Harrased over my sexuality

[upmyroad]

I've know idea if there's any gays or bi's in our office. But I dont think a morning goes by without the banter telling someone your a queer your gay. and believe me a whole lot worse then that that I wont post. It's banter know one blink's an eye to it, Rightly or wrongly anyone stupid enough to tell the office they were gay or bi would by pulled appart by the banter. I suppose it's a very fine line between banter and bullying. but in our office as I say it's all taken as a joke.

you're right upmyroad it is a very fine line between banter and bullying but when somebody has already complained to their line manager about a problem then I think we can say it is classed as bullying. Now maybe the guys making the comments and writing the notes and leaving them on his frame don't realise they are actually upsetting this guy but this is where the line manager should have stepped in and supported this guy instead of not taking him seriously, and just like you're office there are comments in our office every day calling people gay etc but the comments are said in a joking way and the guys give as much back and this is where it differs to what is happening to depressedpostie.

LOL I'm not posting anymore on this thread.

[ghostgirl]

I've know idea if there's any gays or bi's in our office. But I dont think a morning goes by without the banter telling someone your a queer your gay. and believe me a whole lot worse then that that I wont post. It's banter know one blink's an eye to it, Rightly or wrongly anyone stupid enough to tell the office they were gay or bi would by pulled appart by the banter. I suppose it's a very fine line between banter and bullying. but in our office as I say it's all taken as a joke.

you're right upmyroad it is a very fine line between banter and bullying but when somebody has already complained to their line manager about a problem then I think we can say it is classed as bullying. Now maybe the guys making the comments and writing the notes and leaving them on his frame don't realise they are actually upsetting this guy but this is where the line manager should have stepped in and supported this guy instead of not taking him seriously, and just like you're office there are comments in our office every day calling people gay etc but the comments are said in a joking way and the guys give as much back and this is where it differs to what is happening to depressedpostie.

LOL I'm not posting anymore on this thread.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The manager may be concerned on how he should tackle this and perhaps why there is no movement from him. However, whatever the excuse there is no acceptable reason for him to abandon you like this.

The CWU does have a n Equal Opportunities Section - and this is lifted from that page (they organise the CWU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Conference ) so should be able to help in this.

Equal Opportunities

Since the establishment of legislation to address race relations and the issue of gender discrimination, including equal pay, trade unions have been increasingly concerned to promote equality of opportunity among their members. The concern of Trade Unions has been to both address equality issues in the workplace on an individual and collective basis and also to promote greater fairness within society.

There are four Advisory Committees established which are looked after by the EO department, dealing with areas of potential discrimination.

The Equal Opportunities Department, as well as dealing with the work of these Committees and being involved in campaigning issues, gives advice to Branches on equal opportunities issues and provides assistance in respect of harassment and discrimination.

There is also assistance available if you feel that you are experiencing bullying and harassment in the workplace. The freephone number which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is 0800 107 1909.

Our documents are here: http://www.cwu.org/30550/equal-opportunities.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can contact the Equal Opportunities staff:

Linda Roy (Assistant Secretary and Equality Officer), Tel No: 020 8971 7238, E-mail: lroy@cwu.org

Fevzi Hussein (Policy Assistant), Tel No: 020 8971 7388, E-mail: fhussein@cwu.org

Dionne Gittens-Noel (Personal Assistant), Tel No: 020 8971 7356, E-mail:
dgittens@cwu.org

Julie Rodrigues (Senior Secretary), Tel No: 020 8971 7309, E-mail:
jrodrigues@cwu.org

Good luck .

[brothermagrew]

There is this: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20031661.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any behaviour like this in the workplace that upsets an individual, can amount to harassment. Employers are responsible for the actions of their staff, as well as staff being individually responsible for their behaviour towards their colleagues. If you are being harassed , your employer may be responsible unless they can show that they took all possible steps to prevent the harassment. It is unlawful to discriminate against, or to harass workers, because they are believed to be lesbian, gay or bisexual, whether or not they are actually lesbian, gay or bisexual.

Since your boss is refusing to take your concerns seriously, you may want to raise a grievance with him. This should be in writing, and should be signed and dated. If you decide to make a claim for discrimination to an employment tribunal, you may need to raise a written grievance before you do this.

If you think you have been discriminated against because of your sexuality, you should get advice from an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau.

This CAB Fact Sheet gives some good advice

http://www.citizensadvice.co.uk/Documen ... uality.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[DepressedPostie]

Thanx everybody for allyour responses,I will be acting on the advice I have received & I will see what happens.
Special thnx go out to Postman,Ghostgirl & linkinpark for thier good, sound advice & understanding of my situation.
Thnx again for giving me some hope

[DGP1]

CWU Harassment Hotline 020 8971 7380 or 020 8971 7593 or email: cwu-helpline@cwu.org

Is another route for you.

Plus, have you tried asking those involved to stop, it's just a thought that those who are picking on you may not know that what they are doing is affecting you.

