Royal Mail Bullying Boss

[Cyclopz]

try and win our hearts and minds.

Good call.
Thanks for that.

[Radio]

Managers who speak nicely to their staff are labelled 'softies' by their bosses and their inefficient cronies and are dragged down. Nobody is willing to accept the fact that these 'softies' are the ONLY ones who can get the work done, the rest only spread bitterness, aggression and resentment in the workplace. This is very unfortunate because with privatisation we had hoped that the very top bosses (Moya Greene etc) would worry about the company image and its impact on the share prices and bullying and harrassment would be stamped out with the exclusion of old-fashioned bullying managers and introduction of more civilised and qualified managers but it never happened. International are law unto themselves and have no regard for Royal Mail's HR policies which strongly discourage bullying and harrasment. HR should investigate the appointment procedure, promotion criteria and other general management policies in this office. Our product is so profitable that with an engaged and efficient workforce we could increase daily revenue by millions. As it stands now, at least 80% of the workforce are actively disengaged and just want to spend their time at work and get paid for doing nothing. Very sad situation indeed. Employee engagement is directly related to management practices, HWDC is the proof of this. How many posts on this and other forum about lost or delayed parcels at HWDC? Google up HWDC and you will come accross customers looking for their parcels. Quality is directly related to employee engagement which is related to how people are treated by their managers. Mistreating or stitiching up your own employees is like cutting off your own legs and limbs. No business can thrive if the bosses mistreat their employees.

[jack]

This is very unfortunate because with privatisation we had hoped that the very top bosses (Moya Greene etc) would worry about the company image and its impact on the share prices and bullying and harrassment would be stamped out with the exclusion of old-fashioned bullying managers and introduction of more civilised and qualified managers but it never happened.

...and never will in my opinion...

[Cyclopz]

Another fantastic post by radio.
Opening up the can of worms for all to see.
If you don't have a workforce willing to engage what do you do, bully them it seems at HWDC.

It all comes from a management culture and top management putting bullying pressure on lower management who then go and take it out on those poor souls on the floor below them.
It's a nasty set up and it's good this girl has done this.
I admire and respect her, perhaps now things will be looked at seriously although I somehow doubt this will happen.

[Cyclopz]

How the game is played:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWk63QyNdEM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Radio]

How the game is played:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWk63QyNdEM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interestiung and looks very familiar!

Officially there are 57 graduates and 11 OPGs with Masters degrees working there. I have seen the list, most of my friends' names are not on it. I believe that the number must be at least double of what business recognises and we have one with a PhD as well on late shift. Most of these people are not native speakers of English language but when they decide to write things down, that's when strange things start happening and the jobsworth managers run for cover. It is all fun and games. Just off my head I can tell you that there are 29 odd nationalities and speakers of 200 plus languages in that place. As I said, that office is like no other office and I have worked in a few other offices. The guy who left the business after being bullied while he was having a panic attack was doing PhD as well (while working part-time). He dragged that manager to the court and made him cry and beg there.

[Cyclopz]

The guy who left the business after being bullied while he was having a panic attack was doing PhD as well (while working part-time). He dragged that manager to the court and made him cry and beg there.

Great stuff.

I wish I could get the case numbers of some of these claims, I presume they are employment tribunals.
The results of tribunals are public, you can get a copy of the procedings if you enclose I think £10 in a stamp addressed envelope but you must have the case number.
So basically if anyone has any case numbers available please post them here.
It's my round and I'm buying.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The guy who left the business after being bullied while he was having a panic attack was doing PhD as well (while working part-time). He dragged that manager to the court and made him cry and beg there.

Great stuff.

I wish I could get the case numbers of some of these claims, I presume they are employment tribunals.
The results of tribunals are public, you can get a copy of the proceedings if you enclose I think £10 in a stamp addressed envelope but you must have the case number.
So basically if anyone has any case numbers available please post them here.
It's my round and I'm buying.

If you now something about the case and don't mind digging a little there is a database for all legal cases at the British and Irish Legal Information Institute http://www.bailii.org/form/search_multidatabase.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[General Mannerheim]

The guy who left the business after being bullied while he was having a panic attack was doing PhD as well (while working part-time). He dragged that manager to the court and made him cry and beg there.

