Woman sues AIB for ‘bullying and abuse’
Sheila O’Keeffe, of Billis, Drumalee, Co Cavan, has taken the proceedings arising out of her employment with the bank between 1998 and 2001.
AIB denies the claims and the hearing before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan was told the case would continue into next term.
Edward Walsh SC for Ms O’Keeffe told the court that his client first commenced employment with the bank in 1979 and in 1999 was offered the position of staff officer in the Cavan branch. There were difficulties with the branch, which he said was seen as a “black spot” where staff morale was very low.
His client said she was a perfectionist and was at that time managing a home and four children with her husband. There was literally chaos within the branch that descended on her.
There were staff shortages and an unprecedented level of absenteeism. The myriad of duties she had to deal with resulted in her having to extend her hours of work and to do 12 hours a day while at the same time being on call at weekends.
Mr Walsh said Ms O’Keeffe’s manager’s attitude was simply that she should “manage” and that she was ineffectual in terms of managing. Two permanent staff members had resigned at this time. Ms O’Keeffe lost her vivaciousness at about this time and was unable to interact with her family.
Her manager was called out of the office on different difficulties and she had to fill in.
In March 2000 she had simply hit rock bottom. She had reported her concerns to a human resources person from Dublin but felt she could not complain about her manager as it would have been disloyal.
She had attended an outsource counsellor who found that she was suffering from bullying and psychological abuse from within the workplace. She had taken sick leave and had problems with sleeping and had nightmares.
The manager had tried to get her back to work and told her on the phone she could not stay out on sick leave indefinitely and wanted to know was she taking a career break or returning to work.
Mr Walsh added that his client had also attended the anti-bullying unit of Trinity College Dublin, and evidence would be given that Ms O’Keeffe was subjected to stress and bullying.
In its defence AIB denies that Ms O’Keeffe was subjected to work-related stress and denies it was negligent or in breach of duty as claimed. It says she failed to bring to the attention of her superiors any concerns she had in relation to her work and failed to use the grievance and disputes procedures within the bank.
The hearing continues.
