10/03/2016
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
On Friday 12 February 2016, at roughly just before 8.00pm when getting ready to go home after long day’s work, I was confronted, actually it felt like “detention” by my Boss to sign a document that she termed I was withholding giving my maternity leave date. I was in shock, in disbelief and felt intimidated. I vehemently (strongly) replied that I never withheld that information because as far as I can remember I only know of two occasions that we discussed about my maternity leave the first time was some time last year when I told her that I was pregnant and that I would need to start processing my UIF for maternity and she was fine with that. The second time was Monday 8 February 2016 at night when she asked me about it and I told her I was still working on it.
She said to me that she had to consult CCMA and was advised that I must sign that document that I was withholding to give her my maternity leave dates and that she demanded to get the response within 48 hours. She gave me the document to read and could not make sense of what was the meaning of the entire document and I declined to sign it. I was not going to sign anything that was already falsely accusing me. Besides, I told her that I still need to go to Office of Labour to process my UIF for my maternity leave. I asked her to explain what does “withholding” mean she did not give me a reasonable meaning. This aggravated her and she started yelling and shouting saying that she does not want to hear anything else that I have to say I must just sign this document. I became quiet and only managed to ask her why she was shouting and yelling at me? She then said you know what, “why don’t you just leave, yah just leave”. I looked at her and did not understand what she meant about that? She then said I really cannot talk to you and had to call her husband. She called her husband and told him Nosisa does not want to sign what should she do? She responded repeating telephone conversation saying give her a disciplinary warning. She then tells her husband “can you imagine she wants to do those UIF things”. She began to act laughingly and talking insultingly about my unborn baby to her husband saying that she thinks her unborn baby is special, does she think her pregnancy is special?
She then gave me the phone and said that her husband wants to talk to me. Her husband said to me just sign the document as a proof to say I have seen and read this document. I thanked him and declined the offer to sign anything. She spoke again to her husband, who advised her to get back the document. As she was going back to her office she grabbed the document away from the desk and aggressively moved about and then she said I am sorry that it has to come to this after working so long with her that things have to be this way. I responded that her treatment of staff is not right. Then she said well, “why don’t you just leave?”
That same night I felt emotionally, mentally and physically abused as a pregnant woman to be subjected to such tortures working conditions. I was never informed of any late meeting. I was kept very late at night because of an unscheduled meeting in violation of my human rights.
I would like to highlight something that was brought to my attention before this event. This is now coming back to my mind that on January 29 2016, as we were getting to leave for home when my Boss approached me and said that there is something that she was not doing right and would like to address to me and has already discussed it with my colleague and gave me a paper that listed Salary, Tax, UIF, Total Deductions, Net Salary and said that my salary will appear as shown on the paper and she will be giving me R500.00 in cash since I am pregnant and that I will not need to sign anywhere or mention this to anyone. I did not know what to make of this? and now the events that have followed since then are very questionable.
On the 26th of February 2016, I submitted my UIF forms for completion to my Boss, to my surprise she came back the next day stating on the “black diary book” – “all Nosisa’s salary payments, UIF, payslips and administration has been taken over by Dr Govind and my accountant. Please liaise with Dr Govind about UIF forms etc”.
I would like to solemnly swear that since the late night meeting of 12 February 2016, things at work have taken volatile change for me. My Boss acts aggressively towards me and she has since introduced a black diary book that came into effect as from the 13 February 2016, which was given to us as a “read and sign and comment”.
This black diary book is one of the tactics that create extremely unpleasant or unacceptable working conditions.
I have been accused of being rude to patients to quote there are two patients indicated on the book. To my surprise I was never given an opportunity to give my side of events and truth be told I never was at any point rude to anyone.
I have been warned of a day when cell phone was low battery 10% and was told this has been ongoing and a disciplinary for this will start, again in my years working there I was never given instructions on what conditions the cell phone should be kept under.
I have been accused of moodness pin pointed out especially to me for no good reason. I asked for clarification what she meant about this as I felt violated again more so as she pointed out it was an issue dating back last year? I have not been diagnosed as a person who suffers from moodness. Who are they to tell me that I suffer from this type of a condition? How can they tell that a person is suffering from such a condition? This is in violation of one’s state of wellbeing.
In conclusion, I am a pregnant woman who is now working under constant harassment, verbal abuse and feel victimized at work more so since the night I refused to sign an unwarranted document and trying to organise my UIF forms for maternity leave to be completed.

THANK YOU


NOSISA SIBANDA

15/03/2016







THIS IS ACCORDING TO SOUTH AFRICAN LABOUR GUIDE
VICTIMIZATION AT WORK
It often happens that when an employer wishes to get rid of an employee he adopts tactics that create extremely unpleasant or unacceptable working conditions in hopes that the employee will resign.
Victimization can take many different forms it could involve spreading malicious rumours about the employee or insulting them or degrading them, overloading them with work, continually picking on them, swearing at the employee, using foul and vulgar or abusive language towards the employee and so on.
Whatever the case, it is unacceptable and is a violation of the human rights of the employee and also a violation of the employee’s right to be treated with dignity and respect. In fact, employers have a duty to protect their employees from harassment as opposed to subjecting employees to harassment.
VERBAL ABUSE AT WORK
There are some employers who use this tactic for the very fact that it is denigrating which is the very definition of an abusive employer. Using yelling and humiliation to express a point. Creating a workplace that reeks of fear inhibits employees form performing to the best of their abilities, it stifles creativity. Degrading the person in the presence of others by passing remarks about their work performance, their brain power or lack of it.
INSULTS
Direct verbal insults are easy to recognise but the more subtle sarcastic smirks or raised eye brows can be harder pin down. Insults that take the form of ignoring a person are also subtle.