Great stuff.

I wish I could get the case numbers of some of these claims, I presume they are employment tribunals.
The results of tribunals are public, you can get a copy of the proceedings if you enclose I think £10 in a stamp addressed envelope but you must have the case number.
So basically if anyone has any case numbers available please post them here.
It's my round and I'm buying.

If you now something about the case and don't mind digging a little there is a database for all legal cases at the British and Irish Legal Information Institute http://www.bailii.org/form/search_multidatabase.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Only for Northern Irish,scottish courts and EAT's.

[bustedflush]

Am I the only one who actually feels some sympathy for the manager(s) trying to run that place? It must be like walking on eggshells at the bottom of a tinderbox while holding a sparkler. Seems like you need Kofi Annan to run it.

[Cyclopz]

Ok I too sympathise with management.

Yes there are issues that need to be addressed but at the end of the day all should be treated equally.
If there is an issue with prayer times then a whole group needs to be challenged, if there is an issue with language then a whole group needs to be challenged.
If there is an issue with absence from the floor then everyone needs to be challenged.

The place has serious issues and if a manager can deal with these issues fairly then fair play to them.
But this was simply picking on the weakest link.
Trust me if you looked at the shift as a whole you would find many others doing the same but going unchallenged because they probably are the current acting managers mates.
If you are going to enforce discipline it has to be done fairly and across the board, otherwise you have tyranny.

My theory (and I could be wrong here) is that industrial psycologists have come up with a design of a shop floor, a template if you like.
A disunited workforce based on diversity, it's a textbook example.
So yes under these conditions Kofi Annan does have to run it.
Bullying is not acceptible, no way, no time, no how.
If the template is not working hold the designers to account, it was their idea after all.
Sue them.

[Radio]

Everything can work, it was designed to work.
Diversity is a good thing. You manage culture-related problems and foster culture-related positives.
There is caste system in that place. People from India have huge problems with caste system. These people, when promoted to managers job, try to go above their station.
Kiss up, kick down style of management is poisnous when caste comes into the mix.
Royal Mail should realise the different opportunities and challanges this place offers. Bring in modern, educated managers to run a diverse, modern work place.

These managers have never heard of cultural literacy.
These managers have never heard of empowerment.
These managers have never heard of leadership.
These managers have never heard of employment laws and human rights.
These managers have never heard of dignity, composure and participatory style of management.
These managers have nevewr heard of employee-centred management.
These managers have never heard of leading by example.
These managers have never heard of personal integrity.

Management was once called a science, now it is more of an art than science. You've got to make the right decision at the right moment using all the resources at your disposal.
A manager's greatest strength and asset is his work force, in this place workers are considered 'cost' not asset.
Favouritism is rife. Shift managers have their favourites who get away with murder while others get bullied every day.
Favouritism has infested this place from top to bottom. People don't apply for jobs, jobs are given to them on plate by their cronies. These people have no respect for the job because they never earned it. They abuse their authority because they know that those who gave them authority unfairly would protect them. This leads to mafia culture. You must have heard of the infamous mafia in power there!

What's wrong with talking to people and agreeing on standards?
What's wrong with taking people along to achieve common goals?
What's wrong with promoting deserving people and sacking the scum shysters instead of promoting them?
What's wrong with developing your organisation's human capital?
What's wrong with creating a civilised work place?

[Cyclopz]

Perhaps my post came across a bit negatively it was written after a long week.

The way diversity is played out is that people are allowed to form groups and work as teams, well that's the general idea anyway.
For instance an acting Indian manager is allowed to pick their own team or for instance so is a Somali.

Take the dock doors for instance, a higher manager will appoint an acting manager to do a job and allow that manager to form their own team.
The team is usually made up of the same language speaking people and nationality.
This team is then observed to see if they can do the job and if they can they are left alone.

So what you have is a group of one language speaking people excluding everyone else and doing their own thing.
Anyone from without that language speaking group is not welcomed and ignored.
Higher managers don't particularly care as long as the job gets done.
So this is how diversity is played out on the floor.
It's almost like a prison atmosphere and can be quite sinister.

