WTL Hard-Hitting Video

[bustedflush]

Did anyone else have that B&H video in waste time learning today?

Quite a production, based on real events at RM offices and including plenty of effing and jeffing.

A laddish lino asks for lottery syndicate subs and assumes the tanned-looking woman on her frame is a muslim so won't want to join. Exclusion by assumption, another woman tells him to include her or at least ask her which he does along with would she like a bacon sarnie from the canteen?

A Welsh guy gets a moan for texting at his frame, and explodes at the manager 'I'm just a f*cking sheep-sh*gger to you lot usually'.

It's the only time I ever saw people actually pay attention to a WTL video. There were a few sniggers during the above scenes but some of us noticed that there was clearly something going on, as 3 managers were present as opposed to the usual one bored one. Obviously the plan was for each to observe a third of the room to see who found it funny, and mark them down as likely candidates for some Orwellian 'diversity training' programme or such like.

The DIM did however acknowledge to us all traipsing out that those issues haven't ever occurred in our office and there is very little animosity or offensive words he's noticed amongst us.

Certainly an eye-opener and I would love to see how it's received in the 'Problem Office' in that thread Cyclopz started or joined?

[rubberbond]

Did anyone else have that B&H video in waste time learning today?

Quite a production, based on real events at RM offices and including plenty of effing and jeffing.

A laddish lino asks for lottery syndicate subs and assumes the tanned-looking woman on her frame is a muslim so won't want to join. Exclusion by assumption, another woman tells him to include her or at least ask her which he does along with would she like a bacon sarnie from the canteen?

A Welsh guy gets a moan for texting at his frame, and explodes at the manager 'I'm just a f*cking sheep-sh*gger to you lot usually'.

It's the only time I ever saw people actually pay attention to a WTL video. There were a few sniggers during the above scenes but some of us noticed that there was clearly something going on, as 3 managers were present as opposed to the usual one bored one. Obviously the plan was for each to observe a third of the room to see who found it funny, and mark them down as likely candidates for some Orwellian 'diversity training' programme or such like.

The DIM did however acknowledge to us all traipsing out that those issues haven't ever occurred in our office and there is very little animosity or offensive words he's noticed amongst us.

Certainly an eye-opener and I would love to see how it's received in the 'Problem Office' in that thread Cyclopz started or joined?

and forgotten by tomorrow morning

[redneck]

It was very quiet in our office immediately afterwards for some time. Most of the conversation usually revolves around such things.

[blue1873]

Got the video last night, as soon as it was over we were'nt
given time to discuss any of it, case of "nothing to see here
sweep sweep move on".They are terrified to go into any
"incidents" because they know it will open up a can of
worms because of their own inaction over the years.

[spiderj]

I submitted grievances last week due to bullying managers

I now start exactly on time and the rest of my section were already in wtll

I wasn't told it was on
Or told when I would see the video

Anyone else think it was bullying by exclusion as the manager has threatened my job?

[wabbithunta]

Didn't see any "bullying/harassing" managers in the video using that behaviour, it was all posties. Funny that

[mudmonster]

Most people in our office found it a joke,unfortunately when it happens to a person it is B&H and should be stopped,no body warrants victimisation on a day to day basis

[answer=42]

We didn't see it at all.
We don't get wtll sessions. 2 a year maybe and even then if you're part time you won't get to see one.
I think they use the hours for something else, and this is an office with over 200 bodies.
Might that be fraudulent?
Those of you who complain about work time learning think on, I work in an office where the bullying extends to the DOM being dominated and wtll just does not happen because the big orange dominatrix can't cope with people being off the floor.

Yours
A seriously oppressed, subtly bullied getting mildly depressed punchbag who's building up to a showdown or breakdown, not sure which yet.

[teesdale]

Sounds like a video made by people not living in the real world. It should really piss people off and seeth silently with anger inside. Well done Royal Mail again, and nice to see that bullying by managers is still an impossibility. Things have come along way since the last video.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

You actually had at least part of your national weekly standard of 30mins work time learning, rather than it being ignored, so that lapsing could be done and/or your duty could be completed within contracted hours? Lucky you, last WTLL was ~8 months ago, had a few consecutive weeks!

[bustedflush]

The objective of the video was obviously to cover as many types of harassment in a few minutes as possible. It has isolation, presumptive religious discrimination, the effects of a build up of so-called 'harmless banter', inappropriate touching, racial/national stereotyping, patronizing touching, sexist behaviour, foul language and verbal aggression/bullying.
The ex-rep and office wag did pipe up when it started words to the effect 'is this for the managers or us?' which raised a laugh, but everybody took it seriously.
It was still being mentioned this morning on the frames, a record for a RM video surely?

I think the video assumes managers are by the nature of their position 'above' this type of unpleasantness....

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I think it was a good video, with some flaws. For instance there was nothing about Managerial Bullying, and what an OPG could do if he thought he was the victim of it. But for a RM video it did show the flaws of 2 managers very well, and very subtly.

You had the DOM that was completely out of touch and hardly seemed to leave his office, more worried about complaints than his colleagues, in fact he hardly seemed aware of where there was conflict bubbling along. He left the new line manager to sort things out, but unfortunately this manager although his heart was in the right place, he wasn't very effective at getting his point across. He should have stepped in much earlier with both the Welshman and the Gobby Bloke he interrupted on his meal relief (hope he retook it though).

On balance it lacked a lot, it tried to hard to make sure the corporate message got across, but in its own way it was Groundbreaking for RM as it showed managers with flaws, and for once it wasn't that condescending. As people have said it has created discussions between colleagues, and lets hope some people recognised themselves and hopefully it will change their behaviour.

[bustedflush]

I think it was a good video, with some flaws. For instance there was nothing about Managerial Bullying, and what an OPG could do if he thought he was the victim of it. But for a RM video it did show the flaws of 2 managers very well, and very subtly.

You had the DOM that was completely out of touch and hardly seemed to leave his office, more worried about complaints than his colleagues, in fact he hardly seemed aware of where there was conflict bubbling along. He left the new line manager to sort things out, but unfortunately this manager although his heart was in the right place, he wasn't very effective at getting his point across. He should have stepped in much earlier with both the Welshman and the Gobby Bloke he interrupted on his meal relief (hope he retook it though).

On balance it lacked a lot, it tried to hard to make sure the corporate message got across, but in its own way it was Groundbreaking for RM as it showed managers with flaws, and for once it wasn't that condescending. As people have said it has created discussions between colleagues, and lets hope some people recognised themselves and hopefully it will change their behaviour.

Yes, indeed. To be fair, 99% of Posties are a decent lot as a rule and all know where the line is drawn. If I had contributed in any way to a colleague being distressed either directly or indirectly whether by my own words or actions or in conjunction with others I'd feel ashamed of myself. If I saw a colleague getting near to that line whether inadvertently or not I'd pull them to one side and offer cautionary words and would expect them to do the same to me should I transgress. It's all part of being in a team. If managers ever get involved, we have collectively let ourselves down.

[General Mannerheim]

Load of bollocks.
Nothing more than a box ticking exercise so that Royal Fail can say that it has given ample `training` to the troops by showing a video and therefore it must never happen ...whilst actively encouraging their managers to do it all the time ...still it sounds good in a tribunal.

[Acca Dacca]

I asked why swear words, even if not directed at someone, weren't allowed to be said in the office

''because not everyone is comfortable hearing swear words, what is ok to you might not be ok for somebody else''

''Spot on. Royal Mail just subjected me to 'shagger' and 'prick'. Get me a form!''