This is a great idea, however, those already in the workforce need to be dealt with as well – I suspect there are a great many already employed by insurance companies as well. It’s the nature of the industry!!
High school bullies will get knocked back from working at clubs across NSW under a new program targeting their career prospects.
Clubs have joined local high schools in NSW’s Murray region to take a stand against “bullying, stalking, cyber stalking and threatening behaviour”.
Any person 22 or younger who wants to get a job at a registered club will need to get a verbal referee check from their high school.
If the school tells the club the job applicant has been involved in bullying or threatening behaviour, the applicant will get the thumbs down.
“If you bully or threaten students, then you are risking your own career prospects,” ClubsNSW chief executive Anthony Ball said in a statement.
He said the BULLYcheck program took the focus off victims and put it on the perpetrators.
“Bullies don’t care about the harm they do to others,” Mr Ball said.
“This program forces students to think about the effect their bullying will have on their own career, which for many is the most powerful motivator of all.”
But if students raised their own history of being a bully – and showed genuine remorse – then Mr Ball said their applications would be considered on their merits.
Mr Ball hopes the program will be adopted across the state once the 12-month trial is completed.
Chief executive of the Murray Down Golf and Country Club, Greg Roberts, said bullying in the workplace cost the Australian economy up to $13 billion a year.
“Experts tell us that bullying that goes uncorrected in the school yard often continues through to the workplace,” he said.
The program is expected to be rolled out statewide next year.
Minister for Gaming and Racing George Souris applauded the program.
“Bullying, both at school and in the workplace, has a costly and devastating effect on the victims and the community at large,” he said in a statement.
“I congratulate ClubsNSW on helping to fight this scourge.
“I am also pleased to note that ClubsNSW understands that bullies can earn a second chance and that their members are prepared to help rehabilitate and consider employing former school bullies.”
Facts about bullying in Australian schools and workplaces
* About 50 per cent of children say they have been bullied once or more.
* 70 per cent of teachers have observed bullying or had it reported to them.
* A quarter of children report being cyber bullied.
* Young people who bully have a one in four chance of having a criminal record by the time they reach 30.
* 2.5 million people experience some aspect of bullying during their working lives.
* Bullying in the workplace costs businesses between $6 billion and $13 billion a year.
* Average cost of serious bullying is $20,000 per employee.
(Source: ClubsNSW)
ICA seem to be claiming that the pushing and proding of insurers is because some (not all) workers just couldn’t be bothered. Not enough incentives? These people have no idea – their motto seems to be: if it doesn’t move fast enough, kick it! And this, is the result of feeling powerless? Am I missing something?
Appearing at hearings in Sydney on Friday, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said it supported in principle the 16 recommendations of the WorkCover discussion paper but said a detailed financial analysis should be undertaken of each proposal.
ICA Chair David Krawitz said that the majority of workers wanted to return to work as soon as possible, “but that cannot be said for all workers”.
Mr Krawitz complained that his members had ineffective powers to get those workers back into the workforce, and current incentives weren’t working.
http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Workers-wont-return-with-cuts-Unions-UM4DB?OpenDocument
“those already in the workforce need to be dealt with as well – I suspect there are a great many already employed by insurance companies as well” – spot on! I wonder if our government would want to root out the very common bullies working at the front lines of workcover insurance companies – miracles would be achieved and enormous cost savings (think secondary psych injuries almost all injured workers eventually suffer from and many because of the way they are being treated by their case managers)!
Bullying by insurers, I am absolutely convinced, is a major cause of secondary psychological injuries and exacerbate problems with people who suffer from primary psyche injuries. I think Davis Shoebridge is right when he says ” there is no doubt that many injured workers feel intimidated and harassed by their claims manager. One of the bizarre mis-incentives in the scheme is that the more the claims manager “manages” the injured worker, the more their employer gets paid in claims handling fees from the WorkCover pot. I agree that this needs to be fixed as a priority”
Employers also play a role in many cases as well.
I would love to put down the path I have been bullied down.A Warning to any other person who has the stupidity to believe that the TRUTH will eventually surface. After a severe back injury on wet concrete stairs, (an ongoing OHS issue that has injured students), & RTW that was hindered by the Principal, I am now sitting in a caravan, without my career, with an injury that will never cease to cause pain.
Despite all medical avenues, I RTW as a teacher, in an environment I believed valued my input.I loved my chosen career passionately and ALL SPECIALISTS agreed that It was in BEST INTERESTS of all that I continue to work.
The RTW was a nightmare, primarily due , unknown to myself, the Principal.I was a teacher of some 30years experience, often in the Lab with students who needed escape from playground bullies. I, like many others, enjoyed assisting students who had fallen behind, etc and spent many lunches, etc with them as opposed to being in the staffroom.
I had been denied RTW for nearly a year, following a small re-injury closing Lab windows(2 week rest)feb 2010.
I was given a new ReHab provider who was very savy with Law & together with union they forced a RTW in March 2011, week 9, term 1.
Again, I was only slightly aware that the Principal was preventing my RTWs. The ReHab actually had to spell it out!!!
Nevertheless,RTW & 7 weeks without a beat. Students doing well all round success. Mind you, my staff, a little distant & closenit, but Staff Aid, advised me they ‘Not liking the fact you are always so happy and the students like you.’
Didnt take it too seriously, as we all know, best get on with job at hand.
Thrilled to see my classes improving, particularly my yr 10 ATTENDING 100%. Then, out of blue, Principal comes to my Lab, asks if I could “pop in for 2 min chat?” Feeling positive, I really thought He was congratulating me!!!
I went into his office. The door closed. I was RELEASED over an hour later. Shaking.crying,barely able to walk or speak.
After being on his staff for 5 years, I was assaulted verbally intimidated and told I was now a Probationary teacher whom was having trouble in three areas.
Although he had no specifics and NOT one member of the faculty or staff had said anything in regards to his claims. He insisted I needed a program of support,
I somehow attended work the following day & thankful I was teaching 6 periods. My Head Teacher, came to my roll class & stated she knew nothing, at all.
I spoke to my specialist in ACT the day of the assault & he demanded I attend him on the Friday.
He was mortified. He conducted a series of tests and diagnosed Severe PTSD & Trauma, He insisted I lodge a complaint & engage a Lawyer.
I couldnt do anything but cry and shake,
The story begins. Bullied bullied for months I now am so despairing that I wonger about life,
Im not important, but my family and my students made me feel I was, My soul has been torn out, I cannot fight like everyone else, Im a teacher and a mum. Now Im an old lady scared of everyone, I loved teaching,35years % never has anyone said anything horrible. I wish someone would help me show what he has done so it doesnt hurt anyone else, I was so well nowim scared im dying, I dont drink or do drugs Im just a little school teacher who wishes this nightmare would end and my life was back but i think its too late
thank you for your story christineliz12; this whole stinking mess caused by work cover is a form of bullying to the extreme; it is nothing less than a sick psychological ( GAME) created by sick (GREEDY ) politicians ; doctors ;lawyers and businessmen . The politicians of our government are nothing but vermin ; self serving scum ; made up of lawyers and doctors ; and their agenda is to make you feel so worthless as a human being that you will commit suicide . i would like to see these doctors get a dose of their own medicine .( medical maggots) bludging of patients . who are naieve enough to believe doctors are above reproach . don;t get me wrong there are some fine surgeons and doctors in australia ; but there are the ones who are just parasites in it for the money . and don;t care who;s life they destroy to get it. god help our grandchildren .