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Dog bite in the workplace

Ant

Hi everyone,

This is a strange one, possibly a first!?

I am a HR manager for a small domiciliary care company. I am currently in week 19 of my 26 week probationary period.

I have not had any reviews with my line manager, the Business Development Director (BDD) or the registered manager/owner. I have asked for an informal review around week 12 but was told 'it is too busy'. It is worth noting that the registered manager is the mother of the BDD.

Occasionally, staff have been allowed to bring their dogs into work, which I generally don't have a problem with. This can be up to 1 week at a time depending on individuals. Last week, the BDD dropped his 3 dogs off at the office before going on annual leave. The registered manager was looking after them. One of the dogs, a small terrier type, is the typical small barking/snappy dog that you sometimes come across. On previous occasions, this dog has barked at me, suggesting that it doesn't like me, Indeed, the registered manager has told me that 'he dislikes men'.

On Tuesday, around 9am, I needed to speak with the registered manager in her upstairs office. As I was talking, the small dog was around my ankles barking. When finished, I turned to leave the office and the dog leapt at my leg and bit it, drawing a little blood. I shouted out with the pain and swore several times. The registered manager picked the dog up and I left the office. The whole situation was witnessed by one of the care managers.

I was in shock for a while and a bit shaky, but other than that I was ok. I'm not claiming that I'm now terrified of dogs or anything, in fact, I'm fine with them so no lasting effects other than a sore, cut leg and bruising. I stayed downstairs for the rest of the week, communicating by email or telephone when necessary.

My issue is (other than being bit whilst at work) the registered manager/owner didn't come to see me to see if I was ok or to apologise. This continued until Friday. The dogs weren't in the office at all, so I went to see the registered manager. I asked her at what point is it ok to come to work and be bitten by a dog and that I was upset that, as a bare minimum, she hadn't apologised. Basically, she told me to stop being melodramatic, it was only a small dog and that I was making something out of nothing. I remained calm throughout the conversation, but told her that I disagreed. I showed her my leg which was still bruised and marked. She said it was nothing and to stop moaning. She then went straight into telling me how unpopular I am in the office, with only her and the BDD wanting me to there. There were other allegations too, which felt like a knee jerk reaction to me criticising her lack of response to the dog bite.

To say that I am astonished at her reaction is a massive understatement and, quite frankly am at a loss as to how to deal with this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Parents
  • Hi Ant

    If you haven’t done so already, I think you should see your doctor as soon as possible even though you were bitten several days ago. I remember reading that bites rarely heal without becoming infected. This will also provide evidence, should you require it.

    This might be going nuclear, but I think you could also report it to the police.

    I find the idea of a dog that bites to draw blood in a care home quite upsetting.

    This should definitely be reported to the CQC. You were bitten in front of the registered manager, you later went back to the registered manager and showed her your injuries but nothing has happened. You have brought a matter of fact that relates to a breach of health and safety to management, which makes you a whistleblower with the protection of the Public Interest Disclosure Act. As you have raised the matter internally and got nowhere you have every right to go to the correct external body. Your MP might also be interested in a dog that bites being brought into a care home.

    While you should not suffer detriment for blowing the whistle, I can’t see much of a future for you afterwards, but I think you may have already passed the point of no return in your relationship with this organisation.
  • in reply to Elizabeth Divver
    Hi Elizabeth,

    I like the whistleblower approach. I've not considered this. Within care, whistleblowing is, of course, big stuff and so I should get a fair bit of protection.

    I shall use the term when I am in my next meeting with them. I shall mention the CQC. They might want to take my complaint a bit more seriously.

    What is really frustrating, is that if she had come to see me within the hour to apologise and ask me how I was, I wouldn't be on here asking for advice. It's just so basic HR, basic people management, that it baffles me that she doesn't realise it
  • in reply to Ant
    Ant I am unclear what you are hoping to achieve from all this - have you thought through exactly what you want?

    Unless you know the destination you are unlikely to get there.

    CQC / Whistle blowing etc are all nuclear options. Is this really what you want? They are not terms that can be casually thrown into conversation
  • in reply to Keith
    Hi Keith,

    Primarily, I just want the immediate situation resolving amicably. Today, I have handed a grievance in to start the ball rolling in a structured manner. I have made it quite clear what I want from this in my letter.

    I have chosen to mention CQC/whistleblower within my grievance letter but intending to use this a s a last resort should a suitable conclusion not be achieved.



    I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their valuable support. As I have now submitted my grievance I don't require any further advice.
    The CIPD community have really helped me with this and I shall be discussing the worth of this forum with my HR associates.

    Thanks to all.
    Antony
  • in reply to Ant
    Come back and tell us how it goes. We’ll all be wondering.
  • in reply to Elizabeth Divver
    Yes, definitely agree with Elizabeth. Please keep us updated - at the moment it feels like one of those TV police dramas that's reached a critical point in the story ... then stopped for two weeks because of Wimbledon!
Reply Children
  • in reply to Teresa
    Hi all,
    Just an update to proceedings following my dog bite incident.

    The dog belonged to the business Development Director (BDD) and when he returned from annual leave, he apologised profusely. He seemed genuinely upset that his dog had dome this and promised me that no dogs will be allowed into the office again., which is a shame because well behaved dogs are a pleasure.

    After handing him my grievance letter, he said that a full investigation into the incident would take place in addition to my probation review.

    Later that week, he gave me a letter from the managing director (his mum) which was acknowledgement that the incident took place, she was standing less than 10' away at the time, alongside a witness, so would be hard pressed to deny it, and an apology. I told the BDD that I accepted the apology but 1. it would have been nice if it was more timely, ie on the day of the incident and 2. in person. he explained that his mum didn't want to tell me in person as I had made her feel threatened.
    At this point I wanted to use inappropriate terminology, but managed to keep my cool and ask exactly what I'd done to make her feel this way. He said that when I confronted her about her lack of care and compassion, I had used a tone of voice that intimidated her. I left it at that as he has promised me the investigation is ongoing into her comments regarding no-one wanting me working here and other allegations. My probation review will also be completed within the next 7 days, although as I type it is day 6.

    So I wait, wondering how a managing director can possibly work with a HR manager that she feels threatened by. The final meeting/probation review will be an interesting conversation, I'm sure.

    Needless to say, I submitted am application for a HRBP role on Tuesday.......
  • in reply to Ant
    Hi Ant,

    Thanks so much for the update!

    I'm not sure whether to congratulate or commiserate ... so take your pick, either way it's my heartfelt 'Co...tions' :)
  • in reply to Ant
    Ant - you have your apology. The BDD appears to be genuine and sincere. It appears to be time to move on from this incident (and the organisation but that's up to you).

    You do appear to want something more from them rather than just the apology and the contrite BDD ....yes they apologised but you wanted it in person and at a certain point etc...

    Life isn't always like that