Advice & Support

Obstructive manager: ask the expert

Last year my husband's shifts at work were changed which meant every four weeks we would both be working two evening shifts at the same time.  We have two children 8 and 13.  As we struggle for childcare in the evening I approached my line manager and asked if I could request officially to move my shifts to an early on the occasions this happened.  He told me there was no need to do this as he could be flexible enough to accommodate this as and when it came around.  So far this year my husband has managed to arrange leave from work when these shifts have clashed. However from August onwards he has no more leave to facilitate this.  I approached my line manager and asked if I could move the two conflicting late shifts in August to an early as discussed previously.  He has refused my request and has denied making such an agreement.  He has told me I have to submit a Part-Time Working form (this has been provided by our HR department) and put the shifts for changing on the form.  I have done this, highlighting the changes required and returned it to him.  He has returned the form to me on a number of occasions now telling me he isn't happy it has been done properly. He never gives me any assistance and doesn't highlight where he thinks it has gone wrong.  I am getting very upset by this and I find it hard to ask him questions with regards to the form due to his responses. I feel he is deliberatly obstructing me.  I just want to get the form done and get on with my job.  I handed the form to him on Friday and he handed it back. I have now found out that he is on holiday for two weeks so nothing can happen with the form until he comes back and signs it off.  It also means that I will have to make arrangements for childcare as by the time he comes back the shifts I need to change will have passed.  I have explained my situation to him. I have even said that I may be forced to take unpaid leave if I cannot change these shifts and he has threatened disciplinary action.  Please can you advise me on this matter.

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Am I being pushed out: ask the expert

I recently had to give up my job as my boss was being unreasonable. I worked the night shift for a year before going onto days after Christmas. I spoke to my boss and we agreed (verbally) that if I was to go onto day shifts that I would work a few hours every other weekend and the majority of my hours during the week. I found I was working almost every weekend with long shifts and had to go into the office to discuss this several times. I am contracted for 20 hours a week and was being given 16 hour shifts over the weekend. As a result of this I felt I had no option but to leave my job, but I feel as if I have been pushed out. Can I do anything?

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Am I legally entitled to a risk assessment in pregnancy: ask the expert

Am I legally entitled to a risk assessment in pregnancy: ask the expert

I am currently pregnant with my second child, and notified my employer about eight weeks ago. I have not had a risk assessment done. I tripped over some boxes yesterday and hurt my back, so I am off work today, but I will not get paid for it. I submitted a grievance two weeks ago, but I have not heard anything back. Also the firm are trying to get out of paying me for the bank holiday 29th april and all other staff despite our contracts having a separate paragraph relating to bank holidays written into them. Can you advise please?

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Hostility from maternity leave cover: ask the expert

On my return from maternity leave I was faced with aggression from my maternity leave cover (MLC), who was acting as if he was not willing to give me back my job and falsely accused me of things that happened prior to my maternity leave and to which he was not witness. I complained to my manager first via email, then in a meeting, but he took the side of MLC and did not believe what I said. When asked about his account of events, MLC denied all the aggression and accusations he uttered, and as there were no witnesses my manager refused to act on my complaint. My subordinate is pregnant and MLC was asked to stay and cover her maternity as well, so I may be forced to work with MLC for another year. I went off work for 2 days on stress leave and on my return to work, had a meeting with my manager. I audio recorded that meeting without asking his permission, which is not breaching my contract or company policy. My manager realised I was recording and an hour later an HR manager told me to pack up my things and marched me off the premises, suspending me from work pending investigation of misconduct (within a week of my return from maternity leave). A few days later I raised a formal grievance with HR with regards to MLC aggression and intimidating behaviour from my manager. What can I do?

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Do I have to redo my probation: ask the expert

Do I have to redo my probation: ask the expert

I am due to return back to work in February and they have told me I have to redo my 3 months probation. I was wondering if they can do this and is it standard for all companies?

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