When I opened the Sunday paper this morning I was more than a little shocked to find this headline: Boss’s ‘oxygen thief’ slur. I was even more taken aback to find that the I knew the offending company very well.
As a former manager at Chubb Security (and one who blew the whistle on this type of behaviour) I find it offensive that the same culture seems to be alive and well. It supports my case that injured workers are often negatively stereotyped as liabilities that aren’t even worthy of breathing the same air as others ( especially boss’s) – this is sad fact confronting too many injured workers.
(Addition: http://workers.labor.net.au/251/news84_bullies.html this provides some of my own history with Chubb and the insurer)
Boss’s ‘oxygen thief’ slur
A CHUBB Security boss was forced to apologise to workers and undergo counselling after circulating an email describing injured cash-in-transit guards as “oxygen thieves”.
But the National Union of Workers believes the punishment is too lenient and have called for him to resign.
The email, written on April 24 and obtained by The Sunday Telegraph, was sent by Chubb’s national security manager Brian Lee.
Mr Lee, a former NSW policeman, was formerly the company’s manager of compliance in charge of workplace ethics. He made the comment in an exchange with a counterpart at Chubb Victoria, who needed to fly a worker to Sydney for weapons testing.
A Chubb spokesman said there was zero tolerance for the disrespectful language.
“Numerous actions (were) undertaken including counselling the manager, a written apology to employees and personal apologies where appropriate and possible,” a Chubb spokesman said. “Employees at all levels are responsible for creating and fostering a culture of ethical business practices.”
He responded the same day, writing: “I have plenty of oxygen thieves, but they can only work limited hours, so I may need to use a couple of them depending on the amount of time needed.”
He then circulated the email to four Chubb supervisors in Sydney, asking them: “Do we have a body and vehicle around who can help?”
Workers were irate over the “oxygen thieves” comment, sticking copies of the email around Chubb offices in protest. The remark referred to guards injured during cash-in-transit robberies or those on restricted duties because of post-traumatic stress disorder.
This includes victims of a $2.6 million robbery at Chubb’s Lane Cove depot in 2009, where Mr Lee is based, when shots were fired at staff and one worker was hit with a rifle butt.
Two guards involved in that robbery have handed in their firearm licences after being traumatised by the ordeal.
“Some of those guys injured in that robbery are still on workers compensation at the depot,” National Union of Workers official Tony O’Donnell said.
“It’s outrageous. To refer to them as ‘oxygen thieves’ is simply disgusting.”
Mr O’Donnell said there was no place for “this kind of management style” and Mr Lee should step down.
“He’s been responsible for instigating heavy disciplinary action against people for like-minded behaviour,” he said.
“Of all the people at Chubb who shouldn’t be carrying on this way, he should be the one.
“An apology isn’t enough. We don’t believe his position is tenable.”
We have received one or two stories from injured workers who have been ill treated by Chubb Security – it appears that bullying is (still) the norm there!
Posted: 04 May 11 03:14
Post subject: Insurance – Workers Compensation
Organisation name: Re Allianz
Issue type: Complaint
Sorry to hear of your trouble P1, but listen to this re Allianz. Chubb Security worker night shift horrible work suffers a heart attack at work, immediate surgery, he has a good family history and multiple cardiac reports support the worker. The Employer makes sure when worker returns to work he is the lowest paid of all workers, no penalty weekend work and cardiac reports advise worker no-night shift. Chubb claims worker is aggressive when he yells at another worker to stop hitting him and Chubb hires a psychologist who tells worker not to take victim mentality by making a compo claim, he is bullied physically at work, compo denied by Allianz and the employer just ignore all the medical reports, 27 months later after extreme poverty, nowin nofee solicitors Maurice Blackburn get six months compo for worker but that is still unpaid months later Allianz now employ solicitors Minter Ellison to try and stop me being critical of Allianz on the internet, hence I found your story researching this case and I am compiling examples of other workers with valid workplace injuries refused compo by Allianz some bullied in extreme ways to not make claims.
Have you been ill-treated by Chubb? Let the world know and help us put a stop to it!
Private comment.
CHUBB are now MSS, but the same stories continue
What else would be expected from a manager that takes his orders from his very large multi national company that does over injured workers Mr Lee good to see you have a bullshit title to me and a lot of us injured you are a turd in a sewer pipe
Of all people you would think an ex-cop would have more compassion for these workers. All we hear is the constant chorus of how hard it is for cops dealing with violent crims, being attacked etc. Then this nob shows up.
Hi Chris
This surprised me as well. I joined Chubb right out of the military and knew that my commitment to workers, especially their safety and welfare, was paramount – and especially looking after the interests of those injured in the line of duty. The key event came for me was when senior management decided to cut corners on safety and an officer was killed as a consequence. This was the event:
Workcover Authority of New South Wales v Chubb Security Australia Pty Ltd
• December 2005
Security Firms were fined a total of $407,000 following a landmark decision handed down by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) on the 2nd December 2005.
The decision has not only clarified the ‘place of work’ definition under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (the ‘Act’) but widened the scope of an employers responsibility.
BACKGROUND
On 3 September 2001 an All Time Security Guard was shot dead when leaving Punchbowl RSL with the club’s cash takings of $55,291. At the time of the robbery the security guard was driving a borrowed non-armoured sedan car, not fitted with any security devices such as remote central locking, two-way radio, job safe and panic alarm.
All Time Security was subcontracted to Chubb Security and the issue brought before the IRC was whether the provisions of the Act applied equally to companies engaging sub-contractors.
THE IRC DECISION
Chubb Security was charged by Workcover for failing to ensure the health, welfare and safety of a non-employee at its place of work. In defending the prosecution by Workcover, Chubb’s argued that the Punchbowl RSL car park was not its ‘place of work’. They argued it was not its ‘place of work’ because it was not a place where Chubb’s employees work; it was not a place adjacent to where Chubb’s employees work; and it was not a place which was affected by work done by Chubb’s employees.
IRC Justice Staunton examined the contracts between the retrospective parties and found that “the contractual and associated arrangements between Chubb, All Time Security and its employees tied Chubb inextricably and on an ongoing basis to the work being performed on its behalf at the Punchbowl RSL Club by employees of All Time Security”.
Essentially this meant that Chubb Security had an “ongoing interest, involvement and control” over the way All Time Security carried out the subcontracted services. Therefore the NSW IRC found that the RSL carpark was Chubb Security’s place of work and Chubb Security was fined $246,000 while All Time Security was fined $140,000.
Here’s where the breakdown occurs though, private corporations are about profits, not the safety and welfare of employees. I call it ‘ethical fading’ – despite initially knowing what is the right thing to do gradually erodes as we attempt to tow-the-company line and achieve bonuses and promotions – Fortunately, I was unable to do this and was compelled by my own conscience to speak out against these and other types of abuses.
Whistle-blowing is the hardest road I’ve ever been down, however, I can live with myself and my decision.