Putting in a grievance when job could be at risk

Dear All,

I would like to have some advice as I am currently going through a worrying time. I am currently undertaking my CIPD qualification and transitioning from being a PA to HR within my organisation which has been a lifelong ambition. For the past year I have been targeted by an admin in another department who is particularly rude to most people but often runs me down to others and talks to me in an aggressive manner making me feel miserable at work, so after another incident earlier this week I have reported the incident. 

The downside is that this admin is protected by a director and has 17 years of service whereas I only have 14 months and as my organisation is going through some structural changes I fear that if I uphold my grievance then I may be dismissed. Are there grounds of which I can protect myself as I really do not want to lose my job as other than this person I adore the organisation I work for and the work that I do.?

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  • Yes, welcome, Claire

    It is probably not worth risking your future career to try but possibly fail to stop one person’s unpleasantness. If you intend to move into HR, you’ll tend to encounter plenty of conflict and bad feeling - even verbal abuse sometimes. So, as the other David and Elizabeth suggest, maybe best to treat this as a learning exercise in how best to control and personally to cope with such people and situations. It can be scary at first, but knowing that you’re doing the right thing and they’re not and getting accustomed to this kind of situation should make it a lot more tolerable and less distressing for you.