13 April 2012

Canberra Institute of Technology pinged by WorkSafe over bullying

| johnboy
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WorkSafe ACT has announced the publication of their report on bullying at CIT:

“The WorkSafe ACT investigation found that the CIT had breached its responsibilities under the Territory’s health and safety legislation,” said Mr McCabe.

“WorkSafe ACT’s inspector determined that the CIT does not have an adequate system for preventing or responding to allegations of bullying and harassment in the workplace.”

An Improvement Notice has been issued requiring the CIT to make a number of improvements to its systems and procedures regarding prevention and management of bullying and harassment of staff. The CIT has six months to comply with a number of specific requirements in the Notice designed to achieve this outcome.

So a consultancy vacancy coming up then.

UPDATE 13/04/12 09:55: Education Minister Chris Bourke is kicking bottom over this one:

“I have today met with Mr Mark McCabe, the ACT Work Safety Commissioner, and Mr Adrian Marron, the Chief Executive of CIT to discuss the report’s findings and the ACT Government’s decision to immediately act upon these findings.

“Under Section 6 of the Canberra Institute of Technology Act 1987 I have directed Mr Marron to work with his senior staff and immediately address each of the 10 points noted in the Improvement Notice, and report directly to me.

“At the Government’s request the Head of Service has agreed to transfer an experienced officer from the Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate to assist CIT in addressing the issues raised. Ms Meg Brighton, Director of Continuous Improvement and Workers’ Compensation Branch will coordinate the implementation of the WorkSafe Improvement Notice.

“The ACT Government does not tolerate bullying and harassment in the workplace, and I will be ensuring that all the changes recommended by the WorkSafe Commissioner are implemented promptly,” Minister Bourke said.

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HenryBG said :

loresev said :

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

Who is Crazy Chester?

It may have been quicker and wiser to simply type that very question in the “Search” box.

Are you new to the internet?

Ha ha, good point

HenryBG said :

loresev said :

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

Who is Crazy Chester?

It may have been quicker and wiser to simply type that very question in the “Search” box.

Are you new to the internet?

Ha ha good point Henry BG, thats exactly what I did after reading here. I could not find her website tho’ so if anyone can fill me in? From what I did see however, I can assure you that she would not have been treated well by the particular person and place that she mentions. Other ‘disabled’ folks have gotten short sharp shifts from that direction … 2 friends of mine. I do not know CH, and crazy or not, she deserves respect and I am sure she has some serious grievences … she just does not know how to express them well.

loresev said :

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

Who is Crazy Chester?

It may have been quicker and wiser to simply type that very question in the “Search” box.

Are you new to the internet?

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

Who is Crazy Chester?

shauno said :

loresev said :

#13
The Dark10:13 pm, 13 Apr 12

MWF said :

The Dark said :

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

LMFAO.

Do you really think such information would be given to students?

However it should.

The “senior managers” in the report involved should be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.

I have heard on the grapevine that one of the senior managers involved in this inconvenience conveniently left the employ of said Institute a couple of weeks prior to this report becoming public.

Funnily enough, they did, the head of our department came and spoke with us today about it, not entirely conclusive, but enough, also filled us in on our options incase we were quizzed about it by members of the general public should we come in contact with curious/nosey people.

In the end, all I really care about is that it wasn’t anything to do with my classes or people relevant to them.

From Lorese …. what you have written above LFMAO (I think) about someone at CIT calling you students together and giving you ‘options’ about what to say is appalling! How dare they try to limit your free speech! And the emotive language of curious/nosey? WTF???? This goes to the root of the problem there … they continue to try to squash information. Guess who owns CIT? – WE ALL DO. SHould we have an opinion about what happens there with OUR PUBLIC MONEY? YES WE SHOULD! LFMAO … you should write to the commissioner yourself and report this as another case of bullying! I’d love you to write to me and tell me who that person was … I have a bit of an idea actually. lorese.vera@gmail.com

What courses? I did a course back in the 90s geoscience non of that happened in our courses. Did it happen to be a female dominated course?

