Being Falsely Accused

BloomerzUK

BloomerzUK

BloomerzUK

Associate
Joined
3 Jan 2006
Posts
2,073
Location
Bishopsworth, Bristol
Hi People,

In a bit of a ruck at the moment. I've been accused of abuse towards a member of female staff.

I started working in a hotel resturant like 2 months ago now, for a bit of cash whilst at college. I am a waiter, so I do all the standard waiter things e.g laying tables, cleaning up after people and general kitcheny things.

As many people know, kitchens can be cramped up places, squeezing past people and sometimes brushing past people accidently etc. Also, when laying tables, you need access to the stations with all the things you need e.g plates and cutlery. It can get pretty cramped there, and you need to crouch and bend around people to grab things, getting pretty close to them maybe brushing them.

Well, according to her and her husband, this is abuse. When she and her husband said this to me, I was truly shocked to say the least.

I'd like to say I'm completely innocent, and I wouldn't touch anyone without any reason to, espcially to 'abuse' them. (When I say abuse, I don't know what type of abuse they are refering to, sexual abuse??? Pfft.)

It's how they said it that angered me; they said that I've been doing it persistanly. She told me when I was waiting in line for some toast for break, and I was remotely behind her. She said, 'Can you stop touching me, I don't like it'.

Now, it's been put forward as an official thing.. and I have to go to a meeting type of thing on Wednesday with my main supervisor and someone from HR. She will obviously be there, but her husband may be there also. The problem with her husband is that immtemidated me when we had a little meeting about it on the day I got accused; he was shouting at me and pointing in my face, which made me really edging and nervous.

I get pretty nervous with anything official, and this could mean the end to my job (I know it's a little job, but regardless). So, I don't know what to say.. I will tell the truth, but I can't handle meetings and things. I'm pretty worried.

Also one question; the husband and wife are Spanish speaking, so when they are speaking in there language, can I ask what they've said.. do I have that right? (The supervisor is also Spanish and he also really good at English).

Thanks for reading, just needed to vent my anger.

(P.S - What I've said may be unclear because of my stress)
 
Your story sounds reasonable, often you have to squeeze past people i do bar work and getting passed people on the bar can often mean sliding past and maybe brushing against them! they seem to be blowing it out of proportion, and perhaps are just looking at away of firing you, is it some spanish loving workplace?
 
Get someone to go with you to the meeting to help prevent the intimidation, perhalps a parent of someone who knows something about your rights?

Burnsy
 
BloomerzUK said:
Also one question; the husband and wife are Spanish speaking, so when they are speaking in there language, can I ask what they've said.. do I have that right? (The supervisor is also Spanish and he also really good at English).
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Yes, you can and should if there are any points you are unsure of. You have the right to be made clearly aware of accusations against you and they should therefore include translation as necessary.

Good luck with the hearing - you may want to see if there is a union rep to come along with you (should you be a member of a union) or alternatively you may be able to take along a friend for moral support.
 
Speaking from a bit of experience, if your supervisor is a reasonably nice person they'll probably be all nice and aggreable with the customer and do whatever they can to please them but then afterwards just tell you to forget about it as you always get problem customers in resturants.
 
tell them shes a skank you wouldn't touch with someone elses.... sorted.

In all seriousness Burnsy has the right idea, take someone of your choosing (preferably someone who looks reputable) for support on your side since she has her husband, should reduce some of the intimidation.

Also i don't think it is unreasonable for you to ask what they are saying in Spanish, although if the supervisor is impartial i doubt they will be planning further dirty deeds.
 
You in a union? You're entitled to have a union rep present at any disciplinary hearing. If not maybe contact one and see if they'll let you join and then support you?
 
semi-pro waster said:
Yes, you can and should if there are any points you are unsure of. You have the right to be made clearly aware of accusations against you and they should therefore include translation as necessary.

Good luck with the hearing - you may want to see if there is a union rep to come along with you (should you be a member of a union) or alternatively you may be able to take along a friend for moral support.
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I'd like to echo that.
 
geuben said:
Speaking from a bit of experience, if your supervisor is a reasonably nice person they'll probably be all nice and aggreable with the customer and do whatever they can to please them but then afterwards just tell you to forget about it as you always get problem customers in resturants.
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I think you go the wrong end of the stick. It's not a customer, it's a member of staff.

Thanks for all the replies so far people, appeciate it. I will take someone in with me.

There is a really big Spanish infulence in the hotel, so they've might been stirring some crap around aboubt me.
 
Personally,I would have already been on the phone to my solicitor and asked his advice.I would suggest to my boss,that due to the nature of the accusation that I will require my(employment law) solicitor to be present at the meeting.
 
BloomerzUK said:
I think you go the wrong end of the stick. It's not a customer, it's a member of staff.

Thanks for all the replies so far people, appeciate it. I will take someone in with me.

There is a really big Spanish infulence in the hotel, so they've might been stirring some crap around aboubt me.
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Don't start thinking that or you'll get paranoid and end up driving yourself out. Just get through the hearing and forget about it. :)
 
BloomerzUK said:
I think you go the wrong end of the stick. It's not a customer, it's a member of staff.

Thanks for all the replies so far people, appeciate it. I will take someone in with me.

There is a really big Spanish infulence in the hotel, so they've might been stirring some crap around aboubt me.
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Ooops my bad. I can't really offer any advice other than what others have said then. Getting in each others way, bumping into each other etc was always just taken as part of the job and if anything ever got accidently inappropriate (due to the nature of the contact) then it was just joked about.
 
If she is really hot, they will probably believe her.. because lets face it, who doesn't want to touch a hot girl? :)
 
hes in college you really think he has a solicitor?

Id recommend you take a good friend of yours with you. And if its okay for him to shout and point fingers, its ok for you to also. Dont be afraid.
 
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