WorkSafe undertakes bullying probe

A WorkSafe investigator has been appointed to probe allegations of bullying at Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children.

The regulator, which has come under fire for its failure to prosecute a single workplace bullying case, now also plans to make changes to its reporting system .

Stuff revealed in December that senior ministry social worker Susan Kennedy attempted suicide and suffered two sensory strokes after alleged workplace bullying and sexual harassment. Subsequently more staff from the ministry came forward and reported alleged bullying.

Due to ‘‘privacy issues’’ a WorkSafe NZ spokeswoman could not provide detail, aside from the notification and that it was responding to the complaint.

WorkSafe was making initial inquiries to determine if any further action needed to be taken, she said.

‘‘Bullying and harassment is a known and common workplace risk.

‘‘Businesses must recognise bullying and harassment as a risk and have clear processes in place to handle it.’’

WorkSafe typically only investigated bullying and harassment claims where there was a diagnosis of serious mental harm and there was a link to workplace bullying as the cause, she said.

CultureSafe NZ director Allan Halse, who is acting on behalf of Kennedy, confirmed WorkSafe was investigating and that he and Kennedy had met with the Auckland inspector investigating the case.

Kennedy’s case fitted the WorkSafe criteria because it was backed up by medical evidence, he said.

Clinical psychologist Dr Prudence Fisher, from the Auckland Women’s Therapy Centre, completed an official report into the impact of the ‘‘extensive workplace bullying’’ on Kennedy’s mental and physical wellbeing and said it was one of the most concerning cases to occur within a government department.