I have a hearing..........?

Question

next week.The meeting is being held by someone who is not my immediate manager but is a manager.A colleague who has pretty much made my life hell has put in an informal grievance against me because i think she has been tipped off that i visited the staff counsellor.

How can i get my point across professionally without looking like a trouble maker or making anymore unecessary enemies.

thanks georgie, i have a tendency to talk too much

i posed a few questions via email to clarify what the hearing was about and was told that it was just an informal chat.

My boss wanted to know where i was going and her and my colleague are best mates, i think she may have told her about the meeting with the counsellor

yes Zee, she has had a couple of people moved

Answer 1

Stick to the facts. Don't name names. Keep calm and only speak when prompted. The less you say the less they'll have against you.

Answer 2

If i were you I would go prepared to the meeting if you have a list or diary of how and when the person made your life hell. I would also get a work colleague that you can trust accompany you to the meeting. Are you sure that it is a hearing as they should have given you all the details prior to the hearing. I would also contact the union if you are a member and get advice from them. There is no come back from visiting the staff counsellor - that is what they are there for so don't worry about that.
If you are not sure why you are having the meeting it may be to offer you a promotion or a pay rise so don't worry. From what you have said you have nothing to worry about.
Good luck.

Answer 3

You have a right to have someone there with you be it a friend or a union rep (if you're a member). It might help you to sit with this person and go through what you're going to say before you go in.

Explain the facts to them and back it up with actual events. If you can provide them with some kind of calendar of events, this will work in your favour. If not, they'll probably ask for one. Don't let this person intimidate you though, I wouldn't have thought she'd be at the hearing though so that should give you some confidence. Good luck.

Answer 4

It is very unlikely that a staff counsellor would leak anything. It would soon be known that they were not trustworthy, so noone would use them, they would work poorly becuase they weren't dealing with things, and the counsellor would be complete waste of money.

So just deal matter of factly with whatever the grievance actually is.

Answer 5

Chances are this troublesome employee has done this to other people. HR typically knows the scoop, but they have policy they need to follow through on. Just tell them the truth. Don't make up facts or assume anything about the situation. They maybe calling you in because it's an ongoing situation with your hellish co-worker.

Answer 6

Don't you think this person has done this so you look like the bad person all you can do is go in to your meeting and tell the truth then all you have to do is put in a complaint about the other person kind of a counter complaint hope this helps

Answer 7

The only thing that I can say is that I hope that you are a union member,if so at least you have some backup,if not seek help and advice from citizens advice bureau,good luck!

Answer 8

Stay calm and stick to the facts, make sure you get to make your side of the case without interuption.

if you're in the right, you have nothing to worry about

Answer 9

Be honest and tell the truth - if the dont like it then tuff, not worth bothering with.

Answer 10

put it in writing as well and send it to hr