WORK PLACE BULLIES

WORK PLACE BULLIES

by: margos - 24-08-05 19:34

Has anyone else aware of work place bullying (in Private Day Nurseries) what form does this take? What do you think can be done about it?

Margos

by: crusty clown

Hi margos if you feel under threat or r being bullied in your work place depending if you feel comfortable talk to your manager,. or if this fails or u cant look in the policies and procedure file and there will be a grievenace procedure which you will follow and guidance about what 2 do about work place bullying

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 18-10-05 17:11

by: suesue

hi sometims people who bully do so to cover up their own faults or because they can ive decided im going to train in another feild because of this as i stand up to those that pick on me but then i get accused of it as i can usually get the better of them and they dont like it,but lifes to short -good luck.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 13-04-06 18:35

by: Frances

It is my experience, I am sad to say, that bullying does occur in the work place and sadly not only in the early years sector. If recent experiences are anything to go by, being excluded, isolated from meetings, aspects of your job role being taken away and given to others is also a form of bullying and I can say that it unfortunately happens at senior managment level as much as it does in the nursery setting. I have learnt that you have to stand up for your rights and use the grievance procedures, keep a diary with incidents and events and don't be prepared to put up with it. By being assertive, but polite and impersonal is the only way to tackle this problem. I have in the past few months doubted my own ability and had my self esteem rocked to the floor. Then my daughter unfortunately experienced it at her work place (she isn't in childcare), I stood by her and we acted. We complained formally, stuck to the points that were relevant and her company are now doing something about it. Keep hopeful and stand up for what you believe to be right

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 13-04-06 19:01

by: Frances

If you check the National Day Care standards there is something in there about staff and suitable person - standard 1. Certainly Ofsted are very astute in picking up issues around staffing, particularly high turnover of staff. They will certainly check the staff files for induction and training, coupled with their ability to recruit suitable staff. They will also make judgements about the suitability of the management of the nursery. The national standards are always a good place to start, you can request a copy form Ofsted, you can also download them from their website. Hope this helps and good luck!

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 14-04-06 19:04

by: ginnie

Hi

Firstly I am sorry to hear this happening in the Nursery but this type of bullying does happen. As someone has already suggested I would speak to the college about this and see if they could investigate the matter, I would also be inclined to contact the LEA (if not private day Nursery) or the propriator. If this does not help and you felt so strongly about this then I would be in contact with the Citizens advice Bureau, Local MP and even the Newspapers.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 14-04-06 20:43

by: scarlett

this is employment law.
why dont you ring acas, they should be able to advise you the right channels to go through.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 17-04-06 15:58

by: rohan

Bullying is also having some colleagues with some privileges that nobody else has. It is frutating to see how some people can do as they please as if they could decide over their managers. Bullying is also having over children in your room while some pre-school units have 6 children in the afternoon and nobody cares. Believe me, when you see that there are spoilt girls who always get what they want and live the good life you feel as if somebody has been mentally hurting you.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 20-04-06 19:44

by: Frances

Hi

Just to point out the excellent article in Nursery World this week. READ IT. My daughter is going through this at work now, she has lodged a formal grievance and consulted ACAS. I advised her to keep a diary since December last year, she has events, times and dates. Best thing to do, as it is extremely subtle and you need evidence to prove it. I know it is hard, we have cried together over the past couple of weeks, but she is hanging on in there and if we have to we will pursue it in the courts. But first you have to lodge a formal grievance in writing. A point worth noting if you are under 18 years your parent can intervene and register a concern because of the Children Act 1989. If this is happening in College then your parents must complain to the college and then to the LEA. They have to act as the Law says you are considered a child. Equally this applies in the workplace too and technically could be a child protection issue. Hope this helps but ACAS are brilliant - they have a help line you can phone and someone talks to you at the end who understands and knows the law. Stand up for what you believe in and don't let the bullies get away with it! Good luck!

