Advice please - incident at work
mailmannz
Posts: 173
Stick with me as I describe the situation surrounding an incident at work a month ago.
In January my work moved to a brand new office building. Up until that point bike parking had been securely behind security guarded fences and barbwire, which of course meant that in living memory no one could ever recall a bike being stolen.
This could not be said for the bike park in the front of work, where a number of bikes had been stolen over the years (including two from the same cyclist).
It became evident very quickly that our new bike park area in our new office was not up to scratch. The bike area was not behind a security gate and our building managers, at that time, advised that there were no plans to secure the area. Worse still, the bike area was up several flights of steps, which when wet become slippery!
As more staff moved in to the new building the calls for the building managers to secure the area became louder. But still, the managers advised that not only were no plans being made to secure the bike area BUT that more bike storage would be moved into what was already a pretty tight space.
February came and went, very little in the way of engagement from building managers came to light. March arrived and still nothing much in the way of progress could be seen, inspite of our bike group becoming very active in lobbying the managers to secure the area.
Then at the end of March the first bike got stolen...but wait for it...how the theives got the bike out of the area was to undo the bolts that secured the bike stand to the bike frame and then just slide the bike out of the bike rack, lock and all! Since this first incident, two other bikes have been stolen! Security guards watching the CCTV admitted they saw something suspicious the first time but did nothing then the second time it took them 44 seconds to respond but by then the bike theives were long gone!
Again, our bike users lobbied the building managers to secure the area, keeping in mind that concern had previously been raised about the safety of staff in the area (especially female staff) and in the area immediately around the building (not exactly the safest of neighbourhood) yet all the building managers did was to place 2 signs in the bike area warning staff that they parked there at their own risk.
Then on the 2nd of April I encountered three school boys walking through the bike area as I prepared my bike to head home. I advised the boys that they were on private property and that they shouldnt be there. One of them ignored me and started to continue through the bike area. It was at this point that I stopped that boy and then escourted all three from the area and back down the route they came.
At this point the boys (most likely no older than 12 or 14) started to hurl abuse at me, which I hurled a few choice words back. Turning my back I returned to my bike to continue preparing it to return home when a 4x2 piece of wood landed in the bike area near me. I saw this and thought nothing of it and continued getting ready to go home. At this point a spanner type object flew past me narrowly missing my head!
All of this took place in the view of CCTV yet in the 20 minutes I waited in the bike area for assistance to arrive NOT a single security guard turned up!
I cycled home that night and a couple hours after the incident occured I sent an email to one of our building managers, where I compared their lack of progress to that of a broken down vehicle made in the old Eastern Block!
2 days passed and I had not received a reply, I had to chase the building manager before he replied, but merely advised that my email had been passed to the project team. That email was on the 4th of April.
SInce that date I had not heard a thing, although since then the building managers have stationed a security guard in our bike storage area and made solid plans to secure the area but still, not one had got back to me over my email.
So on the 1st of May I escalated my complaint to the director of works building managers and the UK manager, where I compared the building managers lack of action to them not taking the safety of staff seriously (due to my utter frustration).
This afternoon I received a reply, a rather long winded this is what we are doing email which ended with a concern at my lack of professionalism in my earlier emails (this inspite of a subsequent exchange yesterday where I apologiesed for the tone and pointed out my tone was due my frustration at the lack of apparent activity OR that no one had bothered to get back to me about my email).
About 30 minutes after this email arrives my line manager pulls me aside to warn me the building manager had complained about my lack of professionalism in my emails and that this had been escalated to our director and I would be in serious trouble if our big senior executives were informed of my emails!
I could not believe what I was hearing! I was the f8cker who had been "attacked" in the bike area YET the building managers only concern appeared to be me comparing his area to a bloody old car!
My line manager informed me I would be meeting with the director on Tuesday to discuss my email! I was absolutely gob smacked! Ney, disgusted by the ass covering that was going on!
