“I know my rights!”

I’ve noticed that more employees are demanding their rights be observed, quoting ACAS or their lawyers, even where there is no resistance from their employers to them exercising those rights anyway! Sometimes the hostility is counter-productive and destroys the working relationship completely.

A client was informed by a new starter that she was 6 months pregnant on day one of her employment. Within the first week she told her line manager that she intended to take her full year’s holiday entitlement before she commenced maternity leave, meaning that she would work for less than one month before taking 13 months off.

When it was explained to her that all employees were permitted to take holidays as they accrued them during their first year and, in any event, 20 days leave could not be accommodated because it was peak holiday season and other employees had booked time off on the dates that she had demanded (there was no request!), she instructed a solicitor and alleged maternity discrimination.

The employer tried their best to resolve the issue with her, but the leaders are human too and it became too challenging to show compassion when dealing with an asshole! They called me in, her employment ended fairly and without hearing further from her legal rep.

Employers have rights too so, if you are struggling with an offensive employee and want some ideas on how to tackle the situation without getting sued, get in touch.