Bullying
will feature on the programme tonight: it's National Anti-Bullying Week. There's website which might be of use to you, or someone you know.
The Press Association carries this report today, about a schoolboy who hung himself after being bullied.
"Paul Moran, 13, was found by his mother hanged by his Liverpool football scarf in his bedroom at the family home in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. He was described as a bright, intelligent student at the 1,800 pupil Lytham St
Annes High School. But he had been picked on for two years, the inquest at Blackpool Coroner's Court was told.
His mother, Carole Bullock, said her son would take different routes back from school to avoid his tormentors, then arrive home in tears asking, "Why me?"
Anne Hind, coroner for Blackpool and Fylde coroner, said there was "substantial evidence" Paul had been bullied at school. But she recorded an open verdict, saying the hanging, in November 2005, could
have been an accident or a "cry for help".
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It is extraordinary that anyone can describe a hanging as a 'cry for help'.
It really is time the wider world recognised bullying for what it is, and for the extreme effect it can have on people.
This is a subject that can get me very, very angry.
I might write something else when I've calmed down.
I simply cannot understand the mentality behind bullying at all. Who really derives enjoyment out of making the life of another human being so miserable? And what makes these people feel that they have the right to do that?
Of course, bullying isn't only in the school-grounds but you meet people throughout life with the same personality, so it cannot simply be put down to obnoxious teenagers.
Bullying can also come in many forms: In a previous position, I was subject to working with someone who was utterly manipulative - they bullied their way into getting what they wanted, publicly cried and had tantrums if they didn't, were verbally abusive, concocted false stories of a terrible home-life so that we felt that we could never confront them when they didn't do the work, ran off to report to the boss (after calling us a variety of unprintable names) if we did dare to criticise their work (mostly the lack of it!) , and generally made everyone's life hell.
As it now stands, this person is the only one of the original team who is still working in the department. Everyone else has left voluntarily.
I absolutely agree with Big Sister (1). Anyone making a 'cry for help' does not choose a way of killing themselves from which there is no way back.
Moreover to describe it thus risks pushing the blame for the poor boy's death onto his parents for failing to have acted on his previous cries for help.
The coroner should have had the courage to place the blame where it really lay - with the bullies and the school which failed to prevent them tormenting Paul. And unless the bullying is properly tackled there will be other victims. It is too easy for a school to think that having an anti-bullying policy means they are dealing with the problem.
I must agree with Big Sister. To say that this could have been a "cry for help" whilst also saying there was "substantial evidence of bullying" just beggars belief. I try not to let myself get riled up about things, but this does make me seethe. It's time for bullying to be stamped out. This goes for bullying in schools, in the workplace, everywhere...
(Calmer, but still angry ....)
Bullying is the practice of dysfunctional children or adults playing out their inadequacies on an innocent victim. Sadly, many bullies have been subject to such behaviour in their own lives and this, possibly, makes them think it acceptable.
How deeply a victim may be affected by bullying is very variable. For some people it will make life unbearable. For most people it will make life very unpleasant.
For a variety of reasons, there is a tendency amongst much of society to find excuses for what is completely unacceptable, or to exhort victims to 'stand up' to the bully. While the latter may be effective in some cases, in others it will be futile and possibly dangerous. This is particularly true where, for example in the workplace or the school playground, the bully has the means to cause true harm to their victim.
Bullying should never be excused nor its effects downplayed.
(Everybody needs a Big Sister)
I completely agree with you Big Sister (1) and Belinda (2). It is a subject that makes my blood boil as well. I was also bullied at school frequently when I was about 11-13 years old and it was a horrible horrible time, sadly made worse by the fact that my mother didn't really help matters, just telling me that basically life was hard and get used to it!! Thankfully my saving grace was my best friend who was also picked on (our crime being that we basically did our school work, wore our uniforms and were therfore considered "swots" by rather unsavoury peers!!), we both developed a great sense of humour and found many many ways to laugh it off. That was our survival tactic. My heart goes out to any victim, and their families, and whatever action that can be taken to stop bullying must be taken.
Belinda (2), you sort of answer your own question. I'm not sure if bullying is anything to do with enjoying making somebody else miserable. IMO, it's more to do with making somebody feel worse than you (ie the bully) feel.
I've known many bullies and they've all been quite pathetic individuals. I currently work with someone who is a bully but, unfortunately, nobody (including myself) has been prepared to raise the matter through the formal channels. I believe this person to be very shy and unsure of him/herself - so s/he tries to appear confident by being threatening, flippant and just plain nasty. Of course, this does not improve morale or performance amongst the rest of us.