So I guess, the point of this email is, what does the jury think I should do?
Was I bang out of order comparing these guys to a rickety old russian car? Should I have dared to question their committment to the safety of staff in the building? or should I wheel lawyers in and do them for breaking health and safety regulations?
I was not happy when I wrote my first email and pointed out to the building manager that had the area been secured the little scrotes would never have been able to get in to the bike area in the first place! I also ended that I wanted some solid answers otherwise Id escalate the issue outside of work (after all, a mayoral election was to be held, but I didnt say this).
The first couple of months in the building we had tried to get our view across that the bike area needed to be secured. Not forgetting that work runs a bike to work scheme that allows people to get bikes up to £1500 for biking to work and that most of our requests for improving the bike area had been stone walled or referred to the project team (and then nothing further heard back). So this incident was the breaking point for my patience with the building managers apparent lack of activity.
Sorry for the rant but Im absolutely disgusted at how this has turned out!
Regards
Mailman
In January my work moved to a brand new office building. Up until that point bike parking had been securely behind security guarded fences and barbwire, which of course meant that in living memory no one could ever recall a bike being stolen.
This could not be said for the bike park in the front of work, where a number of bikes had been stolen over the years (including two from the same cyclist).
It became evident very quickly that our new bike park area in our new office was not up to scratch. The bike area was not behind a security gate and our building managers, at that time, advised that there were no plans to secure the area. Worse still, the bike area was up several flights of steps, which when wet become slippery!
As more staff moved in to the new building the calls for the building managers to secure the area became louder. But still, the managers advised that not only were no plans being made to secure the bike area BUT that more bike storage would be moved into what was already a pretty tight space.
February came and went, very little in the way of engagement from building managers came to light. March arrived and still nothing much in the way of progress could be seen, inspite of our bike group becoming very active in lobbying the managers to secure the area.
Then at the end of March the first bike got stolen...but wait for it...how the theives got the bike out of the area was to undo the bolts that secured the bike stand to the bike frame and then just slide the bike out of the bike rack, lock and all! Since this first incident, two other bikes have been stolen! Security guards watching the CCTV admitted they saw something suspicious the first time but did nothing then the second time it took them 44 seconds to respond but by then the bike theives were long gone!
Again, our bike users lobbied the building managers to secure the area, keeping in mind that concern had previously been raised about the safety of staff in the area (especially female staff) and in the area immediately around the building (not exactly the safest of neighbourhood) yet all the building managers did was to place 2 signs in the bike area warning staff that they parked there at their own risk.
Then on the 2nd of April I encountered three school boys walking through the bike area as I prepared my bike to head home. I advised the boys that they were on private property and that they shouldnt be there. One of them ignored me and started to continue through the bike area. It was at this point that I stopped that boy and then escourted all three from the area and back down the route they came.
At this point the boys (most likely no older than 12 or 14) started to hurl abuse at me, which I hurled a few choice words back. Turning my back I returned to my bike to continue preparing it to return home when a 4x2 piece of wood landed in the bike area near me. I saw this and thought nothing of it and continued getting ready to go home. At this point a spanner type object flew past me narrowly missing my head!
All of this took place in the view of CCTV yet in the 20 minutes I waited in the bike area for assistance to arrive NOT a single security guard turned up!
I cycled home that night and a couple hours after the incident occured I sent an email to one of our building managers, where I compared their lack of progress to that of a broken down vehicle made in the old Eastern Block!
2 days passed and I had not received a reply, I had to chase the building manager before he replied, but merely advised that my email had been passed to the project team. That email was on the 4th of April.
SInce that date I had not heard a thing, although since then the building managers have stationed a security guard in our bike storage area and made solid plans to secure the area but still, not one had got back to me over my email.
So on the 1st of May I escalated my complaint to the director of works building managers and the UK manager, where I compared the building managers lack of action to them not taking the safety of staff seriously (due to my utter frustration).
