Bullying/Harassment in the work place . . need some advice

Out of interest, do you have a union? We have one in Tesco. Although, I'm guessing it's not really a serious enough matter, but it's worth keeping in mind if this woman continues to nag at you.

Why can't you get your manager and the checkout bitch to talk about what you're entitled to? I actually think you're doing the right thing in talking it out with your manager, but the situation is hardly worthy of a letter or union action. It appears to be a miscommunication or the usual supermarket team leader who has an inflated opinion of themselves because they're in a position of authority. Supermarkets give thick people a uniform and they love it.

I wouldn't say it was bullying, but harassment yes. You should write a letter as soon as possible.
I was bullied when i worked at argos. I don't even know why they just made up all these rules i was breaking, for not smiling or something stupid and putting it down on a permanent file. And whenever i spoke to someone they would just turn away. It didn't help the manager was in on it too.
I wish i did something about it, i just stopped going in.

But yes, do something about that woman. If not she might get worse.

I'm not quite sure about the union, but I will have a look on the company website and see.

The colleague handbook states this for breaks:

1) Under 4hours = no break
2) Over 4.5 hours (u. 18s) = 30mins
3) 4 less than 6hours = 15mins
4) 6 - less than 8hours = 20mins
5) 8 or more hours = 30mins

Option 4 is what I was instructed by and that is what I have been doing since the start of the year. (I originally worked Sundays for 2years+, but changed to Saturdays).

I don't want union action, I just want this woman sorted once and for all. I'm not putting up with it, being spoken to like **** in front of waiting customers - I don't know who she thinks she is, but like you said once you put thick people into a position, they think they are God and their **** doesn't stink which is the impression I get from this woman. . .walks around with a bag, full of barcodes, a folder with fruit and veg codes and her nose stuck firmly in the air.

I kind of regret my comment before as there are some really nice people in my store who I consider friends. There's also some great managers who do their job properly and actually speak to you on the same level. However, this woman sounds exactly like my Tesco checkout manager so much! The 'power' thing is definitely true of her and a few other managers in the store. It's like they enjoy talking down to you or think they're superior for some unbeknown reason. She really is a dopey slag. Supermarket's are so bitchy...

Yea a restaurant job I had - where I was bullied and harassed - they just made up crap as well. Literally I ended up doing everything whilst they sat on their backsides and had breakfast, drank tea/coffee and told me to ''get back to work''. That job was the worst 6months of my life - I detested going there every weekend. Use to cry the night before - eventually another job came up and I was gone = 24hours before my shift was due to start (dropped them in the ****) . . that is how bad I hated it. That is why i feel very strongly about this incident . . I want it sorted as im not being turfed out of another job, no way.

Hello all,

Right . .I work @ Asda, one day a week - 6hrs. A few weeks ago (February) I was due a break. A woman came to take me off my checkout so I could have my break. She said to me ''15mins?'' . . I replied with ''No, it's 20mins'' . . and she started getting gobby and chopsy. So I went to my manager and asked ''Am I entitled to 15mins or 20min break?'', she replied with ''20mins paid break''. So I took that and went on my break. Came back to my checkout and I said to the woman ''Oh by the way my break is 20mins, I asked <manager name> and that is what she told me''. That was the end of that.

Today I was due a break . .the same woman came along and took me off. Now whilst you are on checkout you can check the time and print off a slip that shows you this, checkout operator name and ''rings'' per a transaction. I went on my 20mins break, had lunch and made my way back. On my way back my name was announced across the tannoy system ''can <my name> please return to the checkouts, thank you'' . . I was like OMG im not even late. Got to my checkout and the woman said ''where were you?'' . .I said '' err coming down the stairs as my name was bellowed out across the store'' . . . .she said ''you've had a 25min break!'' . .I said ''lNo I haven't. I asked <manager name> few weeks ago and she said its 20mins'' . . .''NO its not'', she said angrily in front of waiting customers. She was v rude, and I kinda felt like I was getting a grilling from a busy body kiss arse who thinks she knows it all when really she knows **** all! . .I didn't play up to her shouting and etc in front of the customers as I didn't want to make myself look like an idiot in front of customers and furthermore it wouldn't go down well for the store. After her outburst I ignored her, the slips she printed off showing time she got on my checkout and time she got off my checkout she ran to the checkout host and told her the ''lil story''. Now I confronted that checkout host and she so called said she threw the lil slips in the bin . . but I don't believe her!!

This is the 2nd time I have had a run in with this stupid woman . .I felt very intimated and also felt like it was a form of bullying, harassment . . . I was bullied and harassed out of a previous job and I am NOT putting up with it again. Right now I am constructing a letter to inform my manager of this whole incident . . . .as I want it sorted and I want her sorted as well as I am fed up of being spoken to like a piece of ****!

Now do you think it is a form of bullying/harassment?? and is it a wise idea writing a letter or better talking it out with the manager or should I simply forget about the whole thing????? . . . .

You need to calm down and get the situation in perspective. You have one bad tempered work colleague who doesn't understand the terms and conditions of your contract. If you have another situation where she behaves inappropriately in front of customers then you need to immediately step away from her, and go and see the Supervisor. Explain calmly and clearly to the Supervisor, that 'Maureen is very upset about the time I too for my break. I don't want to get it wrong, but please could you confirm that as I have a 6 hour shift, I am entitled to a 20 minute break?' And then ask the Supervisor to come back and explain that to Maureen, because this is the third time Maureen has complained to you.

To call two two minute incidents of bad temper from a peer bullying or harassment diminishes the situation of people who are systematically and methodically bullied and harassed. I understand that you don't want this woman to keep on with her complaints about your timekeeping, but there are a whole series of professional options before declaring it a case of bullying. You need to learn how to deal with these situations in the work place with a series of measured responses. Declaring every bump in the road bullying or harassment will do you no good in terms of creating and maintaining a career

You need to calm down and get the situation in perspective. You have one bad tempered work colleague who doesn't understand the terms and conditions of your contract. If you have another situation where she behaves inappropriately in front of customers then you need to immediately step away from her, and go and see the Supervisor. Explain calmly and clearly to the Supervisor, that 'Maureen is very upset about the time I too for my break. I don't want to get it wrong, but please could you confirm that as I have a 6 hour shift, I am entitled to a 20 minute break?' And then ask the Supervisor to come back and explain that to Maureen, because this is the third time Maureen has complained to you.

To call two two minute incidents of bad temper from a peer bullying or harassment diminishes the situation of people who are systematically and methodically bullied and harassed. I understand that you don't want this woman to keep on with her complaints about your timekeeping, but there are a whole series of professional options before declaring it a case of bullying. You need to learn how to deal with these situations in the work place with a series of measured responses. Declaring every bump in the road bullying or harassment will do you no good in terms of creating and maintaining a career

. . Declaring every bump in the road bullying or harassment will do you no good in terms of creating and maintaining a career

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Listen to this ^, dont make it into some massive deal because it will just piss people off in the end and make you look bad.

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We're not asking you to suffer in silence at all. If you write the letter it may look like your making a big deal over something minor. If it's to get your feelings across then okay.. although to me, It just seems a little OTT for the situation you've described.

I've experienced bullying in a previous position which was much more subtle and very difficult to prove (even to myself) that it was happening. Be glad that your "bully" is being upfront about it so you have actual proof/witnesses etc if it did get really bad.