Now, now Fred. If you say you 'must', people might think I'm bullying you (Would I ever?)
And, btw, think your Irish photos are lovely.
Made me feel much calmer.
At age 5, there was a little girl in my class who looked like an angel ... blonde ringlets, china-blue eyes ... who had her own gang and used to push children in front of cars.
I now know a sweet little old spinster lady in her 60s, who is currently bullying her widowed cousin, a friend of mine who keeps an eye on this lady's wellbeing. She has just made the mistake of attempting to bully ME ... and is discovering what it's like when it doesn't work.
Kids learn to bully at school: it's a case of doing it before someone else does it to you. Once learned, the skill has the potential to stay for life.
Despite not being particularly child-friendly myself, I have to deal with bullying at school in the course of some voluntary work I do.
It's a huge issue, and too few of the schools I've encountered seem to have got a handle on it.
I've experienced it personally at school, in the workplace, in voluntary scenarios. I've edited books about how to deal with it, and learned valuable strategies for dealing with it. If someone feels bullied, and says so, believe me it is going on.
People don't make it up. Ever.
There is no excuse for a coroner who's already found evidence of bullying to call this a possible 'cry for help'.
That's just professional cowardice.
All,
While I generally agree that the is indeed a myth, I have to admit that the last time I was bullied was the time I successfully fought back. Both of us received the normal physical admonishment on our gluteus maximus (it was long long ago).
Perhaps bullying will remain a part of growing up until our culture finally grows up and renounces violence as a way to restore 'order'.
Salaam/Shalom/Shanthi
ed
Out of interest, has there ever been a case where bullies have been sent to prison, or at least made legally responbible, for the suicidal death of another person? I wonder what the precedent is for this case.
It is appalling to both have an 'Open Verdict' and then claim that the hanging may have been an accident, or a 'cry for help' when the evidence is so irrefutable. Someone should be made responsible for this, and they should look at what went wrong. Neither of these things will happen of course.
Anne P (currently 3)
You're absolutely right. But many a school has to confront the existence of bullying in the first place.
One example went on unchecked until the bully wrecked a piece of GCSE coursework in the classroom. And as soon as it became clear his behaviour towards X would be scrutinised, he started picking on someone else. That child's parents protested at once, So one lesson seems to be to report it immediately.
BTW I did write something else, but it seems to have got lost. Another bloggage somewhere.
However, I did email it in to the programme.
Might this be the first time I'm read out on the prog?
Well, I can hope.
Fifi, and the others, I agree with you all. Especially the point that, if you feel you're being bullied, you are being bullied. The fact that the same behaviour may be perceived differently by others does not change how you experience it.
Something I often said to children in my teaching days and to colleagues in the workplace. And don't let me get started on so-called strong management, which is frequently legitimised workplace bullying ...
It is my belief that when someone does bad to others, this will return two fold or more on the perpetrator.
In occult circles, curses etc are not common events!
In response to your question Belinda (11), I don't believe so. I recall listening to (I think) the Jeremy Vine show a while back when he was talking to (I think - sorry murky head at the moment!!) William Hague who was pushing for a change in the law to make someone accountable for someone's murder if they commit suicide as a result bullying of any sort. He was mainly focussing on domestic violence, because at the moment if a woman kills herself after say years of abuse from her partner then the partner is not in the slightest bit accountable - which is just wrong. The discussion then broadened to the subject of general bullying where the same principal should apply - if someone suffers sustained and intense bullying for a period of time which directly results in them killing themselves then they bullyers would be charged with their murder (or manslaughter!). So in summary I am assuming that the answer to your question is no, but I could be wrong.
Big Sis (~13) Strong Management: earlier this year a well-known cartoon went as follows:
Boss: You need to work this weekend.
Injun: There's no work to do.
Boss: That doesn't matter. Strong leaders make their people work at weekends.
Later, boss to HR manager: Then he asked me what the clueless leaders do As if I'd know that.
Welcome back Vyle (12): we haven't heard from you for a wee whiley.
I've started getting interested in school exclusions (long story!) which naturally involves reading about many instances of 'bad behaviour'.
Some of it comes across to me as active bullying, at other times it is someone else winding-up a person known to be on a short fuse.
Two common factors seem to be emerging (though it's early days for me):
1. A causal factor, often in the home life, which leads to change in the young person's behaviour at school, in unacceptable ways;
2. The school seeking to 'improve the behaviour', which is futile when the causes of that behaviour (which can be absolutely grim) are continuing.