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 28-04-06 13:17

by: Paige-Louise

Hi i have noticed by looking at the messages that you talk about OFSTED is everyone on here English i don't have a problem i just wondered hahaha cos we have the Care Comission instead of OFSTED

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 28-04-06 13:18

by: Paige-Louise

Sorry if u aint read my topic im Scottish forgot to say haha

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 10-05-06 17:21

by: Tess

If anyone feels they are being bullied or victimised please please get help and don't be afraid to by pass your manager if they are the one doing the bullying.
I have put up with constant bullying, humiliation and vctimisation from my manager for years. Stupidly I believed if I done my job I would be ok. sadly I was wrong, despite my manager trying to make me leave on many occasions I was to embarassed to ask for help.
I now find myself having been dismissed for gross misconduct. It appears I 'mishandled' a child who I was trying to prevent injuring himself. I have 25 years service in childcare and have never done anything other than try to support and protect the children in my care.
I know that this manager is using this as sole means of getting rid of me. Due to this dismissal I will no longer be allowed to work with children. I am suffering from severe depression and have even felt at times I can't go on !
So if you are being bullied PLEASE PLEASE get help before it's too late.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 10-05-06 17:58

by: scarlett

what things were they bullying you about?
was it about your ability or nitpicking and did they do it to anyone else?

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 11-05-06 12:11

by: Tess

Hi
Mainly nitpicking about things for example I was once late by 10 minutes and I was shouted at infront of other staff. That was the 1st time I had been late in 10 years - other staff were late almost daily. I expressed concern that fire escapes were blocked again I was riduculed. the list goes on.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 18-06-06 18:40

by: suesue

hi if you have been accused of mishandling a child, where there other people there? did they offer help?, have you been trained in ways to effectivley handle children without injuring them or you , particularly children with challenging behaviour or special needs (im assuming).if you have not been given the above your employer is at fault and you should pursue it, they have a duty to not only protect children but also employees from harm and forseeable violence and i quote must take steps to minimise this risk. Look in the workplace health and safety act, you can cliam for quite a long time after dissmisal.PLease dont give up

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 26-06-06 21:47

by: Tess

Hello sue
Thank you for your reply.
There were other people around but it was a very busy and noisy room.
the only people asked for statements were a teacher and a member of the management. Despite the fact that they were unable to hear me or didn't have a clear veiw I was told by the service director "they are a teacher and a manager so Why would we beleive a nursery officer". The training was not updated and no risk assesments were in place. We had been asking for individual plans as the children (SEN) have such individual needs. I have also been informed my name will now go on the CRB files - even though I have not been questioned by the police. I do intend to fight on and get my name cleared, but it is so difficult when you have senior managment protecting other managers.
Many Thanks for you support
Tess

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 07-07-06 15:43

by: carol25

I worked in a private day nursery for almost 5 years, but left after a collegue was falsely accused of 9 counts of misconduct, and subsequently investigated,facing the prospect of being disqualified with working with children. She was a senior member of staff and after trying to address some professional difficulties with a junior member of staff,these difficulties our manager refused to address,had been going on for months.The junior member of staff then made allegations, all of which were proven to be unfounded! After almost ruining someones career,and that person being practically forced to leave what do you suppose happened to the junior member of staff? Absolutely nothing!

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 22-07-06 07:41

by: newmanager

ive experienced much bullying from a previous job. I was working as a manager (i was 23 at the time) and i felt i done everything i could for the staff and nursery. 1 member of staff hated me though - she was alot older than me and a nursery nurse. I once had her an inch from my face shouting at me over nothing. I had no suppourt from the owner who just watched from the doorway and she would not let me go ahead with discliplinary as she was a sap when it come to dealing with challenging behaviour from adults!.

i started to keep a diary of everything she said and done and showed it to the owner who done nothing.

also there was many safety issues in the nursery ( fire exits blocked etc) and she the owner done nothing.

wanting to protect myself i made a form so that when i made a request for something essential or any hazards to be rectified she had to sign it so that if ofsted came i had evidence i had asked for such things but they never appeared. This proved valuable when the nursery was inspected (it was nearly closed down!)and i protected my name. If i had not made those forms my name would have been mud with ofsted!.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 01-08-06 21:05

by: Tess

Thanks for the replies- It's shows that these bullies are getting away with it in both the private and public sector. My situation continues but I can not go into detail as it is now in the hands of my solicitor. I do feel that there should be a support group to help and protect us from these bullies.
I am seriously thinking of trying to start one myself. Durig this whole nightmare although my family have all been wonderful, i think it would have helped to have been able to talk to someone who really knew how it felt.
What do people think ?