This afternoon I received a reply, a rather long winded this is what we are doing email which ended with a concern at my lack of professionalism in my earlier emails (this inspite of a subsequent exchange yesterday where I apologiesed for the tone and pointed out my tone was due my frustration at the lack of apparent activity OR that no one had bothered to get back to me about my email).
About 30 minutes after this email arrives my line manager pulls me aside to warn me the building manager had complained about my lack of professionalism in my emails and that this had been escalated to our director and I would be in serious trouble if our big senior executives were informed of my emails!
I could not believe what I was hearing! I was the f8cker who had been "attacked" in the bike area YET the building managers only concern appeared to be me comparing his area to a bloody old car!
My line manager informed me I would be meeting with the director on Tuesday to discuss my email! I was absolutely gob smacked! Ney, disgusted by the ass covering that was going on!
So I guess, the point of this email is, what does the jury think I should do?
Was I bang out of order comparing these guys to a rickety old russian car? Should I have dared to question their committment to the safety of staff in the building? or should I wheel lawyers in and do them for breaking health and safety regulations?
I was not happy when I wrote my first email and pointed out to the building manager that had the area been secured the little scrotes would never have been able to get in to the bike area in the first place! I also ended that I wanted some solid answers otherwise Id escalate the issue outside of work (after all, a mayoral election was to be held, but I didnt say this).
The first couple of months in the building we had tried to get our view across that the bike area needed to be secured. Not forgetting that work runs a bike to work scheme that allows people to get bikes up to £1500 for biking to work and that most of our requests for improving the bike area had been stone walled or referred to the project team (and then nothing further heard back). So this incident was the breaking point for my patience with the building managers apparent lack of activity.
Sorry for the rant but Im absolutely disgusted at how this has turned out!
Regards
Mailman
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Comments
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Ok, a fair number of views and no advice...so i guess Ill post a condensed readers digest version for those who dont have an hour to read my rant
1. We move in to new offices.
2. Bike area isnt secure.
3. bikes get stolen.
4. I have a run in with three boys who then throw wood and a spanner, that narrowly misses my head, in to the bike area from the street.
5. I complain to building manager, who only replies after I chase him for a response a couple days later.
6. Nearly a month goes by and no formal response to my complaint.
7. I escalate to director and UK manager. They write back complaining about my lack of professionalism because I dared to compare them to a rusty old eastern block car.
8. Line manager pulls me aside to say building managers have escalated due to my comparing them to an old rickety car.
9. Director having a chat with me on Tuesday about daring to question building managers committment to providing a safe environment to work in.
10. What do I do?
Mailman0 -
I think they're having a laugh! The buildings manager is there to look after the facilities so that staff can work in a safe and efficient manner. It isn't your job to sort this kind of thing out and yet the facilities guy seems to think he's above it (well my impression anyway). Who are the director and UK manager? I assume it's all one big company as opposed to being subcontracted out? You probably shouldn't have compared them to a rusty car though... However, perhaps if you calmly explained your situation and that you feel threatened and expect a safe environment to park your bike in I would assume they would understand. If you were injured on their premises your compensation would buy you quite a few very nice bikes I think!
So, in your position I would be humble to start with even though I feel you were entirely justified but that's just the way the world works. You'll need to judge the situation really, pointing out their liability could wind them up so I'd be careful.
It's your job so you've got everything to lose so you can choose whether to follow any of my advice at your own risk!0 -
mailmannz wrote:Ok, a fair number of views and no advice...so i guess Ill post a condensed readers digest version for those who dont have an hour to read my rant
1. We move in to new offices.
2. Bike area isnt secure.
3. bikes get stolen.
4. I have a run in with three boys who then throw wood and a spanner, that narrowly misses my head, in to the bike area from the street.
