law has been changing fast. It’s all about mediation now. Like litigation, mediation is confidential but it’s quicker and less expensive. With mediation, one bonus is that keeping your job can be an option.

There are a growing number of mediators out there but if mediation fails you don’t want to be hunting around for a lawyer who can progress things further. So my personal recommendation would be a trained mediator who is also an experienced lawyer.

But who in particular would I use?

There is a lawyer about whom I have heard nothing but good things and great results for those having all sorts of trouble at work. And what has prompted this blog is that I’ve just heard he is also now an accredited employment and workplace mediator.

Chris Mayers in Cardiff has seen it all from both Claimant and Defendant side. He’s fearless, but also patient and understanding. If I were to run into a workplace problem again, he’s the guy I would call.  

He’s your go-to guy!

The Magic Pill

Along the way, I’ve given lots of advice on how to cope with workplace bullying and how to move on, but I’ve never been able to prescribe a magic pill: that elusive panacea that can put all things right.

I resigned myself to the sad fact that there were some unpleasant truths targets of workplace bullying have to learn to live with. 

Over the last year, there has been a significant challenge to this mindset and, as a result, I find myself unusually sentimental. A former boss and partner in a law firm has done something completely unexpected. I’ve talked of this boss previously in blog posts. After giving it some thought, he offered to try and put things right for me. At first, I suspected it would only be a month or two before he changed his mind or made his excuses and disappeared. 

On the contrary, he only grew more determined. While it’s fantastic that the legal issues have been successfully resolved, my sentiment stems from how touched I am by his commitment and how vehemently he argued on my behalf. I didn’t realise how much I needed that. I didn’t realise how much emotional baggage I was quietly still dragging around with me. The workplace bullying I went through and the initial attempt to take action was a grim period, but one that is firmly in the past and I can even say, largely thanks to him, that everything worked out in the end. I’m able to say I’m over it.

So this week, I thought it would be good to remind ourselves of the good bosses out there – and they are out there – the bosses who support staff who are seriously ill or going through a time of personal upheaval. These are bosses who know that hard times can be temporary and gratitude is often long lasting. It’s easy to forget these great bosses are out there when you’re working for someone who is a sadistic so-and-so. It’s so easy to think: ‘better the devil you know’. 

I didn’t ever say I had the answer to workplace bullying but, take it from me, a great boss is the antidote. Make it your mission to go and find one!

Very best wishes

BBTB