UNITED KINGDOM
A survey of United Kingdom Public Servants has shown that thousands of officers who have experienced bullying, harassment and misconduct at work don’t believe these issues are taken seriously.
In the survey which attracted 18,898 PS staff members, the majority of whom had experienced bullying, harassment or misconduct, just 37 per cent said they felt it was safe to report the issues.
Only 27 per cent agreed that “it is safe to challenge inappropriate behaviour”.
The report brings to conclusion a review by the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, Sue Owen (pictured).
Ms Owen is also the Public Service’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion.
The survey was commissioned by Cabinet Secretary, Jeremy Heywood following years of annual People Surveys in which the proportion of Public Servants reporting they had been bullied or harassed remained virtually unchanged.
As a result, a leadership standard will be rolled out in early 2019 as part of an overhauled recruitment system.
It is one of a number of tools the Public Service will develop in an effort to address the issues raised in the report and foster a more inclusive workplace.
The survey was not representative of the Public Service as a whole because it specifically sought input from people who had experienced inappropriate behaviour.
General Secretary of the PCS union, the largest representing Public Servants, Mark Serwotka said the findings came as no surprise.
He said spending cuts had led to “a culture of bosses demanding more and more and the creation of an ever more hostile environment for the workforce”.
“Ministers have not helped the situation by insisting on a culture of ‘no dissent’, with workers being disciplined for not displaying the ‘correct’ behaviour and attitudes,” Mr Serwotka said.
London, 27 September, 2018
