Disciplinary confidentiality

[thedg1]

I was recently disciplined by the general manager at work for a very minor offence, which resulted in my loss of bonus. Today at work I had an argument with a colleague in which he brought this up. I was very annoyed to hear he knew about this, as I had not told a single. He could only have heard about this from one of the 3 man managment team. I would just like to know if any laws have been broker for:
A. Making public knowledge the result of disciplinary
B. Other colleagues having information on my monthly wage

I hope someone on here can help with this matter.

 

[paulears]

I've always discovered no matter what you do, things always get out. While many large companies with 'proper' personnel departments do keep things very private, smaller companies have a much better grapevine.

In addition - as far as I'm aware, your boss doesn't have to keep things private. It's quite normal for these things to be talked about - after all, you did something wrong, and as the 'guilty party' - keeping it quiet is just a hopeful quest. It may be more business like and maybe even professional if he'd kept quiet - but maybe you annoyed him more than you realise, so he's deliberately letting people know you've been naughty! On the wages front - again it depends on the company. I well remember an old boss telling me that somebody else earned more than me. I've always told my staff to keep their pay to themselves, as finding out you earn more or less than somebody else always causes trouble.

Some places have published pay scales, others don't.

Unless your contract actually states confidentiality, then there's not much you can do.

I suspect many people know about your loss of bonus and recent trouble. They may not know all the details, but unless your meeting was out of hours, people will have noticed and gossiped about why you were called in - and I guess many in addition knew exactly why?

Even if there was legislation on this kind of thing, which as far as I'm aware, there isn't - would it do you any good if you want to carry on working there!

 

[Atilla]

And the info may have been released to serve as a warning to the others.

 

[LimeHR]

Actually there are laws in place to keep this confidential. Disciplinary issues should be dealt with at management level and information used solely for the purpose of the disciplinary not for gossip or idle chit chat.

The problem in taking this further is it is unlikely to make life more comfortable for you. You can lodge a grievance over this release of information and potential breach of data protection, however what is will achieve for you is something else.

 

[Richie N]

Move on from the gossip and focus on the job in hand...

 

[paulears]

Which part of the legislation specifies confidentially? I've never discovered this yet.

 

[thedg1]

Actually there are laws in place to keep this confidential. Disciplinary issues should be dealt with at management level and information used solely for the purpose of the disciplinary not for gossip or idle chit chat.

The problem in taking this further is it is unlikely to make life more comfortable for you. You can lodge a grievance over this release of information and potential breach of data protection, however what is will achieve for you is something else.

Don't suppose you have a link to any of these laws?
As for it hindering my future in the job, it's a part time job which I plan on staying in till no later than September when I start training as a teacher. I don't plan on lodgeing a grievance, however if I can show the manager that he has broken some form of law by releasing this information I believe he can be persuaded to give me back my bonus.

 

[paulears]

I think the thing you could follow up on is what the bonus is actually for? If the bonus was perhaps for meeting a sales target, then unless your contract of employment links these two things (the disciplinary) and the sales targets then it may be unreasonable for them to justify not paying the bonus. Trouble is, what can you actually do? I don't suppose you're in a union are you?

You probably won't want to go into details here - but the 'offence' that you carried out - it was minor, but was it something damaging to the business or something like being late a lot? In most cases, you would get a verbal ticking off, then an official verbal ticking off, then a written formal ticking off. Most firms have this kind of system. Virtually all have a gross misconduct phrase built into your contract, so they can fire you on the spot for really bad things. If your 'offence' was pretty minor, why not appeal, citing the humiliation your received from work colleagues was 'extra' punishment because it got spread about? It might work?

 

[woodss]

Don't try to extort your bonus back by basically saying he shouldn't have talked about you behind your back .... !!!

People talk - for all the business professionalism there is, people are still people.

I say suck it up, do your job and concentrate on not getting into any more bother. Take the wage; like you say it isn't forever.

 

I was recently disciplined by the general manager at work for a very minor offence, which resulted in my loss of bonus. Today at work I had an argument with a colleague in which he brought this up. I was very annoyed to hear he knew about this, as I had not told a single. He could only have heard about this from one of the 3 man managment team. I would just like to know if any laws have been broker for:
A. Making public knowledge the result of disciplinary
B. Other colleagues having information on my monthly wage

I hope someone on here can help with this matter.

Have to agree with everyone else here, sorry.

While in an ideal world things would stay private, in the real world of small businessess it iften doesn't.

Did you think it was justified for you to lose your bonus because of your "minor" offence? I am guessing you don't as it is all you appear to be concerned about getting back.

Also you mention about other colleagues knowing about your wage, do they? Or do they just know that as punishment you didn't recieve your commission? To me there is difference. And as someone else has said it serves as a warning for anyone else who may commit a similar offence in the future.

Personally i would just grin and bear it. Rise above the gossiping and learn from your mistakes you've only got til Sept to go

 

[Rubestuesday]

This reply is seriously late but I feel compelled to respond. LimHR is correct. There are laws that protect your confidentiality. In UK Employment Law, there has to be a fair process & confidentiality is key. The fair process is described in the ACAS Code of Practice. If a company does not follow it's recommendations then they have caused themselves an issue.

 

[Rubestuesday]

Don't try to extort your bonus back by basically saying he shouldn't have talked about you behind your back .... !!!

People talk - for all the business professionalism there is, people are still people.

I say suck it up, do your job and concentrate on not getting into any more bother. Take the wage; like you say it isn't forever.

It is not extortion to point out that your boss has dealt with the issue unfairly and unprofessionally. There is no justification if a boss discusses these type of things to gossip/punish/ridicule/or serve as a warning to others. Not acceptable!

 

[japancool]

It is not extortion to point out that your boss has dealt with the issue unfairly and unprofessionally. There is no justification if a boss discusses these type of things to gossip/punish/ridicule/or serve as a warning to others. Not acceptable!

Given that this all happened 14 years ago, I imagine everyone has moved on or retired by now.

 

[Rubestuesday]

Given that this all happened 14 years ago, I imagine everyone has moved on or retired by now.

But anyone reading this thread to get correct info would now whereas before the advice was rather iffy!

 

[HFE Signs]

A bonus is a bonus, it isn't an entitlement, you say you were disciplined for something very minor, how minor was it? Although you see it as minor, it may not be seen that way by others. Generally speaking in business, you tend to find you benefit best if you acknowledge your mistakes, apologies and get on with working well at your job. I'm not saying let everything go but if this is a minor incident I'd leave it there and learn from your mistake.