problems.....
What do I do if I am enduring discrimnation, harassment or bullying?
Steps to follow:
- Don’t Doubt yourself.
- Contact your Union representative or a trusted colleague immediately for support.
If you are unable to contact your Local or Brigade FBU representative, immediately contact a Regional or Sectional Official or the FBU Confidential Stress and Counselling Helpline on 0800 783 4778.
Contact details for officials are available on the union’s web site www.fbu.org.uk and a list of National Womens Committee contacts are available on this website under contacts
- Collect evidence - the best way to do this would be to, discretely, keep written records of incidents in a diary or notebook and if you feel able ask other colleagues to do the same, so that they can later act as witnesses. Make sure that you have a written record wherever possible, stating:-
When -the date of an incident
Where -where the incident took place
What -the type of incident and what happened.
- Make sure that you let the harasser know that their actions and/or remarks are unwelcome and unwanted.
If you feel unable to do this, get a colleague, a friend or Union Official to do it for you or with you.
- Take avoiding action wherever possible e.g. Try where possible, to ensure that someone is with you when the harasser is present.
- Speak to other people in the workplace and find out if they have been subjected to such discrimination, harassment or bullying. Seek support from colleagues in countering the harassment. Hopefully this will make you feel less isolated and you may discover that other colleagues have also been abused. This is important because other people in the workplace can be called as witnesses if the harasser is disciplined.
- Always make sure you make a note of any witnesses and also any work that you were given and whether you completed it satisfactorily.
Keep a record of favourable comments about your work. This can help in ensuring that your credibility cannot be attacked on the basis of your ability to carry out the job.
- You should also visit your doctor as soon as possible and copies of any certificates given by the doctor for time off as a result of what is happening at work should be retained.
- Ask the FBU representative to tell the harasser that formal steps of complaint will be taken if they will not cease the conduct. Make sure that a note is kept of subsequent conversations with the harasser, where they took place, the date and time and what was said.
If the above doesn't work, then on your behalf, your FBU representative or Regional Official should make a formal complaint, with your agreement, as quickly as possible to the appropriate manager.
WHAT SUPPORT CAN YOU EXPECT?
The FBU aims to equip all its officials with the necessary skills to support all members to ensuring that they are treated with dignity and respect.
Complaints will be treated in confidence and officials will discuss with you how you would like it to be dealt with, your wishes will be paramount.
Officials dealing with your complaint will have access to legal advice, through their Brigade, Regional or Sectional Officials and will also be in a position to arrange legal advice to be given to you. If appropriate and with your agreement then the union can appoint solicitors to assist with your complaint to management and possibly to an Employment Tribunal. This will normally be done if the approach as described fails to bring a satisfactory end to the complaint. If appropriate, FBU officials will help you to draft a grievance. Although all Brigades/ FRS have diffferent variations of the Grievance Procedure a rough outline of what you can expect is detailed below.
Should you feel unable to approach local officials you should contact your Executive Council member or write to the National Officer responsible for FAW at FBU Head Office for advice.
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Fire Brigades Union
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Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee