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It's my niece who's in a pickle at work. She's in her early 30's , learning difficulties (classed as a vulnerable adult). She was made up getting the job and wouldn't say boo to a ghost.
She started about 18 months ago at this packing distribution centre. The majority on her line are Polish in fact out of about a dozen there are only 2 English people. So one day a few week back the boss said at teatime that extra work was due in and they would have to work abit late to compete it.
The niece saw how much and said to the others we wont get finished. Anyway, when the extra work / packing was handed out she got more than the others. She asked for help from her work colleagues but the all helped each other and left her to struggle.
I must point out she never complained , never swore or kicked a stink she basically finished at 20:14 while all the others finished at 20:08.
Sh got home and on Facebook to the wife she said "I hate those P at work" the wife said "why ?" she said because they just do. We later found out what she meant was "P" for pricks but she doesn't as a rule swear not even in type incase her mum reads it, she's that way even in her 30's through her learning difficulties.
Not long after she said on Facebook , when the wife was talking/typing to her , "I should change my name to a Polish one , they get away with murder". This ref was regarding an article on the TV regarding the influx of eastern europeans and some Polish and the health service been swamped. She said this because she couldn't get in to see the doctor they were that busy.
There was no reference to Polish "at work" she was referring to the Polish in general who she saw (with the wife)on the TV.
The next day she was summoned to the office and was told that some anonymous person had printed it off and handed it her comments and they would like to investigate this, no disciplinary action just an investigation. Their reason ?, on her main page on her Facebook she listed the companies name as her Place Of Work.
A date was set for this investigation and her mum went with her but she was not thinking straight more fired up tbh. I must point out that no incident took place at her work, she made no complaint about working late, no ref to Polish , nothing on that night so no complaints were forwarded about her time at work. It was no more than been told you have to work late and she was peaved , who wouldn't be.
There was no HR in the room , just shop floor management and the wages woman !!, but they were hell bent on making out something had taken place that night at work when nothing did. They said she was warned for telling others that they might not get finished that night when the extra work was handed out.
Stupidly though, her mum said to the about the Facebook remark (rather than asked the daughter) she was pished off with those Polish who wouldn't help her at work that's why she said that on Facebook but the daughter was so nervous and scared with it all she kept quite.
On the face of it it does look like she has said what they think but she makes no ref about "P" and Polish and in my thought pattern no racist remark. If that was the case then why did she mention "Polish" later in the conversation but so called left it out and just typed the letter "P" instead ?. I can honestly say , hand on heart she is about as far away from been a racist than anyone I have ever met.
It seems the company are trying to make out some incident took place that night at work then they can marry the incidents 2 together when in truth nothing happened at work bar her working a bit late and she was annoyed but kept quite.
The has been no witness statements from any shop floor workers except management who were no present on the shop floor.
We think they are pressing to get rid of her and if they can pull the 2 together then they can step it up to disciplinary action and sack her. She hasn't been back since all this and is a bag of nerves.
Her mum got quoted £240 for 1 hours legal advise and the citizen advise said she needs to take some legal advice but she cannot afford that so on that do you think they are in the wrong or are within their rights ?
She started about 18 months ago at this packing distribution centre. The majority on her line are Polish in fact out of about a dozen there are only 2 English people. So one day a few week back the boss said at teatime that extra work was due in and they would have to work abit late to compete it.
The niece saw how much and said to the others we wont get finished. Anyway, when the extra work / packing was handed out she got more than the others. She asked for help from her work colleagues but the all helped each other and left her to struggle.
I must point out she never complained , never swore or kicked a stink she basically finished at 20:14 while all the others finished at 20:08.
Sh got home and on Facebook to the wife she said "I hate those P at work" the wife said "why ?" she said because they just do. We later found out what she meant was "P" for pricks but she doesn't as a rule swear not even in type incase her mum reads it, she's that way even in her 30's through her learning difficulties.
Not long after she said on Facebook , when the wife was talking/typing to her , "I should change my name to a Polish one , they get away with murder". This ref was regarding an article on the TV regarding the influx of eastern europeans and some Polish and the health service been swamped. She said this because she couldn't get in to see the doctor they were that busy.
There was no reference to Polish "at work" she was referring to the Polish in general who she saw (with the wife)on the TV.
The next day she was summoned to the office and was told that some anonymous person had printed it off and handed it her comments and they would like to investigate this, no disciplinary action just an investigation. Their reason ?, on her main page on her Facebook she listed the companies name as her Place Of Work.
A date was set for this investigation and her mum went with her but she was not thinking straight more fired up tbh. I must point out that no incident took place at her work, she made no complaint about working late, no ref to Polish , nothing on that night so no complaints were forwarded about her time at work. It was no more than been told you have to work late and she was peaved , who wouldn't be.
There was no HR in the room , just shop floor management and the wages woman !!, but they were hell bent on making out something had taken place that night at work when nothing did. They said she was warned for telling others that they might not get finished that night when the extra work was handed out.
Stupidly though, her mum said to the about the Facebook remark (rather than asked the daughter) she was pished off with those Polish who wouldn't help her at work that's why she said that on Facebook but the daughter was so nervous and scared with it all she kept quite.
On the face of it it does look like she has said what they think but she makes no ref about "P" and Polish and in my thought pattern no racist remark. If that was the case then why did she mention "Polish" later in the conversation but so called left it out and just typed the letter "P" instead ?. I can honestly say , hand on heart she is about as far away from been a racist than anyone I have ever met.
It seems the company are trying to make out some incident took place that night at work then they can marry the incidents 2 together when in truth nothing happened at work bar her working a bit late and she was annoyed but kept quite.
The has been no witness statements from any shop floor workers except management who were no present on the shop floor.
We think they are pressing to get rid of her and if they can pull the 2 together then they can step it up to disciplinary action and sack her. She hasn't been back since all this and is a bag of nerves.
Her mum got quoted £240 for 1 hours legal advise and the citizen advise said she needs to take some legal advice but she cannot afford that so on that do you think they are in the wrong or are within their rights ?
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