It's the parents of the bullies to be blamed. I grew up in the not-so-distant-past (I'm 36) when parents used to look after kids growing up and were aware of almost all they were up to.
There is a huge culture problem in UK at the moment (not unlike US) where mediocrity and laziness / inefficiency is regarded as norm. This sort of culture easily leads to accepting behaviour that used to be unacceptable just a couple of decades ago.
Yes to Super-nannies!
Bullying is devastating and completely unacceptable. I was bullied at school for being 'a swot' and for starting in mid-term. I was bullied at work, too.
Bullies are often cowards and often inadequate people who can only make themselves feel big or successful by making others feel unhappy.
That MP sounded just like Jeremy Hardy, which added an extra frisson to the discussion.
Stopping the bullying is, of course, a vital first step. But now that bullying is being talked about more openly it is time we took steps to try and heal the children (or adults) who have suffered psychological and physical damage.
My 15 year old son is still struggling with chronic bowle problems, and a deep seated insecurity deriving from a period of bullying at primary school. The knock on this has had on our family has been huge.
Counsellors are routinely sent to schools where children have died or have been killed just in case colleagues need psychological support. When are we going to put in place timely, free therapeutic counselling for children (and adults) damaged through no fault of their own?
Schools often condone 'just teasing' which usually leads to bullying -by then the harm has been done. Also, the child who has been been bullied is often unwilling to be labelled as a 'victim' and part of the problem.would we want to 'make friends 'with someone who had damaged us?
Big Sister I commend the things you have said here but I remember not long ago when you yourself were very rude about a photograph sent in and kept addressing the sender as TWIT. As far as I can tell you did it just because it was an attractive woman, does bullying not count on the blog?
I have been a teaching assistant for many years and am disgusted by bullying in the classroom and may I tell you that a lot of it is from the teachers - yes teachers. If a teacher, especially in primary shows their dislike for a pupil and this may be psychological as opposed to physical, bullying then the peers follow. As a parent if I asked the schools to tackle it they took it out on my son! Parents have little say or power when their children are in the gates. As I was brought up in Australia I realise this disgusting state of affairs is class based. Bullying is indemic in our culture and no wonder the children are voting with their feet, i.e. truanting. As an adult, would you stay in an environment that was bringing you to the point of suicide and at the very least destroying your self-esteem.
Firstly I am very angry. I wrote a perfectly sensible (acording to me) entry as soon as the topic came up and it was disallowed. I would really really like to know why. Could I have a transparent reason for this? It is no good accusing the politicians and so on, if we have problems here!
All i said was
that I had taught for over 20 years; that I don't think schools are a good way educating anyone, but needed because we need a an efficient and cheap factory system of getting children through, and that in any institution people corrupt power.
And that there must be a better way of inducting our children into any society than this!! All too many people take the lessons there into adult life.
I also said that too many people have their lives distorted from the 'life lessons' learnt at school, and that shapes too many responses later in life.
And I ended by saying that I guessed that many people had uneasy dreams about school long after they had left!! Few people have happy dreams about school.
I am training my puppy. Positive is the way I go about it and plenty of rewards. It works. There is all too little of that both for teachers and children in our present system.
Oh dear, Monkey, what a long memory!
I have to own up that I still feel mortified by that particular event. I honestly thought we (the Frog) were being taken for a ride over said photo, given the larks we get up to here sometimes, and my responses were made in that spirit. If I'd honestly thought the person in the photo was a fellow frogger, I'd never have even commented. (Well, I did comment on Lee Vitout, but that was coming from a red blooded female perspective, if you get my drift ...)
If indeed that photo to which you refer was truly of a fellow frogger, I hereby proffer my sincerest apologies. The only problem is that - to be honest, I'm still not sure!
My views on bullying remain unaltered, and I'm dead serious about it, believe me.
Right that's enough!
I've heard enough from Big Sister to know that she is genuine and sincere in her postings.
I also know who The Woman In The Picture is (TWITP without the parenthesis) and that they are among the two most valuable contributors to the blog. So let’s leave it at that. Any more of this and I’m not talking to either of you!
Rosalind (25),
If you can make sense of what makes a frog get fragged, I reckon lots of us would love to be enlightened. I've had it happen and sometimes, though I suspect why, I don't want to believe we are subject to such petty prejudice.