5. I complain to building manager, who only replies after I chase him for a response a couple days later.
6. Nearly a month goes by and no formal response to my complaint.
7. I escalate to director and UK manager. They write back complaining about my lack of professionalism because I dared to compare them to a rusty old eastern block car.
8. Line manager pulls me aside to say building managers have escalated due to my comparing them to an old rickety car.
9. Director having a chat with me on Tuesday about daring to question building managers committment to providing a safe environment to work in.
10. What do I do?
Mailman
Any or all of the following
Go & see HR and advise them of your concerns
Talk to a senior member of staff who maybe sympathetic but is not in your direct reporting line
email your story direct to the CEO
Keep quiet, apologise & keep your head down
Resign
Massacre your co-workers<a>road</a>0 -
Its not straightforward.
You've obviously pi55sed people off, and being right isn't necessarily much help at this stage. 1-9 aren't really what its about though, they are just colour commentary. This is about the contents of emails.
i.e. simply - junior employee writes rude e-mail to senior employee (or landlords?) and is complains about;
- company's new bike facilities (£)
- company's security provisions (£)
- how good a job the senior employee/landlord is doing.
This isn't inended to be a judgement, merely a suggestion to focus on the issues at hand, as perceived by someone who really doesn't have the time and energy for this sort of sh1t (your director).
If you really think this is going to be more than a "reign your neck in or else" chat, and the start of something formal, or worse a summary action made irrespective of your statutory rights, then information is power.
If you are in a union, have a chat. If not, perhaps a CAB. They aren't lawyers, but they hear and advise on these things all the time and will be able to put your e-mail, which you should show them, into context. Either way, have a browse of your employment contract and any company manual to get a jist of that you should expect if a formal disciplinary procedure is being initiated.
Sincerely - I hope this turns out okay. I've had a couple of rancid employers (and a couple of fantastic ones) and the above is honest (and unqualified) advice to set aside the issues that got you aggitated in the first place. If you are in a hole, stop digging.0 -
el_presidente wrote:email your story direct to the CEO
Do not e-mail the CEO (or anyone else right now).
the rest is reasonable though. providing you don't expect anyone to stick their neck out for you. They might, just don't expect it. 0 -
Vote Number 2 for going postal.0
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I genuinely wish you good luck with your predicament, but..
As some one who is occasionaly on the other side of such situations, i do find myself reading your post and getting a little bit cross. The rights or wrongs of the case aside, it seems the whole situation has been greatly exagerated by your (and I'm being polite..) lack of tact and people skills.
Maybe next time you'll handle "people" in a more appropriate manner. Many people seem to think its perfectly reasonable to treat any one in a public facing position with (and I will be polite again) utter contempt. Its very easy to spout of irrationaly, as I'm doing here, but there are occasions where it will come back and bite you!
Rant over... I trust you get away with a bit of a wrist-slapping, lets hope your boss doesn't view this as too serious a display of your, lets say, poor judgement. Ok rant really over now.*Rock Lobster Team Tig SL (22lb 14oz)
*C. Late 1950's Fixed Gear
*1940 Raleigh Dawn Tourist with rod brakes0 -
Regarding suggestions about emailing the CEO. Count to ten and think what your emails have done so far, and then read the line in this post about "stopping digging when your in a hole.."*Rock Lobster Team Tig SL (22lb 14oz)
*C. Late 1950's Fixed Gear
*1940 Raleigh Dawn Tourist with rod brakes0 -
Captain Turok wrote:I genuinely wish you good luck with your predicament, but..
As some one who is occasionaly on the other side of such situations, i do find myself reading your post and getting a little bit cross. The rights or wrongs of the case aside, it seems the whole situation has been greatly exagerated by your (and I'm being polite..) lack of tact and people skills.
Maybe next time you'll handle "people" in a more appropriate manner. Many people seem to think its perfectly reasonable to treat any one in a public facing position with (and I will be polite again) utter contempt. Its very easy to spout of irrationaly, as I'm doing here, but there are occasions where it will come back and bite you!
