Workplace bullying ‘destroyed my life’
A senior social worker at Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children attempted suicide and suffered two sensory strokes after extensive bullying in the workplace, which a psychologist says was one of the most concerning cases to occur within a government department.
Susan Kennedy, who has worked as a social worker for more than 23 years, took drastic measures after reporting workplace bullying and sexual harassment on numerous occasions, saying nothing was done.
The 52-year-old said she wanted to speak out to make a change and help others.
‘‘This is not my shame to carry and I simply refuse to ... so that others lives and careers aren’t destroyed or they don’t have to go through what I have.’’
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.
She found no indicators that Kennedy’s reporting of events were fictitious and it was one of the more concerning stories she had heard of occurring within a government department.
Fisher said Kennedy had been a very capable and resilient woman but had experienced bullying to such an extent that she raised concern about the lack of care, the degree of targeting and the form of verbal abuse and humiliation experienced in Kennedy’s workplace.
Fisher found no evidence of established mental health conditions and said Kennedy was suffering from extreme distress, anxiety and had a clear trauma response to the bullying.
Ministry deputy chief executive Glynis Sandland said it was a private employment issue and she would not comment on the matter, other than to say that the ministry would continue to engage with its former employee and her current representative directly.
The ministry was committed to being a good employer and providing a safe working environment where all staff were treated fairly and with respect, she said.
Kennedy said ministry chief executive Grainne Moss knew about the bullying in August 2017 and she would have liked her to have addressed it.
Kennedy believed bullying was still taking place within the ministry and the bullies had maintained their jobs and, as she understood, with no accountability.
It is understood other incidents have been reported, with at least one other suicide attempt by a ministry social worker.
More social workers needed to stand up and speak up for their rights against bullying, sexual harassment and violence in the workplace, Kennedy said.
Kennedy, who now requires medication, said she had been on a 20-month journey, where she jumped up and down ‘‘screaming’’ for help from various governmental stakeholders.
‘‘I am a completely different person to the one I was before the bullying started.
‘‘I have lost my career and they destroyed my life to the point that taking my life seemed the only escape from it that would give me some peace. Their continuation of not taking this seriously triggered my action.’’
CultureSafe
CultureSafe NZ director Allan Halse is acting on behalf of Kennedy and is currently waiting on a hearing date with the Employment Relations Authority but it was uncertain if Kennedy would be well enough to attend or to go through further mediation.
Kennedy’s case was probably the worst his organisation had ever worked on and he had reported the case to WorkSafe NZ who had referred it to a specialist intervention team for consideration.
He wanted to see a better system for reporting extreme workplace bullying cases, he said.
‘‘Workplace bullying, mental health and suicide are massive social issues for New Zealand and this Government has clearly articulated their desire to reduce the incidence of these insidious issues.’’
CultureSafe NZ would be lobbying Parliament so that the victims of workplace bullying could get access to justice and the employers who enable/condone that bullying were held accountable, he said.
He wrote to Moss on December 7, saying he was concerned she was not taking the health and wellbeing of her staff seriously and asked her engage and urgently resolve the matter. ‘‘Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, it is the chief executive’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all employees and you cannot delegate out of that responsibility,’’ he told Moss.
Moss responded on December 11 and said her legal team was handling the matter and she cared deeply about all employees and took her responsibility for their health and safety very seriously. An email from the ministry’s legal representative states it did not accept Oranga Tamariki had breached the Employment Relations Act or the Health and Safety at Work Act; however, it did acknowledge Kennedy had suffered/is suffering harm due to the stress of the on-going process.
Minister for Children Tracey Martin said employment matters were the responsibility of the chief executive and she did not know about this case.
‘‘But as a general rule, I expect all of my portfolio agencies to be good employers and I expect them to follow processes to the letter.’’
Where to get help:
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor
Depression.org.nz – 0800 111 757 or text 4202
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
In a life-threatening situation call 111.