Vicky Sennett

Here's Vicky's story...

In 1988 my husband, myself and our two small children moved from Scotland to Wales so that Chris could take up an appointment as a technical stage manager at a rural arts centre. I started a thriving Scottish Dance Group and founded an annual international folk dance festival which ran for 12 years amongst other things. I also had my own private music teaching practice. We were there to stay.

In late 1999 a new director was appointed. Every now and then Chris would come home bewildered, with comments such as “You know G said this today but only the other day I thought he said that. I think I must be going mad.” These incidents became more frequent as time went on and Chris would have to endure being shouted at for half an hour at a time. Chris was told to do things without the necessary information or resources and then criticised for not carrying out tasks by a mythical deadline.

Without any warning, he was told he would have no job after Christmas. We approached board members who were friends and told them what had been going on and that much of it, we believed as we had it in writing from G, had been done in their names. They were appalled and said they would look into it, so we asked to be kept informed...

SILENCE…….SILENCE……….SILENCE…..

...except for a denial that Chris had been an employee for 14 years. We had no choice but to apply to an ET in an attempt to get things in the open. At the door of the ET, bundles exchanged, the opposition must have decided that they really couldn’t win. A paltry settlement followed with a gagging clause for Chris - though surprisingly not for me. So not only did Chris lose his job, I lost my teaching practice, our family lost our home and a small child had to leave a school he loved.

One positive thing to come out of our experience was the foundation of Powys Against Workplace Bullying (PAWB) which exists to support targets, lobby councillors and raise public awareness. This organisation is gradually networking across Wales and has crossed the border into England in a couple of places.

We had to find a means of earning an income but health, we found, does not allow Chris to pursue a new full time career in teaching for which he has recently trained. So it fell to me to try to find something which would keep us all afloat; but our experience has shown us that employment is a hazardous occupation and, in any case, who would be interested in a 50 year old Mum who has been out of the work place for 20 years?

In pursuit of the unknown on the internet I stumbled across a new company - Everyday Essentials – which is a home retailing business. This is run by a most caring and considerate family who operate with a network of equally caring and helpful independent distributors of which I am now one. We discuss things, exchange advice and support each other on the forum and we go about our own daily businesses in our local communities.

Chris has now joined me and we work together building up our successful business in the way we want with no boss, no deadlines, and we can work as full-time or as part-time in our exclusive area as we want or feel we can cope with. We have found that we have felt better as we have had to go out and get more exercise in the fresh air while promoting our business. Our confidence has grown as we feel valued by our customers and also by the other distributors though the forum.

Don’t get me wrong this isn’t necessarily an easy ride but we have found that it is a viable way to ease back into working for an income without risking being the subject of damning references or worse – the target of another bully. We get out of the business what we put into it – and as we develop our income goes up – as an employee one tends to put in more and more hours and you’re lucky to get some thanks.

This won’t suit everyone but it may just be what some people may find they need, as we did, to help get back on their feet. Follow the links below for further information – use the contact page or phone number there for asking questions – it will be me – Vicky - at the other end of the line and not a dodgy fly by night sales person.

To view the business go to www.myessentials.biz/vickys and to view the webstore visit www.everyday-essentials.co.uk/vickys

Email: vickys@everyday-essentials.co.uk or bullied_at_work@hotmail.com

Please support Vicky and Chris in their new venture whenever you can!

jfo takes no responsibility for any product or service advertised in New Horizons. If you have been bullied and have gone on to a new venture and would like it promoted by jfo, please contact us.