Is this normal in the public service?
I went back to work today after the break. I am a public servant. Less than one hour after arriving to work I was yelled at and sworn at by the boss. I was accused of being late one day last month and when I said I did not arrived at the time they stated, I was accused of lying and was asked why I refused to tell the truth. "Right, we'll go to the computer to check the login- time" he said, as if that would provide him the proof he needed. So we went to the computer record to see the log in time for that day. Sure enough, I logged in a full 20 minutes prior to the time I was said to arrive. The boss didn’t believe the logon time - said the computer records were not accurate and demanded that I tell the truth. He then said I would be "performance-managed" out. Perhaps the targets will be increased, I dunno....
Welcome back to work.
I have since found out that last week four people got warning notices for arriving late. I have also found out that more than half the people in the office I work for have warning notices on their personal files for various things. I understand one of them was when a staff member swore at me.
I wonder if I will get one. What should I do if I get one? This is the same person who, a few months back, tried to get me to spend $60.00 at the doctor to get a medical certificate for being sick for just two days. I understand some staff did get the certificates, but I knew the Holidays Act.
I have worked in this place for less than eight months. Nearly all my working life has been in the private sector.
I have read of accounts in the media of people being mistreated as a public servant, monkeys on computers, people leaving due to stress and mistreatment. My question is this: Is this sort of thing normal in the public service? Has anyone else been treated like this? What would the Minister think of all this?
5 comments:
perhaps you should talk to your union? sounds like a pretty horrid workplace to me but it may be more to do with individual managers than an overall culture (or not) in which case you and your workmates should get together and fight. not sure if that would appeal to you, but it's probably the only way to make a change.
I agree, it's probably individuals managers and staff, not actually a policy. However it reeks of bullying and I think most bullying in large organisations is systemic and need to be fixed at a corporate level. By systemic I mean the culture of the organisation allows bullying to happen and just saying it's only individuals doing it is ignoring the problem. The fix is not about being all PC and frightened to make mistakes, it's about respecting people.
SAM
Yes, he has "punished" me by withoulding our agreement that I start start at 8am on day per week ( so that my partner can start work that day at five and I can go home to look after the kids at 4.30pm that day.)
He was looking at my computer again to re - confirm the time I got into work. He has a late book where a senior staff member writes down the names of those who get in late to give them a warning letter. He has also demanded that all staff start half an hour earlier for our weekly meeting, but leave at the same time with no extra pay
is that right?
Dave
Cantona forever, judging from your previous posts about lefties and the public service you do not seem like you should be a manager of the apolitical public service
Is this post kosher?
If what you say is true and I don't doubt your veracity, he should be performance managed.
Tell me which agency and branch and I'll send this post to the MD and relevent minister for you.
Sadly, If you were a woman or racial minority he would walk on egg shells.
best
Mike
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