You may have read of late, the goings on within a major Australian Media Organisation regarding Bullying, Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct.
Last Thursday, the findings of an external investigation into those claims initiated by that Media Organisation’s Board, were released.
Absolutely scathing were the findings, which included:
- People in positions of power were able to harass unchallenged.
- Verbal abuse was common.
- Shifting the blame was a common occurrence with leadership often supporting perpetrators due to bias or protecting mates.
- Some people were bullied into submission.
- There were findings of Sexual Misconduct.
- Some Managers had a real disregard for people’s personal wellbeing.
- If some Managers got a set on you, they would use others to turn upon you.
A key finding of this investigation found there was a “Systemic issue with Abuse of Power and Authority”
The investigation also found that:
“The act of bullying is to intentionally cause emotional harm and that’s what some managers have done to dozens of employees. They intentionally and repeatedly belittled individuals, who were always below [them] in the workplace structure, until they couldn’t take it anymore. This was a clear abuse of power.”
Of late, it’s been noted a disturbing spike in Suicides especially in Children and this is something everyone needs to do their bit to see stopped, its heart breaking to see this tragic occurrence and we must feel for all the families involved.
The RFS is a large family of Volunteers, this organisation formed over 100 years ago had one thing in everyone’s mind when it was created and that was to HELP….to do our bit to make Australia a better and safer place for our fellow Australians. While each of us may be slightly different in our ways, we all share that common bond of wanting to help, which is why we’re all here.
If any RFS Volunteer experiences or has suffered any of the above, we need to know and we ask that you contact us at: secretary@volunteerfirefighters.org.au or via our website at: https://volunteerfirefighters.org.au/
SafeWork NSW has some further information available on bullying in the workplace.
What you can do | SafeWork NSW
Psychosocial Hazards (including bullying) – Service Standards | SafeWork NSW
