June 18, 2009

The bastards in charge of 'Human Resources'


...I was totally naive over the role of human resources. I really thought they were supposed to be “in the middle” and not taking sides. What happened was a complete surprise in terms of their bias and attempts to subvert me. Constant letters, emails – taking care NOT to make actual contact. It was a shocking revelation which left me in a void. The union was my only lifeline, a mixture of my local contact treading water in quicksand with me hopeful of a cavalry charge from regional office, which never came.

Looking back, there was one critical theme to the way the whole organisation worked – this was to isolate me. The university acted illegally with the directive that I could not talk or socialise with anyone there. This was in my view an act that required the severest of reprimands – no vice-chancellor should be able to hold office with such a culture of totalitarian malice and disregard for the legal process. There cannot be more than a handful of grievances within a university at any one time and vice-chancellors should see it as their duty to ask questions and clarify how matters are progressing.

I cannot see how matters will change in universities until there is a willingness from good people with power to act. We must presume there are good people willing to do something. They need to explore reform, which includes an equitable hearing for staff who feel they are treated in ways that exemplify shoddy management and duplicity…

From: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

The bullied blogger's story is the story of those who have been - and continue to be - bullied.

(YEAH?)

It is not an unusual story - the themes are common to bullying ...

I know them well...

What is unusual is that THE have had the courage to allow this story to be told - even when the going got a bit sticky - they kept with it.

I remain in my university challenging the alleged workplace bullying - trying to persuade those with the power to talk about what is happening...

It is mentally and emotionally exhausting...

Some days I have to grit my teeth though I want to scream out with the pain...

(WHAT A DRAMA QUEEN...)

These blogs help so much...

I sometimes read them with tears streaming down my face...

(HOW PATHETIC...)

Before I return to challenge...

There are ways forward...

Accepting what is happening is not helpful to those of us who are targets of alleged workplace bullying

Say NO to workplace bullying

You know it makes sense.

TODAY..

Aphra Behn

Anonymous said...

Quote from TBB

The common experience has been of psychological torment from organisations and the way they marshal resources in the persecution of one individual – a truly remarkable process where real attempts are made to systematically “take out” the person who dares to challenge.

*******************

Workplace bullying at universities is a truly remarkable process - breathtaking it its vindictiveness.

That we are starting to debate these issues productively in public is a great step forward.

Like TBB I had no experience of blogging and I have been interested to see how this form of communication works.

One of the difficulties in wpb is that the target is isolated. The psychological abuse is such that many targets have to leave - the instinct for self preservation often wins out over the need to stand up for what is morally right. The blogs have reduced the isolation in a way that has felt productive...

I too could not have coped had it not been for this blog which has somehow been a lifeline and enabled me to keep going in my darkest and bleakest moments.

TBB writes so well about her experiences...

The responses on the blog have also provided insights into wpb...

The silence is starting to be broken...

And UCU... are you going to join the discussion?

What about a response Sally in THE?

Aphra Behn

Anonymous said...

Dare to challenge work place bullying

You know it makes sense

dare to...

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

workplace bullying

You know it makes sense

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

workplace bullying

You know it makes sense

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

challenge

BREAK THE SILENCE

You know it makes sense

Aphra Behn

Anonymous said...

Have you broken the silence Aphra Behn? Have you gone public? You still write here (as do we all) protected by your anonymity and pseudonym.

How many of us would be infinitely more empowered if we all banded together and went public--I mean truly public, with our real names and our real stories. Why are so many of us unwilling to do so? There is strength in numbers; otherwise people like TBB, protectively cloaked in her anonymity, risk appearing to be exceptions to the rule and/or vexatious cranks with axes to grind.

Anonymous said...

I have read your blog, I am wondering why you did not mention name surname and shame of who has treated you badly abusing on their position against you. I am also wondering if you have evidence in your hands about the facts occurred. Please let me say that I am a PhD student and soon you see my blog against my current university but I will mention the name of who has abused in this way with all the evidence I has in my hands and believe me is extremely severe what they did. My complaint has reached the OIA I am prepare to take the case in court if it will be the case. I will also write a book again with name and surname these bastards have to fall into their own shame. I disagree with you when you says"To the reader, I suggest a different path from mine. If you have anything that resembles a desire to “blow the whistle” or consider that you are able to take on your university because of the way you have been treated, think again and leave quietly – because you will experience a terrible ordeal". I agree that the experience is horrible but think that "leaving quietly" means literally playing on favour of who is acting vicious against you. Do not forget that your battle is a principle in order to break this system created by universities against students and workers.

Anonymous said...

The real issue is that all universities in European Union can do as they please, this was confirmed to me by EU. All Chancellors of every university are lords and they sip cup of tea together in House of Lords! Unless, police has control over universities and chancellors there is not much we can do!There are many universities with little man and staff that is clinging to their pathethic jobs and it is clearly not in their interest to upset chancellors or vice chancellors. It is simple as that. The priest have been exposes, the spending in government & now the univerisites should. Someone should contact TV and sell our stories it is simple as that. I am willing to talk I have overwhelming evidence to show that academia are full of psychopaths and criminals who practice fraud and bullying!