The bullying of academics follows a pattern of horrendous, Orwellian elimination rituals, often hidden from the public. Despite the anti-bullying policies (often token), bullying is rife across campuses, and the victims (targets) often pay a heavy price.
"Nothing strengthens authority as much as silence." Leonardo da Vinci - "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men [or good women] do nothing." -- Edmund Burke
July 24, 2007
Wise words...
Only dead fish go with the flow. ----- When injustice becomes Law, resistance becomes duty.
In the survey about anti-bullying policies on this blog it is very interesting to see that 7 people work in universities where they feel that the anti-bullying policies are very effective.
It would be good to hear from these people so that we can all begin to understand how to build on the good practice in these universities.
Clearly it is possible to have very effective anti-bullying policies...
There needs to be a far greater understanding of how these policies work....
We don't really need any more evidence of how anti-bullying policies don't work....
First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Don't wait till there's no one left to speak up for you. Speak out, name names, expose the bullies!
Aphra Behn wrote: "universities where they feel that the anti-bullying policies are very effective"
My most recent employer's endemic bullying shocked me precisely because I expected, and had witnessed, that bullying was unacceptable and was acted upon. In previous employment the personnel office acted immediately on being informed of bullying to (in one instance) warn the perpetrator of possible dismissal and (in a separate instance) to dismiss the perpetrator and remove him to a private study room until his notice expired.
An effective response requires HR to know and communicate a definition of bullying, and to identify bullying behaviour from the outset. If you proceed to complaints and investigations then the bully will always win.
Speaking of responding and naming bullies, I'd like to announce the release of my latest song parody. You can link to it at: http:// www.sirpeterscott.com/millwardinthesky.html
You can learn more about the background of this song at: http://www.sirpeterscott.com/carolgartrell.html
The bad news: Having very recently gone formal with a complaint of harassment I have accepted a job (40% pay cut) outside academia and dropped the complaint. I dropped it in order to get through my period of notice in as positive frame of mind as possible - it is painful to say goodbye to my job and my many supportive colleagues. I accepted the new job because I could not see how even the most effective anti-bullying policies in the world could get me out of an impossible situation which was damaging my health. And the damage done to my career was already irreparable.
The good news - the policies did seem to be working at the institutional level. My mistake was to seek redress from the Faculty and then, when that failed, to try to sort things out on my own. As soon as I had let Personnel know what was happening I(and I did this much too late) I began again to feel valued and protected. The UCU branch was very good as well. But the prospect of an investigation was very stressful and I have taken the easy way out. Sorry! I read this thread and begin to feel guilty. However, I do intend to go out with a bit of a bang.
It is so good to know that despite the difficulties there was a stage when you were able to feel 'valued and protected' during a time when you were making a complaint.
It is also great to know that your UCU branch were good...
... that it isn't an impossible dream...
... that there are ways of supporting people that move issues forward...
Maybe those universities who still struggle with complaints of workplace bullying can reflect upon what they might do to ensure that thier staff feel
10 comments:
Don't be a silent witness.
Speak OUT
against
workplace bullying....
OR
... you could be the next target.
Aphra Behn
In the survey about anti-bullying policies on this blog it is very interesting to see that 7 people work in universities where they feel that the anti-bullying policies are very effective.
It would be good to hear from these people so that we can all begin to understand how to build on the good practice in these universities.
Clearly it is possible to have very effective anti-bullying policies...
There needs to be a far greater understanding of how these policies work....
We don't really need any more evidence of how anti-bullying policies don't work....
Aphra Behn
First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.
by Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
Don't wait till there's no one left to speak up for you. Speak out, name names, expose the bullies!
Do it today.
Speak out in your university.
Name the bullies.
Bullying can seriously damage health and the health of those around you.
Bullying kills.
Take action today.
Go to the senior management in your university and tell them about the bullying.
Go in a group for safety.
Bullying happens because people know they can get away with it.
Don't let them.
Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn wrote: "universities where they feel that the anti-bullying policies are very effective"
My most recent employer's endemic bullying shocked me precisely because I expected, and had witnessed, that bullying was unacceptable and was acted upon. In previous employment the personnel office acted immediately on being informed of bullying to (in one instance) warn the perpetrator of possible dismissal and (in a separate instance) to dismiss the perpetrator and remove him to a private study room until his notice expired.
An effective response requires HR to know and communicate a definition of bullying, and to identify bullying behaviour from the outset. If you proceed to complaints and investigations then the bully will always win.
Speaking of responding and naming bullies, I'd like to announce the release of my latest song parody. You can link to it at:
http:// www.sirpeterscott.com/millwardinthesky.html
You can learn more about the background of this song at:
http://www.sirpeterscott.com/carolgartrell.html
So many wise words and now
SILENCE
?????
Aphra Behn
The bad news: Having very recently gone formal with a complaint of harassment I have accepted a job (40% pay cut) outside academia and dropped the complaint. I dropped it in order to get through my period of notice in as positive frame of mind as possible - it is painful to say goodbye to my job and my many supportive colleagues. I accepted the new job because I could not see how even the most effective anti-bullying policies in the world could get me out of an impossible situation which was damaging my health. And the damage done to my career was already irreparable.
The good news - the policies did seem to be working at the institutional level. My mistake was to seek redress from the Faculty and then, when that failed, to try to sort things out on my own. As soon as I had let Personnel know what was happening I(and I did this much too late) I began again to feel valued and protected. The UCU branch was very good as well. But the prospect of an investigation was very stressful and I have taken the easy way out. Sorry! I read this thread and begin to feel guilty. However, I do intend to go out with a bit of a bang.
It is so good to know that despite the difficulties there was a stage when you were able to feel 'valued and protected' during a time when you were making a complaint.
It is also great to know that your UCU branch were good...
... that it isn't an impossible dream...
... that there are ways of supporting people that move issues forward...
Maybe those universities who still struggle with complaints of workplace bullying can reflect upon what they might do to ensure that thier staff feel
...valued and protected...
...if they dare to make a complaint.
Aphra Behn
And now for something completely different:-
The Music Video version of my song parody:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB048j-6x3Y
Expose, expose, and expose again!
Artressa
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