Evening Ladies,
Where would you draw the line as work place bullying?
Sorry ladies but this is going to be a long as I need to give you the majority of the story as you will be here forever if I gave you the full story to understand. I need advice, I work in a small pub in a rural area, mostly female employees with a couple of males employees (chefs) & one being the owner. Owners (married couple) won't hire males due to they think males as lazy & don't clean & do the job right? Not that difficult, Pouring a beer isn't rocket science!!!
I'm the type of person who doesn't take shit and won't accept it. For some reason I am this time, Ive taken on my last boss who owns numerous million dollar venues and gain more respect from him for doing it. Not with this boss...I say something and my hours are reduced or smart comments are made to make my shift at work HELL.. Was told tonight that I'm a gossip and am starting rumours & I shouldn't believe what I see or hear!!!
My boss informed me that my hours have been dropped (10hrs a week) as im "supposably" a fake person & act like I'm someone else when there around. I seem like a person who doesn't want to work and would rather stay home & be a dole bludger. They've told me that customers think the same. Half the time I don't even realise there around and I don't really care if they are, I get in, get my job done &leave. The male owner has a personality of someone I would love to punch in the face. Even family who have never meet him have said his a "pig"
The male owner will sexually explicit some of the girls to keep customers. One girl locked herself in the toilets for over an hour on NYE cause of it. He is the type of person who expects everyone to be yes "Michael" & never no "Michael". They have favourites & I'm happy I'm not one of them. I don't suck up to get anywhere in a job. My problem is I want to leave my job I can't financially afford to stay at my job as anyone who works in hospitality will know what it's like to get spilt shifts and having to travel 20kms to & from work can be costly. As we live in a small rural area, he knows everyone and will tell everyone bull shit which will prevent me from getting another job that's why I haven't left yet. He also knows I can't afford to quit due to loans & and the area has a one of Australia higest unemployement rate, due to no growth in the area. He plays on this.
Mind you he allows his Duty Manager to drinks on the job and is drunk by the time she close the venue at night. Most of us girls are amazed she hasn't been done drink driving...
What would you do??? Put up with it as what money I am getting in a wage is partially paying my bills and putting food and a roof over my kids heads?? His bullshit is affecting my marriage..
* Michael is not his real name*
3 Replies
Depends how far you want to take it honestly, you could do an number of things like speak to work place ombudsman or fair work aust but you need to be prepared for a fight and they sound like vindictive ppl that may just make your job even harder or you could just find a good excuse and resign.
If the boss is known around town as a trouble maker/gossip, his slander shouldn't stick for a new job. If you can get a job before leaving this one that would be the best financially. What about the other pub in town? They might be keen to take on a good worker. Also, go and see your JSA provider. If anyone asks, say you went to ask about extra training (not jobs). They have to be confidential, but I do get people see you walk in the door and 'assume', so have your story ready.
Either way keep a diary of EVERYTHING - when where, what, how it made you feel. Even if you never use it, it is there in case.
As far as hubby, get him on side - he needs to be in your corner. If he can, get him to drop you at work and pick you up - even walking you inside, so the boss sees he's with you. Make a plan to find a new job with his help - make sure he is involved so he can see how hard you are trying and that you're not the 'starter' of the gossip. Take him to the JSA with you.
I had a boss once that fed all sorts of false 'gossip' about everyone at work hating me. Then a group of us were talking one day and we realised she was doing it to each of us to keep us apart. Once we all knew what was going on she lost her power.
Good luck.
firstly I am the person who sent in this question. I have never spoken to his family about him, nor would I ever unless I knew them personally outside of work and I didn't know or speak to the owners or his family outside of business hours. I have meet his parents but nothing more then hi and how are you when they were visiting from interstate. I follow directions and do my job as asked even more then required some days. It was my family who referred to him as a pig of a person. I've been looking for another job for the last 6months but as 1 position can have over 200 applicants it's every hard to find another job..