Salaam, etc.
ed
Thanks Ed, I know i was being over the top and incoherent last night. I had put together quite a long entry as soon as I saw the topic and didn't cut and paste so lost the lot. I am sure the only person to think it was vauable was me, but such a waste of effort. And on my birthday too.
Rosalind (29)
Happy birthday for yesterday.
Thank you Fiona (15) for your reply. It is disgusting that noone is held accountable for the death of another when ritual bullying is taking place. There does need to be a change in the law but there will be problems in assessing guilty I suppose.
a) With school bullying, it is often performed by a group of kids (albeit with a ring-leader). If their bullying led to the suicide of their chosen victim, would all the bullying group be held accountable? They probably should be, but whether it would be practical to do that would be another question.
b) Domestic violence in the home is often witnessed by noone and is spoken about to noone. How many cases of suicide have been posthumously attributed to the domestic violence suffered by the hands of the partner? How could this be proven in court with only the defendent present?
I'm not saying that bullies shouldn't be charged in these situations - quite the opposite - but I do think that there are ways that the bullies can dance their way out of blame.
Speaking of court - wasn't there a case within the last year or so, of a kid who was being chased by bullies, suffered a heart-attack on the street and died? I vaguely remember the bullies being charged with manslaughter, or at least were blamed for the death directly? Am I remembering that correctly?
If we accept 'constructive dismissal ' as an offence in law where someone is bullied into resigning a job, how much more should we have a charge of 'constructive manslaughter' to use against those who bully someone to the point of suicide.
RobbieDo: thank you for your posting and the thought it contained.
If anyone wishes to check out the thread in question it dates from 12th October, posted at 12.16.
I prefer the events to speak for themselves.
Please, RobbieDo, don't stop talking to us!
As a parent and a teacher I realse t hat I have to take at least some responsibility for my own children and that it is easy for parents to blame teachers when things go wrong .Fortunately most teachers are dedicated to offering, within the classroom.enriching and positive experiences. I cannot accept that bullying is indemic in schools-bad practice is invariably routed out.But bulling within the home is more difficult to confront .All a teacher can do is to remain positive and attempt to raise the child's self esteem as far as possible.
Rosalind-forgive me for saying but children are not puppies but good luck with the training anyway....
Happy Birthday Rosalind,
What a lot of Scorpio/Saggitarians we are! At least you, me and Fifi (tomorrow, I think - Happy Birthday Fifi!). Fortunately, mine is on , which saves me a whole lot of bother.
Happy Thanksgiving one and all! The only Thursday holiday in the world, and it results in so many folk taking an unauthorised Friday that said Friday is the busiest retail day of the year in America, and the traditional start of the Christmas season.
Joy to the World!
ed
Indeed Belinda (31) that was crux of the discussion, how you prove the guilt and what criteria do you apply - ie. how long would a person have to be bullied for before it would be considered a factor. For instance I could get in a bad mood with someone today and call them a few nasty names in a temper, not realising that they have deep seated pyschological problems which results in them committing suicide. My name-calling may be the straw that breaks the camels back so could I then be charged with their murder? It has to be proven to be sustained and directly linked, and therein lies the problem. Howevr it would be absolutely a step in the right direction.
Another sort of ?
;-)
ed
Hi!
I'm sorry I missed all yesterday's discussion but was away from home and my pc all day.
I feel very strongly about bullying and, as a part time trainer in personal management skillls, find that every time I cover bullying in the workplace during a training workshop I get a stronger reaction to this topic than any other. Almost all delegates have their own bullying experience to share with the other delegates. It's horrifying just how common this problem has become. For those of you who have concerns about bullying in the workplace and want support or simply to find out more, try contacting the Andrea Adams Trust which is a non-political non-profit making organisation dedicated to reducing bullying and offers immediate support to those who have been bullied. ACAS also has lots of useful information and advice to impart.
I hope this is helpful to anyone suffering from bullying right now or still trying to recover from a painful bullying experience.
Kippenbod
I just found a new picture of !
Classy!
ed
Monkey - wha? Why?!?!...
RobbieDo, you have clearly been to the other place, and so know my thoughts.
Big Sis, you have absolutely no reason to feel 'mortified' and I think if you have a look at 'the other place' too (try hanging around the office staff a bit if you get my drift) you will see that I know of what I speak, but I'm definitely not going to comment on that here.
I agree with your sentiments, and a lot of the rest of this, on bullying, but haven't really had a chance until now to post on this thread, and everything I wanted to say has already been said really, especially Lady P (22) - and add, if we wouldn't find bullying behaviour acceptable in a workplace why do we allow it to continue in a school?