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 03-08-06 14:28

by: sexy gal

hi tess sorry to hear about wat happened to you.iv experienced the same and iv left the place but its still going on ,its like they are there to hunt thier next victims and tear them apart but theres no support as theres no manager coz every manager that did come is driven away by these fools,my friend was driven away too.
there was a time when my friend was away for the week end and she forgot to wash her uniform so she wore a balck t-shirt instead when she got to work a member of staff was so quick to ask her where her uniform was,but the thing is that person had a big group of friends and her friends wouid come in wearing bright coloured tops she never said anything to them which is why i describe that nursery as a hell hole poor kids.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 04-08-06 12:16

by: saralou11

Hi, I have been reading the last few messages posted in this topic and i am too in a situation that has knocked back my confidence and im scared to find another job without any hassle. i am keyworker of 2-3's and every day have to deal with piles of work to take home, i am worried that this is what i will find at every nursery, i have only been working for a year at this nursery coming straight from college. i feel i am always making mistakes and forgetting things and they make sure the whole nursery is aware of my mistakes making me feel small. every night i come home to do hours of work i.e. statements. i feel all i can do now is hand my notice in.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 17-08-06 20:58

by: Tess

Thanks for the replies,
SexyGal well done for getting out, I hope you will be happy in your new job.
Saralou, it sounds like a dreadful situation for you to be in. If possible you should get out of there asap!
You could always try an Agency for a while until you find a more suitable permanent post. I Fully understand how these people can knock your confidence, but just keep telling yourself they are the problem not you. I feel so upset for you, especially as you have only been working in childcare/education for a year. There are some very unpleasant people out there but just as is the case with playground Bullies, workplace bullies are usually serverly lacking in competance or natural skill and they try to deflect their inadequacy by bullying other more competent staff. Another reason for bullying is these people are often extremly unhappy in their personal lifes. I am not excusing them infact I feel bullying in any form is deplorable. However do try to remain strong and find yourself a more suitable posistion. You are just starting out and have a lot to offer, so please don't give in to these horrid people. As for the workload we have all at times needed to take work home but if you are having to do it every night it points to bad management and organisational skills, these often go hand in hand with low staff morale and bullying.

So Please Please don't let them win, find yourself another job and be happy!

Feel free to contact me through this site if you need any support or if you just want to let off steam.
Tess

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 30-09-06 20:20

by: kaz117

Bullying happens in schools as well amongst staff. We have 1 member of staff who constantly criticises another member of staff, putting her down, making fun of her, pointing out any mistakes she makes even down to pointing out if she pronounces any of the children's names wrongly. She causes more trouble by very sneakily reporting all her mistakes, errors absolutely everything to the line mananger and then is really charming to her face. But we are all very fed up with her and have always refused to go along with her spitefulness and are pointing out to our line manger all the trouble she is causing and making our line manager aware of what she is doing and saying. We are all qualified members of staff and bullying has no place in any workplace especially when you are involved in the care and education of children.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 06-10-06 22:55

by: Tess

Well Done Kaz
If these Bullies are not confronted or supported they will just carry on.
It may be an idea to keep notes of dates, times, witnesses and what happened.
These are vital if there is ever an official investigation ! A quiet word and some proof may be all you manager needs to convince the Bully her actions won't be tolerated.
Good Luck & Keep us posted.
Tess

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 07-11-06 16:35

by: colum

I worked with a bully for 2 yrs in a setting in Northern Ireland and it was a nite-mare. She was not only horrible to me but to the kids in the setting. I looked for addition support from the settings committee but it never came.This woman was a nite-mare,her family had loyalist terrorist connections so i had no support at all.All of a sudden one day she decided she was leaving,good riddence i thought!

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 22-11-06 20:38

by: Tess

Sounds like you will all be a lot happier without her.

WORK PLACE BULLIES - 22-11-06 23:39

by: space

I think Ive seen this message before