Rant over... I trust you get away with a bit of a wrist-slapping, lets hope your boss doesn't view this as too serious a display of your, lets say, poor judgement. Ok rant really over now.
Slightly harsh. :oops:
But, well, yes.
The flip side is that these bl00dy things called e-mails have this unfortunate way of tricking us into writing what we might say, or worse, think. It seems reasonable to expect high level of restraint with a typed document, but so many people don't, suggesting that e-mails exploit some peculiar weakness in people.
There are so many more tempting ways to incriminate yourself indellibly these days.0 -
Always Tyred wrote:Slightly harsh. :oops:
But, well, yes.
"Harsh"... maybe... OK yes it possibly was, I'm in a charitable mood (it must be the long weekend).
But emails (let me guess, a company script on the bottom?) are not the time to rant, thats what forums are for!?
*Rock Lobster Team Tig SL (22lb 14oz)
*C. Late 1950's Fixed Gear
*1940 Raleigh Dawn Tourist with rod brakes0 -
Cheers guys,
Yes, pulling the old head in is probably the only way I will get this issue closed off.
The real shame here is that we had been trying to get the building manager to secure the bike area since January without any success so after a bike had got stolen and all the building manager did was to place two signs in the bike area saying you park here at your own risk, the run in with the boys was the last resort.
As I explained, my email was a result of frustration and a lack of apparent progress in securing the area.
Its a real shame that instead of concentrating on providing a safe work place for staff, instead our building managers have gone in to ass covering mode.
Capn T, as for tact and people management skills, meh, I have more important things to do (like my actual work) than to have to worry about upsetting cry babies
Mailman
Mailman0 -
mailmannz wrote:Capn T, as for tact and people management skills, meh, I have more important things to do (like my actual work) than to have to worry about upsetting cry babies
Fair play chap and good luck.*Rock Lobster Team Tig SL (22lb 14oz)
*C. Late 1950's Fixed Gear
*1940 Raleigh Dawn Tourist with rod brakes0 -
Mailmanz
How many bikes have been stolen? Have all incidents of theft / anti social behaviour in the area been reprted to the police.
Contact you local Nieghbourhood Police team. Explain the problem. If there have been a few reported incidents then the police may take this up on your behalf and speak to the building managers. After all they don't want to be doing paerwork for bikes being nicked.
SteveI can afford to talk softly!....................I carry a big stick!0 -
You've come this far so no point in going backwards. That would just project weakness. Stride into the CEO's office, grab a handfull of shirt and shout your grievances in his face, making sure to spit a little in your righteous fury - aim to loosen his bladder a little. After all - you are defending cyclists against an uncaring soulless corporate slug!
Do all this IN YOUR HEAD.'07 Langster (dropped one tooth from standard gearing)
'07 Tricross Sport with rack and guards
STUNNING custom 953 Bob Jackson *sigh*0 -
I can find email to be a bit of a blunt instrument. My advice would be
1) See your Director
2) Explain how you felt, particularly in the wake of the incident.
3) Apologise for the tone of your email, but make it clear that you do not apologise for the content.
4) Request your Director intercedes in the escalation with the building services manager, as you remain concerned about the safety and security of yourself and fellow cyclists.
CEOs, HR, Unions etc can probably wait until you've had a chat with your Director. The fact that you've actually been attacked should make it very difficult for the Director to take it out on you. Above all, keep your head.
Good luck0 -
Are you in a Trade Union?
If not, join.
If you are go and see your rep and have a chat. There are H&S implications. Don't forget your employers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of their employees.
If they try and hit you with Sections 7 & 8 of the Health and Safety at work Act (which most employers do to try and fob people off) you are well within your rights to contact the Health & Safety Executive. Your Union rep should be able to assist with your problems.
FROM THE 1974 H&SAWA:
Employers' Responsibilities
The Act places a general duty to "ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees".