But to turn the situation around and make diversity a positive thing would take a better and more creative mind than mine.
Don't get me wrong I love the mix of cultures, the food, the music, and especially the ladies but as you say the situation needs to be micro managed
otherwise it just descends into gangs who roam around the building unchecked and unchallenged.
Floor managers being too weak or intimidated to challenge them just go for the weakest person often on racial lines or so it appears to me.
God knows how you would sort this place out, there are so many quiet corners unseen, so many conversations in a multitude of languages unheard.
Some people are bullied and because of their culture of suffering in silence say nothing, some of the Asian women spring to mind.

This is just a snippet from the shop the floor, I really don't know what goes on in the offices above.

[Cyclopz]

I would just like to add one thing.

The problem with multiple languages from an English speaking persons perspective is this.
Small things can be misunderstood, taken the wrong way and can blow up into big things purely based on misunderstandings.

A look, a slight comment, a gesture can all lead to "what do you mean by that"?
Bad atmospheres can be created by these misunderstandings and seriously large incidents can be formed.

Lack of communication can ruin a one on one relationship between a man and a woman so imagine what it can do between men and women
on a very large scale where over 2000 people are employed.
The more I become aware in this place the more I begin to realise what a powder box it really is and one small spark can make a very large BOOM!!!

[bustedflush]

Everything can work, it was designed to work.
Diversity is a good thing. You manage culture-related problems and foster culture-related positives.
There is caste system in that place. People from India have huge problems with caste system. These people, when promoted to managers job, try to go above their station.
Kiss up, kick down style of management is poisnous when caste comes into the mix.
Royal Mail should realise the different opportunities and challanges this place offers. Bring in modern, educated managers to run a diverse, modern work place.

These managers have never heard of cultural literacy.
These managers have never heard of empowerment.
These managers have never heard of leadership.
These managers have never heard of employment laws and human rights.
These managers have never heard of dignity, composure and participatory style of management.
These managers have nevewr heard of employee-centred management.
These managers have never heard of leading by example.
These managers have never heard of personal integrity.

Management was once called a science, now it is more of an art than science. You've got to make the right decision at the right moment using all the resources at your disposal.
A manager's greatest strength and asset is his work force, in this place workers are considered 'cost' not asset.
Favouritism is rife. Shift managers have their favourites who get away with murder while others get bullied every day.
Favouritism has infested this place from top to bottom. People don't apply for jobs, jobs are given to them on plate by their cronies. These people have no respect for the job because they never earned it. They abuse their authority because they know that those who gave them authority unfairly would protect them. This leads to mafia culture. You must have heard of the infamous mafia in power there!

What's wrong with talking to people and agreeing on standards?
What's wrong with taking people along to achieve common goals?
What's wrong with promoting deserving people and sacking the scum shysters instead of promoting them?
What's wrong with developing your organisation's human capital?
What's wrong with creating a civilised work place?

Great tribute to the Acme Book Of Management Radio, but as usual these idealistic sentiments all fall down flat when faced with the number-one factor: HUMAN NATURE!
People naturally clique and group together, 'birds of a feather' and all that. The situation you describe is simply unresolvable.
As Cyclopz alludes to, the best you can hope for is an uneasy peace. The workplace is too fragmented for anything else. Whether with tact or force, you have too many variables to make a plan for.
This is simply a micro-example of the effects of multiculturalism nationally; 'our street and their street' etc.

I am fortunate in not having to face these problems daily. My DO has two people born outside the UK, both E.Europeans who ironically arrived in the 1990's before the idiots of the EU started their great 'end of the nations' social engineering project. As far as I know there are only Christians and atheists as we have no Hindus or Muslims. So we can all abuse each other, laugh and make gestures both deliberate and accidental without fear of retribution and that even includes the managers most of the time. It must cause so much stress coming into work not being able to relax unless you are in the presence of your 'own' group. I don't envy those people at all.

We should all remember it's not the individuals' fault (usually) but those that allowed it to happen, starting with the governments right down to the employers themselves.