Speech by Minister Michael Ahern at the Conference on Workplace Bullying “The Way Forward”

Speech by Mr Michael Ahern, TD, Minister for Trade and Commerce at the Conference on Workplace Bullying “The Way Forward” Trinity College, Dublin on Thursday June 15^th 2006

I am very pleased to be opening this international conference on workplace bullying this evening not least because our host, Professor Mona O’Moore of Trinity College was a member of an Expert Advisory Group on Workplace Bullying, whose Report was launched on 17^th August last, by my colleague, Minister Tony Killeen, Minister for Labour Affairs. I would also like to welcome all the delegates who will be presenting papers at this important conference.

Bullying is and continues to be a source of growing concern in the modern workplace and the international dimension to this conference highlights the fact the problem is not constrained by borders or culture.

From an Irish perspective, the principles laid down by the Expert Group in its Report will underpin future consideration of the issue by the Government, as anything less is not acceptable in a fair, safe and equitable workplace.

These principles are that:

Workplace bullying is unacceptable in all circumstances,

The responsibility is with management to ensure that bullying is not tolerated at the workplace, and that,

Incidents of bullying are adequately dealt with and brought to a fair and conclusive resolution in a timely fashion.

The Group in its Report determined that:

Workplace bullying is an increasing problem in Ireland. Whether this is due to an increase in the incidence of bullying or an increasing awareness of the unacceptability of bullying behaviour is not clearly demonstrable. However, the end result is the same – increased numbers of complaints, higher levels of workplace stress, great frustration with a lack of formal channels for resolving such complaints and an increased burden on all parties to resolve disputes.

An important recommendation contained in the Report was that a follow up survey on workplace bullying, similar to that commissioned for the 2001 Report, be conducted as soon as practicable to establish a baseline from which the effectiveness of the new structures and processes would be measured. The Department issued tenders for the survey and has recently awarded the contract to the successful tenderer. The survey is expected to take about 6 months to complete.

Present indications are that this new study will not be available until about next October.

The 2001 survey showed that 7% of workers had experienced bullying. Even if the percentage remains the same, numerically it is now higher. The new research will give an up to date picture in this regard.

There was not full agreement within the Expert Advisory Group on some of its recommendations. One example of this is the recommendation that bullying should be a mandatory inclusion as a risk in every employer’s Safety Statement and that the Health and Safety Authority would be charged with ensuring that this is enforced.

Minister Killeen has already given a commitment to publish the results of the survey, which will be brought to Government along with the Report and the views of the Social Partners and other interested parties, for decision on how best to implement the Report’s Recommendations. . It is hoped to bring these proposals to Government within as short a timescale as possible after receipt of the survey.

In addition, Minister Killeen has also requested the Health and Safety Authority to update their Code of Practice so that it reflects the statutory situation and in particular the 2005 Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act.

The 2005 Act has made specific reference to the prevention of ‘improper conduct or behaviour’ likely to put the safety, health or welfare of employees at risk. This means there now is an increased link between a practice of improper behaviour at work and the powers of enforcement.

This may help to offer a way through for employers attempting to resolve a bullying situation and for employees trying to – often against the odds – bring forward a complaint and have it fairly dealt with within the organisation.

This conference has the value of being an international gathering of experts. There are countries which have made great progress in managing workplace bullying and we can learn from them. I hope there are also experiences and research from Ireland which may inform and contribute to others.

I conclude by affirming the Government’s commitment to ensuring that workplaces in Ireland develop improved means to deal effectively with bullying. The widespread consultation of the past two years, in particular, for example though the establishment of the Expert Advisory Group – will culminate in an approach that we can all follow and make effective for all parties.

The survey currently being carried out on behalf of the Department will provide a platform for further action. I am confident that real sustainable progress can be made so that the matter of bullying is not left entirely to self regulation and that there will be an approach which will benefit both victims, accused people and employers.

Thank You.

ENDS/TC 240