Employers must comply with the Act. They must:
* Provide and maintain safety equipment and safe systems of work.
* Ensure materials used are properly stored, handled, used and transported.
* Provide information, training, instruction and supervision. Ensure staff are aware of instructions provided by manufacturers and suppliers of equipment.
* Provide a safe place of employment.
* Provide a safe working environment.
* Provide a written safety policy/risk assessment.
* Look after health and safety of others, example public.
* Talk to safety representatives.
An employer is forbidden to charge his/her employees for any measures which he/she is required to provide in the interests of health and safety, example,. Personal protective equipment.
Hope this helps.<a><img></a>0 -
rhext wrote:I can find email to be a bit of a blunt instrument. My advice would be
1) See your Director
2) Explain how you felt, particularly in the wake of the incident.
3) Apologise for the tone of your email, but make it clear that you do not apologise for the content.
4) Request your Director intercedes in the escalation with the building services manager, as you remain concerned about the safety and security of yourself and fellow cyclists.
CEOs, HR, Unions etc can probably wait until you've had a chat with your Director. The fact that you've actually been attacked should make it very difficult for the Director to take it out on you. Above all, keep your head.
I disagree with this statement. See your Union rep ASAP (if u are in one. Join if not)
If you go and see the director take someone with you as a witness (Union reps are good for this). Read a copy of the TUC publication "Your rights at Work" it's about £8 or check your local lending/reference library for a copy.
Good luck<a><img></a>0 -
BUICK wrote:You've come this far so no point in going backwards. That would just project weakness. Stride into the CEO's office, grab a handfull of shirt and shout your grievances in his face, making sure to spit a little in your righteous fury - aim to loosen his bladder a little. After all - you are defending cyclists against an uncaring soulless corporate slug!
Damn straight! This goes all the way to the top. It's time to rattle some cages and take the starch out of a few collars<a>road</a>0 -
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ride_whenever wrote:Just store your bike under your desk.
Hehe, nah, we arent allowed to bring folding bikes in to the building. The building managers dont like them because they are a health and safety risk apparently...and oh, they dont look good either (according to the building managers!)
Go figure, bikes are banned due to health and safety? :?
And yes, Ive already been to see the CEO and whinged my ass off...in my head
Regards
Mailman0 -
bikes inside? a H & S risk? So is a block of 4 x 2 to the head I suppose...
Anyway, your first point. I was in Berlin in 1990 when the wall came down, and saw those rotten old cars first hand. Your analogy was apt.
I'd be agitating for a change in company policy. I'd not back down, but that's me. Seems in your part of the world (London innit?) you've got about 5 directions to address this as an issue... green cred, OH & S etc. I'd be getting all cyclists and interested parties mobilised on this.
But like I said, that's just me.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I\'m only escaping to here because the office is having a conniption0 -
That is frustrating, I hope it all turns out well for you. I'm sure I'd be having just as much of a strop in my head as I imagine you are.0
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update...I had a meeting with my manager about 6 weeks ago to gather all the evidence, and since then nothing.
I saw him today and asked what the story was. He has said he isnt interested in taking this any further and he isnt being pressed by his manager to take any action either.
Ive actually gathered a whole heap of information on the complete pile of dogs bollocks our property people have created, intranet pages from a year and a half ago stating that work will provide safe, secure bike storage when we move to our new building in January and emails from the numpty's themselves saying nothing more will be done to secure the bike area (before 5 bikes got stolen).
Actually, the whole situation is made even more farcicle as the bike area has now been put inside a steel cage, where you have to have your work ID to get in and out BUT last week, when I went down to get my bike the gate was open. The self closing mechanism that forces the gate to close doesnt work and our property people dont have any plans to get it fixed!
Also, Im waiting on advice from my lawyers about taking further action on health and safety grounds against our property people.
Ill keep you updated as progress is made, or not made!
Regards
Mailman0
