03.10.14
Staff at Barts face bullying and discrimination – report
Staff at Barts Health Trust have experienced bullying behaviour, discrimination and harassment, according to an independent report carried out by the Graduate School of Management at Plymouth University.
The study was commissioned by Michael Pantlin, HR director at Barts Health, after a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in late 2013 found perceptions of ill-treatment and bullying at the trust.
Approximately 2,000 Barts Health employees responded to the survey – 76% of respondents were female and 24% were male. And the survey data indicates prevalence rates for bullying that are four times the national average.
The report also found 26 ‘ill-treatment behaviours’ at the trust, with 75-80% of people indicating that most of these issues were still occurring within the last three months.
Researchers revealed that the most prevalent “incivility and disrespect” behaviour was being treated rude or disrespectfully, which was reported by 40% of respondents.
It was also highlighted that ‘having your views and opinions ignored’ which was reported by 66% of respondents, was the most prevalent in the “unreasonable management” behavioural issue.
But the report added that “managers rarely appear to have been disciplined, even when negative behaviour was attributed to them”. Additionally, both BME and white staff respondents perceive themselves as being racially discriminated against.
In response to the study’s findings, the trust wrote: “Before the CQC inspection, and since, the trust has embarked on a range of activities to help staff work together differently and to help leaders and managers with what are very difficult jobs.
“Significant investment has been put aside for this and more will be required over the coming years as we build a culture which does justice to the values we agreed. These activities may be right, they may be wrong and they may need revision and addition. In the coming three months, we will work with staff to ensure we are doing the rights things to make a difference together.”
NHE has asked Barts for a comment on the report findings, but had not received a response prior to publication. To read the full report, click here.
(Image: c. Jennifer Cockerell/PA Archive/Press Association Image)
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