John McPhilbin, a very brave and inspirational injured worker currently studying for a degree in Social Science, has kindly shared his enlightening paper about workplace bullying and the failure of the [NSW] government to effectively manage itself…
Workplace bullying: Silent Epidemic and Major Policy Failure
Bullying is the key workplace health and safety issue of our time. It can affect anyone in any job, regardless of what task they perform, what kind of people they work with, or of what industry they are part. These issues are not easy and they need to be tackled head on, rather than ignored until they become so unbearable for people that they cannot face going to work — Caponecchia, C., and Wyatt, A.(2011).
In 2010, the government authority responsible for educating, monitoring and enforcing anti-bullying policies across NSW workplaces, found itself at the centre of a number media allegations claiming that bullying was widespread within the
organisation. This case demonstrates the failure of government to effectively manage itself despite being responsible to policy formulation and enforcement in the wider community.
This report will define the problem of workplace bullying as well as detail certain key components of government response to the issue. It will also be argued that the government’s economically rational approach to managing occupational health and safety (OH&S), actually hinders, rather than helps in efforts to reduce the incidences as well as costs associated with workplace bullying (Jamrozik, 2009).
This report will also recommend the need for a major shift in perspective that recognises workplace bullying as a major social health issue that has significant costs attached to ongoing policy failure (at personal, organisational, and economic levels of Australian society).
If you prefer you can read John’s paper in a scalable popup window
Again, we thank John McPhilbin for sharing such insightful perspectives 
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=7512
Great reading! AS my WC claim is centered around bullying & psychological injury I am constantly both floored & enraged by the intrinsic bullying within the system. I actually filed my claim in the naive hope that WC would investigate the activities of my work place & teach management a lesson about the appropriate & productive way to show leadership. 5 months later I now feel nothing but despair. Ironically, my workplace being a school, we spend huge amounts of time exploring bullying with our students, & I actually this just makes those unethical managers greater experts …..
Hi Dru
It is all about profitability and cost efficiency! Workplace bullying is given lip service and that is all it is given. The same goes for the treatment of injured workers.
You are so right – unethical managers learn how to work technical aspects of these laws to their own advantage. Unfortunately, research also reveals that some managers take the following attitudes towards bullying in the workplace. They either:
1. dismiss workplace bullying as “tough management”
2. turn a blind eye because “it’s too hard to prove” or
3. believe that the “victim” is too ‘sensitive’.
Kind regards
John Mc
It seems (it is) a major part of the problem for many injured workers are hostile case managers from insurance companies. I know I had an extremely rough time at the hands of so-called case managers in the past and I’ve been assured things haven’t changed. I would argue that the very same cause of failures (profit and cost efficiency) lead insurance companies to routinely bully injured workers. This is why I am so passionate about seeing the system change dramatically.
Here’s a classic example – even medical professionals get bullied and harassed as part of the RTW process:
( The Guardian 13 December, 2006. http://www.cpa.org.au/z-archive/g2006/1303comp.html Dr Con Costa National Vice-President, Doctors’ Reform Society). Dr Costa states:
There is a noticeable sharp decline in the number of people requesting a Workers’ Compensation Certificate following injury at work. And, if a claim does go in, doctor and patient are inevitably bombarded with telephone calls, faxes and requests for information or a medical report from the insurer and the “rehabilitation provider”. (Rehabilitation organisations are contracted to insurance companies to monitor work injury cases and “assist with work return”.)
The situation has now become critical. New workers’ compensation laws are allowing rehabilitation providers and insurance agents to intimidate treating doctors and constantly harass the injured worker. Injured workers are steered towards the company’s doctors at the time of injury, or, where an injured worker insists on seeing their own doctor, insurance agents and “rehabilitation providers” (paid by the insurance agents) try to dictate management of the injured worker to the treating doctor. (It is not well known but the doctor has some rights in the new legislation including the power to change the rehabilitation provider — although few doctors know about these rights and it rarely happens.)
Kind regards
John Mc
Check out this video: Philip Zimbardo knows how easy it is for nice people to turn bad. In this talk, he shares insights and graphic unseen photos from the Abu Ghraib trials. Then he talks about the flip side: how easy it is to be a hero, and how we can rise to the challenge….
It appears to give us some answers as to why for example workcover case managers have turned evil…
“I rather do what everyone OUGHT and SHOULD do and be a HERO”
Thank you John for alerting me to this video’s existence
Not that long ago I had an interesting conversation with my treating GP – he told me that the worst employers (those that relentlessly bully/inflict harm/mistreat employees) are in fact HOSPITALS, CHARITY ORGANISATIONS and SOCIAL DEPARTMENTS (i.e. schools, housing dept, social services, Centrelink etc). How ironic is this? Those who supposedly “care for humans”…
It would be most interesting to conduct some research on this topic.
It needs a very public airing, that is for sure!
After working in nursing since the 70′s ,I’ve seen it all. Birth, death and everything in between. It is very emotional and traumatic, nurses learn to emotionally harden up. Nurses, doctors, social workers and other health care workers desensitise themselves to survive in the industry. This makes a culture of unempathetic calloused individuals. With the ability to “turn off and on” emotionally when needed. The majority of people can remain balanced however If the worker is a psychopath or narcassist, god help the workplace. Put a group of them in one ward or department. Then you have a hardened mob who are power players. Throw in some unrealistic workloads, staff shortages and demands. Result, a toxic workplace.
Via twitter thanks to @grathom:
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LC20120402016
One of Canberra’s biggest security firms, which guards dozens of federal and ACT government buildings, is facing multiple actions by two workplace authorities over allegations of widespread exploitation, underpayments and bullying.
Sydney-based SNP Security, which holds about $28 million in security contracts with Commonwealth agencies, is facing complaints to the Fair Work Ombudsman and WorkSafe ACT from five of its workers who claim they have been systematically overworked and underpaid for several years.
The United Voice union has also asked WorkCover ACT to investigate the company’s wider workplace practices, alleging a culture of bullying, threats and intimidation against guards who speak out.