Won’t talk to me ! Don’t worry I will talk to HR.
So I used to be a union delegate for a large firm with multiple sites . We had a <PERSON> of a manager who who was appointed by her uncle( a director of the firm)to her role. She wasn’t very bright and told me once 40 was half of a hundred. I have written on this subreddit before about her.
Where I work we get 4 weeks annual leave, two weeks sick leave and two days bereavement leave a year. All this leave is accumulating too, so if you don’t use it it builds up .
So one of my union members <PERSON> goes to <PERSON> and asks for bereavement leave and she refuses as <PERSON> has no proof his grandmother has died. She also quotes part of our employment contract that states managers can ask for proof of death for bereavement leave. <PERSON> explains he from a culture where funerals are very important but <PERSON> refuses him still. He try to explain that it’s not just the grieving process but the actual cultural event for social reason also.
<PERSON> is flabbergasted and comes to me . Our contract actually states proof is required if the employee has a poor leave record. It also states without a poor leave record bereavement leave cannot be refused. <PERSON> has worked for the firm for five years without a single day off besides annual leave.
I approach <PERSON> about it and she says she wont talk to me about it and I’m wrong.she tells me to take it above her if I have a problem but she is right. By sheer coincidence it’s a quarterly union meeting with the executives later that day and as per <PERSON>’s instructions I take it above her. <PERSON> is also from a ethnic and cultural minority.
Come the meeting I explain the situation to everyone present including <PERSON>’s ethnic and cultural background. 329
I ask four questions. 1. Why are you breaking employee contract and are you prepare to go to court?, as we are. 2. Why is the firm being culturally insensitive ? 3. Why is the firm being racist by denying someone’s ethnic and cultural beliefs? 4. Where is the general compassion from the firm?
There was stone cold silence for a good two minutes. The head of HR offered his apologies . Told me the leave would be granted . He would personally ring <PERSON> and grant him leave and an apology.
<PERSON> got blasted by multiple senior managers. <PERSON> would of been sacked but her uncle the director of the firm stopped this. Every manager on my work site the following week spent three days training in employee rights, racial and cultural sensitivity and compassion in the work place . They also got told the training was because of <PERSON>’s actions which alienated her from the management group .
<PERSON> got a full week off with pay without needing to use his bereavement leave.
Also sorry for typo’s etc as written on a phone 329