Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Why is there STILL Workplace Bullying at Public Trustee?


We ascribe the word ‘spin’ to the world of politics. Let’s look for some words to ascribe to the Office of the Public Trustee.

Time to focus on the executive management team of that state government agency, an agency that reports to the Attorney-General’s Department, a department headed up by a $6400+ per week bureaucrat, Mr. Jerome Maguire.

Then, of course, you have the grand doyen sitting up there on top of the Christmas tree, Mr. Michael Atkinson, our state Attorney-General.

The trillion-dollar question is: WILL THE STILL-PRACTICING WORKPLACE BULLIES OF PUBLIC TRUSTEE ever be dealt with?

If the Public Trustee, Mr. Mark Bodycoat was asked this question (as he was queried during the 2009 Parliamentary Inquiry), I am certain he would blow rose petals through the air and rattle off all those cotton ball training courses conducted by the Equal Opportunities Commission and all those Policies he has had rewritten concerning Workplace Bullying and Sexual Harassment.

Useless!

Policies are USELESS! Training Courses are USELESS!

Why? It’s not rocket science. In fact, I shouldn’t have to insult the intelligence of the average punter by putting up even the most obvious reason.

Inside the mind of the psychotic workplace bully lurks some pretty heavy stuff, and evil glues it all together.

You see, I don’t give a toss about excuses such as what happened at school, or the family upbringing, or, or, or...

We all are responsible for our actions, irrespective.

Oh, and speaking of actions?

In the Equal Opportunity Tribunal determination handed down 25 June 2004, Judge Rice stated, in part:

‘...In our view, in this instance Public Trustee impliedly authorised Mr H’s conduct (and here we are not referring to management conduct or style) by doing nothing about Mr McKibbin’s complaints or not doing sufficient about them. In our view, Public Trustee has vicariously authorised that conduct...’

AND;

'...We find that Mr McKibbin raised with Mr O’Neill, on a number of occasions before August 2002, the sexually suggestive conduct and behaviour of Mr H. We are unable to say on how many occasions Mr McKibbin did so, but we consider it to be a significant number. We also find that Mr McKibbin was raising these matters in the form of an oral complaint. The precise status of those complaints was the subject of dispute. Certainly there was no need for any such complaint to be in writing. In our view, the number of complaints made by Mr McKibbin and the nature of the conduct about which he was complaining, made it imperative that management intervene at an early stage. This management failed to do. The necessary policies were in place but their application was misunderstood or misguided...'

As I am the Mr McKibbin referred to, I can state with absolute authority that the only reason we all wound up in Court was because executive management did absolutely NOTHING!!! And when I say nothing, I do not refer to the victimisation dished out to me, on a daily basis for bringing one of their own into disrepute.

Let’s now forward to the Parliamentary Inquiry on 2009, and the current grand poo bah Mr Mark Bodycoat.

Page 67 of the report deals with part of Mr Bodycoat’s submission in relation to MOI:

‘...Mister Bodycoat made it clear to the Committee that the allegations of bullying that where the subject of this Inquiry related to a period before 2005...

AND;

‘...The Public Trustee maintained that all allegations made by Mr McKibbin had been taken seriously, and there was evidence that ALL were investigated...’

Oh dear!!

The Public Trustee must know something the Court did not!

First up. Mr Bodycoat, you were the head honcho at Consumer Affairs during the Investigations, and your only contact with Public Trustee was with me because I worked with you from March 2006 through to June of 2007.

Secondly, the GIU Investigator, Ms Pamela Forbes was taking statements re: on-going bullying well AFTER 2006...yep, that IS a SIX on the end.

Thirdly, and this is where I am personally disappointed with you, you have BELIEVED (or so it seems that way) all you have been told, probably by the same people that treated me like shit!

And lastly, YOU ARE DEAD WRONG AND I SINCERELY HOPE YOU DO NOT KNOW IT!!

You spoke of my allegations being investigated. Here is an example of Public Trustee investigation techniques.

Having endured bullying for years, I took my complaints to the new Public Trustee, Ms Catherine O’Loughlin, another lawyer.

I quote from my notes:

“...you should go see him first...” (the bloody bully for dears sake!)