[k979aaa]

The CWU has an LTB 704/09 with forms in the download attachment if it is any help to you!.

[scooby]

did u not all have the long video about things like this in your wtl tue we was told every one had to see it

[ghostgirl]

did u not all have the long video about things like this in your wtl tue we was told every one had to see it

We haven't had that yet....I suppose it depends on when the DOM and line managers decide to show it in each office and then its also down to time in our office - our WTL normally only last 5-10 mins!

[norbert]

Log everything when , where , whom , what , who - to back your case up as RM will try and close ranks , brush everything under the carpet and twist things / move the goalposts . Go through the CWU not RM as they are not to be trusted in any way whatsoever but get it registered with RM . You can't take RM on half cocked .

[brothermagrew]

Log everything when , where , whom , what , who - to back your case up as RM will try and close ranks , brush everything under the carpet and twist things / move the goalposts . Go through the CWU not RM as they are not to be trusted in any way whatsoever but get it registered with RM . You can't take RM on half cocked .

Well said norbert and if DepressedPostie has any sense the said degrading and undignified notes that where left on the frame should have been retained as evidence of such behaviours. And YES do indeed go through the CWU Harassment Hotline.

[CourtneyCox]

Hi I am a Postman at the *********& am being harrased by my colleagues & management due too my being Bisexual.
I am permanently being called names & notes left on my frame,I have spoken to my Line Manager regarding this issue but he is not interested
& I am very depressed over the situation.
I am a good hard worker, who is reliable & caues no trouble but because of my sexuality I am always being degraded.
Any ideas what I can do next apart from leave that is?

PMSL This is a wind up right??

Why would it be a wind up upmyroad???? This kind of thing does happen and it's still a form of bullying so we should be supporting depressedpostie not putting abbreviations like pmsl as it's not a laughing matter.

They would pull him apart in my office. The banter is merciless.

But does anyone question it - or if someone does not join in do you stop. If not perhaps a bit of navel gazeing might redress the situation. Banter is part of life but if it becomes personal then people should be questioning if the have gone too far.

[bedfordrl]

I am ,for what it is worth, the Dignity and Respect At Work rep at our office and even though Royal Mail seem to have given up on this,i have not had a meeting for what must be over five years now,i still keep an eye on the "ribbings".
Most i can sort out but it is disappointing when we hav our "Have you say" and people say that they are being bullied.
This despite the fact that the D.R.A.W. board says the i am the rep,some people seem to not be able to talk to anyone and unfortunantly bottle it up.

You must talk to someone ,some people are not aware that they are crossing the line and need someone to point this out.

The ones that are aware need to be told that their behaviour is unacceptable and could lead to them getting the sack,we had a colleague who was sacked because of bullying and he later died of a heart attack,I often think that if only the management had done their job and stopped the bullying when it started instead of ignoring it ,he may still be with us today.

[andy2007]

Log everything when , where , whom , what , who - to back your case up as RM will try and close ranks , brush everything under the carpet and twist things / move the goalposts . Go through the CWU not RM as they are not to be trusted in any way whatsoever but get it registered with RM . You can't take RM on half cocked .

Well said norbert and if DepressedPostie has any sense the said degrading and undignified notes that where left on the frame should have been retained as evidence of such behaviours. And YES do indeed go through the CWU Harassment Hotline.

The trouble with being a victim of this kind of thing is after a very short while you can feel so alone that you begin to lose all hope of ever getting it sorted so that when it gets to a certain level you just give up. Sense good or bad has nothing to do with it but here DepressedPostie has found both good advice and friends and that does have everything to do with it for the good.

That's where sites like this, have the potential to help. It's sometimes easier to open up, when no-one knows who you really are. The cloak of annonymity can be quite comforting at times. Particularly when there are still so many Biggots about.

[norbert]

Log everything when , where , whom , what , who - to back your case up as RM will try and close ranks , brush everything under the carpet and twist things / move the goalposts . Go through the CWU not RM as they are not to be trusted in any way whatsoever but get it registered with RM . You can't take RM on half cocked .

Well said norbert and if DepressedPostie has any sense the said degrading and undignified notes that where left on the frame should have been retained as evidence of such behaviours. And YES do indeed go through the CWU Harassment Hotline.

The trouble with being a victim of this kind of thing is after a very short while you can feel so alone that you begin to lose all hope of ever getting it sorted so that when it gets to a certain level you just give up. Sense good or bad has nothing to do with it but here DepressedPostie has found both good advice and friends and that does have everything to do with it for the good.

That's where sites like this, have the potential to help. It's sometimes easier to open up, when no-one knows who you really are. The cloak of annonymity can be quite comforting at times. Particularly when there are still so many Biggots about.

it's easy to make discreet accidental on purpose recordings these days
RM might squeal about it but ! outside RM you won't be seen as underhand - there's been a few DOMWITS that have gone white when they've found out there's evidence .