Quite out of the blue, Ollie’s ex secretary phoned.
After 8 months of unemployment, she’s found a job and she’s happy.
I didn’t have much to report. Worn out, I’m just longing for the Christmas holidays and a chance to recharge my batteries.
The conversation turned to our former firm. She thinks something’s in the wind; a possible new claim against them in the Employment Tribunal. She wondered if there was a way to find out. I didn’t think so, but said I’d do a Google search and see if anything came up.
We finished the conversation agreeing to meet up nearer Christmas, as we did last year, for mince pies and mulled wine in her garden. She’ll burn kindling in her BBQ bucket again. We’ll have a proper catch up.
I haven’t looked at my former firm’s website since I left. They’ve had a redesign; offering a couple of new services. They appear to be doing well. What shocked me, however, is that Howard is still there. His photo and profile have been updated. After everything that went on, they still employ him.
I genuinely believed that when they found out the extent of the bullying, they would quietly get rid of him.
Not the case.
And almost two years on, the gory details will have faded. Howard and his pals will have come to believe the BS of their legal defence against me. They’ll refer to me (as they did everyone who tried to make a stand) as a lonely, malicious secretary who was out to extort money from her employer.
So my attempt to take them to a Tribunal changed absolutely nothing.
Up to the point of Googling their website, I was tired – mostly of being ignored. It’s hard to make a difference. But after seeing how much my former firm have supported Howard. I feel energetic again. They say change is as good as a rest, but this time
no change is as good as a rest. I obviously need to work harder.
My workplace bullying book will be out in March 2012 and I’m going to move heaven and earth to make it a success. I’ll commit whatever it takes in terms of time and money! Details of the launch will be coming soon.
At some point, employers are going to have to sit up and listen.
Best wishes
BBTB