“...I remind you of the laws of libel and slander...”

“...anyone who considers it necessary to go outside of Public Trustee should look for employment elsewhere...”

I now turn my attention to another executive who was there at the time of my trials and tribulations, Dr Mark Witham.

I liked Mark, until the others sucked him in.

I was an Occ Health and Safety elected Representative, and, for a time, Mark was the Chair of the OH&S Committee.

Boy, did I try to make that Committee take heed of the workplace bullying problems, particularly during  2005. At one meeting Mark got quite ‘bothered’ with me when I suggested that Cath O’Loughlin had done bugger all in relation to bullying complaints.

Judge Rice had already confirmed the year before that management had sat on its collective ass, but, well, who was I to argue with a Doctor whose Thesis is titled; ‘A Fair Go: Cutting the cake and Closing Schools’.

So, where does this all take us? Up the Bullyboy Creek without the paddle.

Page 66 of the Parliamentary Inquiry report cites that the Government Investigations Unit took a myriad of statements alleging bullyboy behaviours by FOUR Public Trustee staff members.

ONE is GONE.

THREE remain, and from what I hear, all plying their insidious trades as though nothing has ever changed.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

R.I.P. my friend.

I need to be careful how I compose this Post.

Someone I knew, someone I worked with, someone I helped through a difficult time, recently passed away, suddenly at home.

His name was Brian, and until a few months ago he was employed by the Office of the Public Trustee. I am not sure how long for, but suffice to say he was there when I fronted back in June of 1999.

Brian was a bit of a lad, even at 60. He had seen a lot in his time, could be somewhat rough around the edges, but had a heart of gold.

I kept an Email he sent me on the day I myself abruptly left that world of workplace bullying. I had emailed all staff saying that I was out of there with a one hour notice! It reads:

Hi Rob,

You bloody silly old Irish bugger, how dare you not come and say goodbye, however luckily for you I totally understand, I hope all goes well for you in your next job, and I'll keep sending you all the jokes and things as I put your e-mail address on my personal list, you always were one of my favourite people here at PT.

But anyway God Speed & God Bless I'm going to miss you around the place.

Your Old Mate

Brian
PS My bloody computers still not working properly, come back alls forgiven ha ha

Brian experienced significant workplace bullying at that place. No doubt about that.

At one stage we both found ourselves on the Workcover slagheap, particularly when Brian was battling his employer, the State Government, to have his claim recognised, and for the stated cause of injury to be recognised.

I vividly recall being told about a meeting during which it was discussed how NOT TO approve his Workcover claim. Some superhero had suggested his condition could be pinned to time he served in the Navy many, many years prior.

I remember the pitched battles I fought for my claim to be endorsed. Management did not want to be seen to acknowledge that workplace bullying existed within its office.

I was many times in touch with Brian over the years as he fought the system, I remember all he told me, and I remember things I had seen.

There is no doubt in my mind that his experiences at Public Trustee contributed to a condition that in the end claimed his life.

Would he be alive today had he not taken on the system?

An email to All Staff from thee Public Trustee, Mr. Mark Bodycoat reads:

Sadly, I have to tell you all that Brian Smith died unexpectedly last night.

Brian’s last few years with Public Trustee were not always happy, and he had his own personal battles to fight, none of which would have been easy for him. I will remember him as a good man, with a good heart. His passing will sadden us all.

Our thoughts go out to his family.

You judge whether the wording of the PT email is appropriate!

For some years I have been screaming the ‘one day it will happen’ message, a message that always fell upon deaf ears.

Brian me old mate, I know you’re looking down and at peace.

I doubt there was anything we could have done differently.

We insisted on the same third-party Rehab Manager. We simply had no faith whatsoever with Mick Atkinson’s department, a department that is self-insured.

We both shared the biggest challenge. Waging battles with a department that put its own reputation ahead of the welfare of its staff.

At least you got to see the Inquiries, and the Parliamentary Inquiry. I remember the day you called and were excited at the prospect of the bastards being sprung!!!! Though...

YOUR BULLY is still there and has yet to answer for HIS sins!!!

Rest In Peace my friend.