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WORKPLACE BULLYING
Tim Field announces public seminars
I've put together two public seminars where I share my insight with you. One is on Understanding and Tackling Bullying at Work, the other is on Recovery and Re-empowerment after Bullying and Abusive Life Events (eg harassment, discrimination, stalking, domestic violence, abuse, redundancy, trauma etc). The first pair of seminars will be in Oxford, and the second pair will be in London, both in June. I plan to host these seminars around the UK (and later outside the UK) so if you can recommend a venue (eg a well-placed hotel) let me know. More at successunlimited/seminars/index.htm and you can book online.
50% of teachers bullied at school
An Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) survey confirms UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line and Bully OnLine experience to reveal head teachers as main culprits: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2940685.stm
Teachers discuss bullying of teachers
Join the discussion on the TES forum Bullying of staff: http://www.tes.co.uk/staffroom/thread.asp?staffroomSearchStr=&id=18086&threadPage=1&threadID=688264&messagePage=1
UK Parliament debates bullying at work
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm030325/hallindx/30325-x.htm and http://www.msf.org.uk/cgi-bin/news/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&ID=369&view_records=1&ww=1
Dons at risk of violence
University lecturers are in danger of being attacked, intimidated or harassed by students: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/2809285.stm
Academics demoralised
AUT survey shows high levels of dissatisfaction in further and higher education: http://www.aut.org.uk/news/178.html
£400,000 bill for GMB members
The behaviour of Robert Parker, nicknamed Mr Bolly (is this a spelling mistake?) because of his love of champagne, is likely to cost GMB members £400,000. Mary Senior, who accused Parker of bullying, harassment and victimisation, said: "It saddens me that members' money has been spent on defending the indefensible": http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12708973&method=full&siteid=89488 and http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12713968&method=full&siteid=89488
The GMB is refusing to expel Mr Parker: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12799050&method=full&siteid=89488
Kingston-upon-Hull Council contest award for bullying
Environmental Health Officer Chris Dunnachie is to become a test case to establish whether damages can be awarded for the stress and humiliation caused by a dismissal process: http://www.ehn-online.com/cgi-bin/news/news1/EpuZVZFAluFAMsyfoQ.html
CIPD findings mirror pattern of calls to UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line
Teachers, doctors and nurses are most stressed out workers: http://www.cipd.co.uk/press/PressRelease/NHS+and+local+government+employees+are+most+stressed+out+workers.htm
More people opting out of rat race to escape stress
A Datamonitor survey reveals over two million qualified experienced people have shunned the workplace for a quieter, less stressful and more stable life whilst many are "kept on the career ladder by fear": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2951625.stm and http://www.unison.org.uk/safety/news_view.asp?did=750
Employment Act 2002 not likely to address bullying
The UK Government states the creation of a "highly productive, modern and successful workplace through fairness and partnership" as the aim of the Employment Act 2002, however, the insistence on grievance procedures - which are wholly unsuited to dealing with bullying - means that it's unlikely to be of much use if you're in a bullying situation: action/legal.htm#EA2002 (summary) and http://www.hrmgt.co.uk/law.htm (full details).
European Union issues consultation document on stress and its effect on health
http://www.agency.osha.eu.int/misc/news030113.pdf
Quebec moves to outlaw bullying and psychological harassment
Katherine Harding writes in The Globe and Mail: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030319/CAQUEB//?query=harassment
Employers are not meeting the costs of workplace injuries and illness
Workplace injury and illness costs the UK economy £18 billion a year but the average British boss pays just £70 per employee in insurance to cover the annual cost of compensating staff hurt at work: http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-6417-f0.cfm
Bullying by email on the increase
One in six workers in the UK has been bullied via email according to a study by Internet job recruiter reed.co.uk: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2902777.stm
Risk factors for unemployment identified
The Government likes to infer that the unemployed are all potential skivers, malingerers and benefit cheats but research shows otherwise: http://www.jrf.org.uk/pressroom/releases/050303.asp
Boss walks free after being found guilty over teenager's death
Suspended sentence and fine not enough, say some, whilst unions say a law on corporate manslaughter is needed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2809395.stm
Early Day Motion on Corporate Manslaughter
It's not just accidents that kill people, many workers end up committing suicide because of bullying at work. It's time to write to your MP to make bullying a crime: http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-6355-f0.cfm
Harvard Business School starts to take notice of toxic bosses
Left unchallenged, emotional pain can cripple an organization: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/pubitem.jhtml?id=3373&sid=3373&pid=3373&t=organizations
Australian Workers Union (AWU) calls for limits on psychometric testing
Psychometric testing should be replaced by testing for psychos: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/26/1046064103702.html
New Zealand whistleblowers get recognition
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3301569&thesection=news&thesubsection=general
10% of European workers now experience physical or psychological violence at work
...says a new study from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, the Dublin-based EU Agency: http://www.eurofound.ie/newsroom/archive_pressrelease/pressrel_030225.htm
HSE warns that violence at work must not be tolerated
But like domestic abuse, much in-house violence at the hands of bullies goes unrecognised and unpunished: http://www.hse.gov.uk/hthdir/noframes/violence.htm
One in five nurses in Alberta and British Columbia suffer workplace violence
But many don't report it: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030312/CANURS/TPScience/
Ambulance Trust criticised for bullying
Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust criticised in report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2859601.stm and http://www.healthypages.net/news.asp?newsid=2957
Ambulance Trust criticised for bullying
Wiltshire Ambulance NHS Trust criticised in Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2891503.stm
National Audit Office (NAO) report reveals increase in violence against UK health workers
In 2001/2 there were 95,501 reported incidents of violence or aggression against health workers - but no mention of psychological or emotional violence by managers against staff: http://www.nao.gov.uk/pn/02-03/0203527.htm
NHS woes continue