Short people are generally thought to be aggressive however, maybe those of average height or taller should think carefully who made these people aggressive and perhaps should realise that this aggression is really defensiveness which has developed over years and years of misery through bullying. I am several inches less than five foot and from the time I started school to the day I left I was bullied unmercilessly over anything and everything. I was jibed over the style of my shoes (I still only take a size 2) my clothes, my bag, my glasses everything. Mostly the bullying was verbal rather than physical but I did find that I had things stolen from my desk and bag as well. I had 11 wretched years. At the age of 16 I had finally had enough and hit back (well bit back hard would be truer). The taunting carried on but nobody came within biting distance of me in order to steal my things while I was trying desperately to cling on to them. From the day I left school I have had a reasonably bully-free life however, when in junior school my daughter came home and asked if her father could pick her up from school rather than me, her reason - she was being bullied for having a short mother.
Little 'n Good,
I hear you, and I'm glad you've survived. Funnily enough, I was bullied because I was very tall and scrawny, and so they weren't picking on somebody smaller.
It's those who bully who have the real prfoblems, and as I inferred in an earlier post, I think our society's dependence upon "redemptive" violence has a lot to answer for.
Shanthi
Good 'n Big
Little and Good (41),
I sympathise and recognise your story but have to say that in my experiece it is just as common to be singled out for being tall (and/or fat/thin/wearing glasses/having ginger hair/having an odd shaped nose/being of a different ethnicity to the majority at ones school/being poor/beind posh... basically anything that is identifiable as 'a bit different'). I don't think one can blame taller people for making short people aggresive, any more than one can say aggression can generally be found in all short people!
How one feels about oneself and thus responds to the bullying is the critcial factor: my sister-in-law is less than five feet tall and sees herself as Kylie-sized and thus attractive and sexy - calling her short wouldn't register as an insult.
Self-worth and confidence are the best defence againist bullies.
Rosalind (29),
Regarding moderation, this finally got through after several attempts. The final one seems to have shaken the previous one loose after nineteen hours, for some reason.
The ways of moderation are obscure to mere mortals.
Salaam/Shalom/Shanthi
ed
Thanks Ed (35): I am indeed hitting the big thirty-twelve tomorrow.
And Aperitif (36): you are quite right. It's ANYthing different that gets you singled out. If, and only if, there is a culture in existence where bullying can go on.
It can be meant in fun to start with -- but it's easy for one person to become the butt of the same tired 'joke' even among friends.
I agree though that having confidence is the perfect answer. If you have survived being bullied, earlier in your life -- as Little and Good has -- and found some confidence as an adult, you will have the last laugh.
Dear Ed,
Thank ypu for the sympathy! And everybody for the birthday wishes. Mine go to anyone whose birthdays are nowish. I was fascinated by the Buy Nothing Day, but I do hope that your friends and family take no notice of it and give you a brilliant day on Saturday. If not go to the beach and have a drink on me. Preferably a bottle of champagne.
Aperitif (40)
Got your drift. You might like to check out the message board.
Cheers
Big Sis (46),
Thanks, I have done. Will reply properly when I get a chance. All is good meantime :-)
A, x.
Fifi (45),
I quite agree. Who was it that said 'Living well is the ultimate revenge'? That's not to say it is easy - of course not - but absolutely the best thing to do, if one can.
Happy Birthday, Rosalind!
Sorry, I'm a bit behind the times today - Wos rather busy with other stuff.
Hope you had a good day and missed the rain.
Gosh yes - where are my manners? I've been a bit distracted and hopping around posts today. Happy birthday Rosalind! - and for tomorrow Fifi! Are we having party? (Bit difficult after today's sad news of course).
Nope - haven't a clue what's happening..
I'm away to the off licence.
Ooh, RobbieDo, are you going to start doing offy-runs in place of the old chocolate runs?
Can I have a bottle of Chablis while you're there? I'll leave the money by the front door.
Cheers.
Ap. Just tired tonight. Spent 8 solid hours driving today, south of Dublin and back.
I'm sorry if I got the wrong end of the whatever. Don't know or understand the other place. But I'm pleased that the two I thought weren't ok are ok. Hope that makes sense.
Happy Belated Birthday to Rosalind! Sorry to miss it yesterday.
I think, as there are several Frog birthdays around about just now, perhaps we could have a weekend drop-in party at the beach, and bearing in mind today's sad news, we could all charge our glasses to a fine broadcaster at the same time?
