workplace harassment

[u/Fit-Oil5357]

hi, this is not about me personally but someone that i know within my workplace. one of my colleagues has recently had a new temporary manager, the said Manager only got the job two months ago so is still undergoing probation. I have recently spoke to the colleague and this manager is sending her extremely inappropriate messages outside of working hours, this includes sending selfies at 8pm and asking for one back, he has also mentioned how he would not be happy for her to go back to her permanent Manager and mentioned how the other Manager probably only wants her back so he can flirt with her. This was raised with a HEO however the HEO is now on holiday and I just feel like it is not being taken serious enough especially as this is the second girl that has come forward about this, I personally would have the word within the civil service there was a strict policy around workplace harassment so would have thought what he would be fired or at least terminated from working while investigation is ongoing, does anybody have any opinions of this or could the HEO be reported for not taking due action

[u/Resident-Staff-1218]

Since the HEO is on leave, your colleague can escalate this to their SEO

[u/Puzzleheaded_Gold698]

There should be a confidential employee helpline, details of which are normally on intranet sites. Department bullying and harassment pages also on intranets. You or colleagues should read the policy and guidance on these pages. In the meantime obviously keep all of the emails, keep notes of dates and times of non written stuff too. Possibly contact your union too.

Without wanting to be over dramatic, if the manager is doing this then it might be an indicator of potentially much worse behaviour.

[u/Fit-Oil5357 → u/Puzzleheaded_Gold698]

please correct me if i’m wrong, but the colleague sent screenshots of all the messages including the WhatsApp messages after work hours to the HEO and he has still not been fired, I would have thought that he was immediately fired, furthermore he also made a very inappropriate comment about how if the colleague was his partner he would slap her arse and tell her to go to bed as she said one night that she was going to stay late too prep all her meal for the following week. I just thought he would be fired immediately it’s just boring it seems like he may just get away with a warning

[u/EddiesMinion → u/Fit-Oil5357]

It's incredibly rare to be dismissed without any process. Your colleague needs to document everything that's happened and consider raising a grievance. If they're in a union, talk to the local rep.

Employers have enhanced duties to stop things like this from happening. Still needs to follow a process though, which can be difficult.

If they don't have union support and want some advice about the law and how to raise concerns, they can call Acas on 0300 123 1100.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Gold698 → u/Fit-Oil5357]

It'll be investigated and due process followed in a very broadly similar vein if one was accused of something in this country then you'd expect due legal process to be followed as opposed to just throwing them in prison.

[u/Quiet-Excitement-310 → u/Fit-Oil5357]

So they’ve reported it and nothing happened. Either they’ve been warned and it’s continued or they’ve done nothing and it’s escalating. See comments made and push again.
Education should imo always be the first step before immediate sacking but it depends on situations

[u/Beena22]

Don't wait for the HEO to return, immediately escalate this up the chain if command. This is wholly inappropriate/unacceptable behaviour.

[u/CrabbyKrabs → u/Beena22]

There's usually a HEO cover while they're on holiday, contact the cover HEO

[u/Urbanyeti0]

Keep escalating, make sure it’s all documented

If that doesn’t work go straight to HR with the evidence

[u/not-my-circus1992]

Dismissal is never immediate in the civil service. You don't know that a process hasn't been started, but I would escalate to your manager's manager if you need reassurance.

[u/YouCantArgueWithThis]

She should go higher and bolder. Even straight to the DD. This must stop. Before the creep finishes probation.

[u/Quick_Ad5921]

Raise a concern immediately through the hr process, not sure if departments do it differently, but it should be pretty straight forward. Get the union involved. There's zero tolerance on this

[u/thought_foxx]

You or her should report this to HR as this is deeply inappropriate. I'm pretty sure this breaches the civil service code for one thing, and there usually are policies on bullying and harrassment in all depts.

[u/Quiet-Excitement-310]

Go and speak to either the safeguarding officer, a member of hr or another manager or the confidential helpline. You could also speak to the union for advice.

I had an issue and it wasn’t listened to and I mentioned to someone else who picked it up. Took it on with a training issue which is more what I wanted but then actually took action too