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Advice required: Can I sue for harassment suffered from client's employee

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    Advice required: Can I sue for harassment suffered from client's employee

    Hello,

    I am an IT consultant contracting via my Limited Company. I got a 6 months contract with company A
    6 weeks into the contract, company A employee (who is not my line manager) begins to harass me, behaving condescendingly towards me, this becomes traumatic and I make a formal complaint via email itemizing all I have experienced from this employee.
    My direct line manager has been made redundant and was told he will be leaving on the 27th of October 2017.
    After the complaint, I was told it will be addressed. This was not done. On the 13th of October, I received an email from the VP of Infrastructure stating my reporting line had changed to the employee harassing me with immediate effect.
    I replied the email handing in my resignation with reasons being the harassment suffered from this employee that was not addressed and the fear that the environment will become too hostile to work as I am already suffering psychological distress from all I suffered from this employee. 2 weeks’ notice as required by my contract was given.
    The VP replied stating he is speaking to the recruitment agency (who put me forward for this role) about my complaint and will revert back to me in full details about the outcome.
    Monday 16th October, I sent the VP further emails with additional condescension and injury to reputation I had suffered from this employee.
    Tuesday 17th of October I called in to state I was feeling unwell so unable to come into work that day. The same evening, I received a call from the recruitment agency saying as a goodwill gesture, the 2 weeks’ notice will be paid to me and that I am not required to work the notice. He also stated that the HR personnel wanted me to hand in my laptop.
    I replied that the so call goodwill gesture does not exonerate company A for the undeserved inhuman treatment I received from their employee they swept under the carpet.
    I also stated that it now seems the laptop was more important than the injury this experience has caused my health. The recruitment agency now asked me to send a mail to the outgoing line manager confirming when the laptop will be returned.
    As I tried to log into the laptop to send the email, I noticed my account had been disabled.
    Can I sue for this company for harassment and discrimination?

    #2
    No.

    Comment


      #3
      Short answer - move on you have already been compensated. The laptop is the property of the client once you are no longer doing work for them you shouldn't be using it even if you haven't yet handed it back. Use your own business email to contact the client.
      "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

      Comment


        #4
        Don't you think you're over doing it a bit. Injury to reputation? Inhumane treatment? Really?

        You are out of contract and are attempting to log on to a clients system? I'm surprised you are surprised your account has been suspended. What did you expect? Keep full access to a clients system for a seriously pissed off contractor that's not in contract anymore? That's not a good idea.

        You are very lucky they are paying you notice and not having to work it. Take it and move on. Nothing else for you here.
        Last edited by northernladuk; 18 October 2017, 22:33.
        'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

        Comment


          #5
          I’d just suck it up if you’re into tgat sort of thing.

          This is General isn’t it?

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

            You are very lucky they are paying you notice and not having to work it. Take it and move on. Nothing else for you here.
            They paid the notice because they worked out it was cheaper than paying more lawyers fees and the same compensation. Or does the OP not think the client got legal advice?
            "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by stek View Post

              This is General isn’t it?
              Nope Welcome/FAQs so play nicely.
              "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by SueEllen View Post
                They paid the notice because they worked out it was cheaper than paying more lawyers fees and the same compensation. Or does the OP not think the client got legal advice?
                I'll bet they didn't even do that TBH.
                'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
                  I'll bet they didn't even do that TBH.
                  True as the person doing the harassment probably has previous form.
                  "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

                  Comment


                    #10
                    The question is not whether you can sue (there's nothing to stop you), but whether you'd be successful, and whether the process would be worth it. Given the information supplied, the answer to both these questions, in my view, is no.

                    The company/agency were most likely within their contractual rights to give you 2 weeks notice, and then tell you you weren't needed for those two weeks, and since you've no signed timesheets, not pay you a penny.
                    Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

                    Comment

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