Operations cancelled at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff because staff find themselves barred from parking: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2814899.stm whilst doubts are cast over the cost of Private Finance Initiatives: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1991037.stm and government investment makes little difference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2835217.stm
Girls mean business
Women bosses are twice as likely as men to bully staff, a survey claims: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12742644&method=full&siteid=89488
Trade union trends
Focus on union legal services for injury victims: http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-6533-f0.cfm
CBI calls for new curbs on compensation culture to contain rise in insurance costs
No mention of identifying and dealing with the causes that give rise to insurance claims though: http://www.cbi.org.uk/ndbs/press.nsf/0363c1f07c6ca12a8025671c00381cc7/38eb97f5bf76444780256cdb003e403f?OpenDocument
Insurers must not invade people's privacy
Lord Woolf criticises insurance companies who use private investigators to help them evade liability: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,911756,00.html
Workplace counselling works
A press release from the BACP: http://www.bacp.co.uk/members_visitors/media/current/public_press_release_workplace_update.htm
If it smells like hell, it’s probably Pictsweet
The Mayor of Salem speaks out about human rights on the home front: http://www.alternativesmagazine.com/19/swaim.html
Employers worried about war stress
Employers have recently called on the MoD to provide advice and guidance on reintegrating reservists back into the workplace after their tour of duty in Iraq, especially those who are at risk of developing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, the MoD has no advice to give - a policy which is unchanged for a century (see stress/ww1.htm). The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) reports that it expects levels of PTSD to be higher than in previous wars - perhaps because people feel more secure in admitting their symptoms. Untreated, PTSD can blight a person for life (with consequent lack of employment, use of NHS and benefits); however, with recognition and treatment, prospects for recovery are excellent. More on PTSD at stress/ptsd.htm
Support Your Employees - It's Good for the Heart
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030401/hl_nm/heart_workplace_dc
Cubiks stress survey How is stress impacting on the 21st century business environment? online
Survey conclusion: "It has been well established for some time that high employee stress levels can have a negative impact on both individual and organisational performance. Given that this is the case, it is surprising that so many employers seem to be taking such a cavalier attitude to the way stress is perceived and handled in their workplace." http://www.cubiks.com/PDFs/Hot_under_the_collar.pdf
Male teacher wins sex discrimination case
Bob English wins his trbunal claim against Whitford Primary School, near Holywell in north Wales: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2821497.stm
Being forced to wear a tie is discriminatory
The need to control what others wear often features in bullying cases: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2840013.stm
More on toilet breaks
Or lack thereof: http://www.hazards.org/toiletbreaks/
CIPD backs toilet training for employers
http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/officehours/story/0,9897,920384,00.html
Despite progress hidden racism still pervades Britain’s workplaces
http://www.tuc.org.uk/equality/tuc-6519-f0.cfm
Government initiatives to tackle racism
A report titled Ethnic Minorities and the labour market from the Prime Minister's strategy unit suggests giving employment tribunals the power to name and shame employers who are repeatedly named in tribunal actions. Meanwhile, ACAS's own Race Relations Advisory Service is to be doubled in size. See www.strategy.gov.uk/2003/ethnic/report.shtml - we just need to do the same for employers who are repeatedly guilty of bullying.
Women still face long hours at work without pay
Can you believe this? http://www.gmb.org.uk/press_office/display.asp?id=219
Census reveals impact of sex on life at work
Plus ça change: http://www.eoc.org.uk/cseng/news/13_feb_census.asp
Employers must do more for women working through the menopause
http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-6353-f0.cfm
Revised 'snoop' plans outlined
Fewer authorities will be able to monitor your phone calls, emails and web site visits: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2838493.stm
Anti-depressants 'could impair driving ability
1m UK motorists could exhibit side-effects of anti-depressant drugs including aggression, dizziness and blurred vision, the RAC has warned: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2834029.stm
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) 'better than anti-depressants' claim researchers
Oxford University researchers say there is strong evidence that the controversial treatment may be more effective than drugs: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2825527.stm
Department for Work and Pensions report examines employment retention after the onset of sickness and disability
The UK government has ordered an urgent review into why job centre workers and benefits staff take almost twice as many days off sick as other employees. The civil service union PCS says high rates of sickness absence are easily explained by low morale, chronic understaffing and high levels of stress (aka bullying): http://www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2003/feb/iad140203-erosd.htm
Bullying, sexual harassment and intimidation of women patients
An independent inquiry has found ample evidence of abuse at Broadmoor mental hospital in Berkshire: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2828125.stm whilst former Broadmoor manager Julia Wassell claims she was victimised when she drew attention to this, a charge the hospital denies: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2831367.stm
Female city analyst wins right to equal pay tribunal
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/030403/4/dww7x.html
Magistrate's unduly lenient sentence increased
Mansfield magistrate Steven Walters had his 2 year jail sentence increased to 3.5 years by an Appeal Court. He was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child, and had previous convictions for dishonesty: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2844617.stm
Stalker pair make life hell
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/page.cfm?objectid=12760547&method=full&siteid=89488
Government take webmaster to court
The Prescription Pricing Authority is bringing a case against campaigner Tony Martin alleging he wrongly claimed for a prescription of anti depressants costing £6.10: http://www.workplacebullying.com/
'No third party' in deaths at Deepcut army barracks
Police say no evidence of third party involvement: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2831757.stm
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Bully in sight: how to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: the invisible injury, 2001 edition
Bullycide: death at playtime, an exposé of child suicide cause by bullying
Seminars - in-house or open to all
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