Nurses team up with researchers to study extent of bullying in workplace
Bullying in the workplace is intended to be addressed through the HSE’s Dignity at Work policy that came into operation in 2004. Yet, according to the INMO, academic and practitioner evidence suggests that nurses and midwives working in Ireland continue frequently to experience workplace bullying.
“It is unfortunate that INMO members are still reporting high levels of allegations of bullying in the workplace, said INMO director of industrial relations Phil Ní Sheaghdha yesterday as the study was launched at the organisation’s headquarters in Dublin.
“We are good at investigating allegations of bullying within the HSE, but we are not so good at preventing it and that is what we hope to focus on with the survey.
“Firstly, we must establish the extent of this problem. Then, more importantly, we need to formulate recommendations on how bullying at work can be reduced and the types of support that victims and witnesses need.”
The INMO last conducted a survey of its members on the issue in 1993. That led to the adoption of a policy on bullying by the organisation and eventually to a negotiated policy on bullying within the HSE.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha identified stress among its members caused by staff shortages as a possible factor in bullying and other unwelcome forms of behaviour.
“Our first concern is the working environment and trying to make that as stress-free as possible,” she said. “We are not saying that there is corporate bullying at large, but anyone working in the public or private health sector is under enormous pressure. With occupation levels at 100%, there is no break and that creates a pressure cooker-type atmosphere. We need to look at that and see if such pressures are a causative effect of bullying.
“We have a number of investigations underway and many are inconclusive or may identify behaviour that is less than correct but may not amount to bullying.”
The study is headed by Maura Sheehan at NUI Galway who has published on issues of workplace discrimination and injustice.
Commenting on the survey, Prof Sheehan said: “The focus groups that my study colleague, Dr TJ McCabe at the National College of Ireland, has held with nurses and midwives in Ireland about their experiences with bullying were shocking and very disturbing.
“As researchers, it became clear that we need to conduct a survey of nurses and midwives to establish the extent of this problem and most importantly, to formulate recommendations on how bullying at work can be reduced and the types of support that victims and witnesses need. In order to give our findings credibility, we need a large response rate from all nurses and midwives working in Ireland and specifically INMO members as the largest trade union representing nurses and midwives.”
The results of the survey are expected to be published in October. For more, see www.inmo.ie