RobbieDo (54),
Sorry you're feeling so tired, hope you get a good night's sleep and feel chipper tomorrow.
You leave me a tad confused though - if you don't know or understand 'the other place' how do you know who The Woman In The Picture was (your 27)?
I see you didn't fetch the Chablis - but you are so sweet and have had such a tiring day that you are forgiven. I'm so glad that you decided not to leave us after all.
Valery (55),
Sounds like good plan :-)
Ap - Sorry - if the other place is where TWITP was then I do know and I think I understand. I got confused with the try hanging around the office staff bit, and the message board reference that went clean over my head.
I still like this:
"It's like having a bunch of intelligent, friendly, opinionated but (usually) gentle colleagues and friends around - one moves from the serious to the random to the important to the trivial and around again. The pleasure's in the mixture. "
OK, off to the beach tomorrow and we will drink to friends present and past.
I find that i have to trawl back through several threads each visit as so many are putting on yet more interesting entries days after the original topic. That's why I dislike it when topics fall off the net.
Rosalind (46):
"....go to the beach and have a drink on me. Preferably a bottle of champagne"
I now have a very amusing mental picture of Ed swigging champagne while comfortably seated on a prone Rosalind!
Bearing in mind that I don't know what either of you looks like (except Ed 30 years ago from the back) I must presume I am still squiffy from last night's slight overindulgence.
;o)
I'm far too heavy for that these days, though I'll happily share a drink sitting between the two of you, no matter how 'comfortable' you've become.
xx
ed
What a picture!! My mind is boggling, and I am sure Ed's is. Anyway I don't get to share the champagne like that. Sitting elegantly please.
Revised mental image:
Ed in the middle, propped up by Rosalind and Fifi on either side. Taking it in turns to swig daintily from a magnum of Mumms.
As evening wears on, the propping-up becomes increasingly necessary.
Ends in drunken snoring heap on the sand!
That's more like it! I'll bring a big, thick blanket.
xxzzzzxxzzz
ed
That's more like it, especially the magnum.
We will keep each other going!
Let it be the warm beach. It was dark and stormy this evening.
RobbieDo, no 'the other place' is not that thread but the Flickering Place. That any help? Other than that all I will say is Big Sister and I have never fallen out (despite outside interference).
Thank you for your kind words about my little paragraph that you've reproduced from I can't remember where!
Ed, Fifi, Rosalind, I may be lurking with my now infamous hidden camera - but don't let that spoil your fun... ;-)
Ap & Big Sis
Yes, I had been to the correct other place but some time ago. Been there tonight and now totally understand. I'd got it 99% right but was still 100% wrong. Really sorry if I caused any grief to either of you.
Now I'm off to finish causing some grief for the real Robbie - cryptic hopefully but will make sense in a few days.
Aperitif
Apologies for the non-delivery of the Chablis a few days ago. There is a very fine bottle with your name on it at the new new beach
/blogs/pm/2006/08/woody.shtml
I've taken the liberty of putting it in the ice bucket.
RJD,
I've been back and and seen your response and replied there. I think we are all on the same planet now!
Cheers for the Chablis - I've been away at a friends, so I'll swing by in a bit. :-)
Ap
Thank you. If you don't appear soon I'm afraid I may have enjoyed the Chabis for you.
I've been and seen and drunk some! Cheers!
Appy and RJD
Walnut Whips have been slipped out of sight for you both.
Nice to hear from you.
Big kiss from Big Sis.
Ooh thank you Big Sis! :-)
HI,
Im doing a piece of coursework on bullying and I seem to remember my mum telling me about a girl who died as she was being chased by a bully, and she had a heart problem. Can anyone tell me any more about this, it would be really appreciated if you can.
Thanks.
I was bullied at work 10 years ago by a Senior Personnel Officer who went on to become Chief Personnel Officer. I was a 51 year old, single lady who was already medically ill (on a hospital waiting list) and during a review of the department, was to take on 2 new roles. I got no support whatsoever, consequently I went into hospital extremely stressed etc, etc.
I informed the then Chief Personnel Officer at the time of the bullying and although it went to the Unison lawyers and they couldn't take if further, the bullying in that department was never addressed. Consequently I paid the price.
The worst aspect to this situation was that 8 years later 2 Personnel Officers took grievances out against this man. They have since resigned but I understand there was a financial settlement.
I am now 61, still having to work due to a greatly reduced pension and he is still in his job.
I'll never ever understand why the organisation (police) I worked for were never made accountable. I have documents to prove everything I have said.