Beware
It has become almost inevitable in recent years for the issue of bullying at work to hit the headlines of national press at least once a year.
This year it was the Trades Union Congress which made headlines by designating 7 November as BAN BULLYING AT WORK DAY. They published figures that suggested around 2 million people had been bullied at work in the previous six months and called on the Government to outlaw bullying at work warning that the problem accounts for the loss of some 18 million working days each year.
This year in August it was a bullying at work claim that hit the headlines Helen Green a former company secretary employed by Deutsche Bank was awarded £800,000 in compensation for the damage to her health caused by bullying. Ms. Green alleged that Deutsche Bank was vicariously liable for the psychiatric injury she suffered as a result of harassment and bullying by her fellow employees. Mr. justice Owen at Londons high court said that the behaviour which amounted to A DELIBERATE AND CONCERTED CAMPAIGN OF BULLYING was a long-standing.Â
This kind of campaign was exactly the same as we have been informed went on at Muirhouse Social Work Centre,which resulted as we understand in the victim trying to take his own life.
The high court found that the bank was in breach of its duty of care to Ms. Green in failing to take any adequate steps to protect her from such behaviour. Again we see striking similarities in the Muirhouse case. It said that Ms. Green’s line manager knew or ought to have known what was going on,and the bullying could and should have been stopped.
Once again this from our information mirror images the Muirhouse situation.
The High Court also found that the stress created by the relentless campaign of bullying went beyond that normally to be expected in the workplace and that it was foreseeable that some people would not be able to withstand such stress and consequently suffer some form of psychiatric injury.
Ms. Green’s case exemplified why organisations across the country are concerned to stamp out bullying-because organisations that fail to do so risk paying a high price in sickness absense,potential court or tribunals awards,damage to reputation and adverse publicity.
It would seem from what was allowed to go on at Muirhouse Social Work Centre unchecked was systematic abuse of an employee. We have some major issues with why this was allowed to go on and who turned a blind eye and more so who was complicite in this abuse which resulted in serious health problems.
Turning away or hiding away the truth makes the guilt shared. Senior Managers who must have known what was going on did nothing and thereby encouraged bullying to go on relentlessly. Not knowing what to do is not an excuse,that will cost you dearly. Where bullying is found to be going on and the evidence shows that then immediate action is called for.
Pilton Sucks along with organisations dedicated to outlawing workplace bullying demand the removal of bullys from the work place. Those charged with investigating this crime dare not hide behind so called grey areas. If it sounds like bullying it most probably is. The destruction of self esteem,confidence,and most importantly health cannot be tolerated just to cover up for mindless thugery and criminal behaviour.
The police should have been called in at Muirhouse to investigate what was going on but in this case hindsight is a great thing. Pilton Sucks has over a period of time built up a picture of cruelty pain and suffering caused by a bully who was allowed to get away with it.
It stops now it has to. When life itself is threatened it has gone to far.Â