Shauno, I am not sure who you are asking and what you are asking. It certainly has nothing to do with female dominated anything. I am wondering what centre it was who decided to give students ‘strategies’ for answering questions asked by the public.

loresev said :

#13
The Dark10:13 pm, 13 Apr 12

MWF said :

The Dark said :

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

LMFAO.

Do you really think such information would be given to students?

However it should.

The “senior managers” in the report involved should be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.

I have heard on the grapevine that one of the senior managers involved in this inconvenience conveniently left the employ of said Institute a couple of weeks prior to this report becoming public.

Funnily enough, they did, the head of our department came and spoke with us today about it, not entirely conclusive, but enough, also filled us in on our options incase we were quizzed about it by members of the general public should we come in contact with curious/nosey people.

In the end, all I really care about is that it wasn’t anything to do with my classes or people relevant to them.

From Lorese …. what you have written above LFMAO (I think) about someone at CIT calling you students together and giving you ‘options’ about what to say is appalling! How dare they try to limit your free speech! And the emotive language of curious/nosey? WTF???? This goes to the root of the problem there … they continue to try to squash information. Guess who owns CIT? – WE ALL DO. SHould we have an opinion about what happens there with OUR PUBLIC MONEY? YES WE SHOULD! LFMAO … you should write to the commissioner yourself and report this as another case of bullying! I’d love you to write to me and tell me who that person was … I have a bit of an idea actually. lorese.vera@gmail.com

What courses? I did a course back in the 90s geoscience non of that happened in our courses. Did it happen to be a female dominated course?

#13
The Dark10:13 pm, 13 Apr 12

MWF said :

The Dark said :

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

LMFAO.

Do you really think such information would be given to students?

However it should.

The “senior managers” in the report involved should be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.

I have heard on the grapevine that one of the senior managers involved in this inconvenience conveniently left the employ of said Institute a couple of weeks prior to this report becoming public.

Funnily enough, they did, the head of our department came and spoke with us today about it, not entirely conclusive, but enough, also filled us in on our options incase we were quizzed about it by members of the general public should we come in contact with curious/nosey people.

In the end, all I really care about is that it wasn’t anything to do with my classes or people relevant to them.

From Lorese …. what you have written above LFMAO (I think) about someone at CIT calling you students together and giving you ‘options’ about what to say is appalling! How dare they try to limit your free speech! And the emotive language of curious/nosey? WTF???? This goes to the root of the problem there … they continue to try to squash information. Guess who owns CIT? – WE ALL DO. SHould we have an opinion about what happens there with OUR PUBLIC MONEY? YES WE SHOULD! LFMAO … you should write to the commissioner yourself and report this as another case of bullying! I’d love you to write to me and tell me who that person was … I have a bit of an idea actually. lorese.vera@gmail.com

LSWCHP said :

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

I’ve read her stuff. Crazy Chester was crazy all along. Still may be, although I couldn’t face going back to her website to find out.

HAHA crazy chester that brings back a few memories

In response to some of the comments from students at CIT and others … yes, students have been bullied. I am a current staff member … I wonder for how long? Sniff the air daily for my burning at the stake … I am so sick and tired of lies damn lies cover ups gutless people and the inability of many to stand up and be counted and tell the truth … burning my bridges as we speak …http://www.loreseverasblog.blogspot.com.au/

I wonder when they will move to ‘improve me’ under their improvement notice? I fear they will sweep the past under the carpet and forge ahead … probably run a few courses and then business as usual. Some of the worst bullies are still in high places there. Will Adrian Marron continue to be a part of the problem or a part of the answer?

Spykler said :

WorkSafe ACT’s inspector determined that the CIT does not have an adequate system for preventing or responding to allegations of bullying and harassment in the workplace.”
Name me one organisation that does. Massive fail for every organisation that I have worked for. The environment in my current job is the best I have ever encountered, staff have actively taken on bullies themselves- it works..

Organisations I’ve worked for have all had comprehensive policies and systems for responding to bullying. Not that they ever used them, of course. But they would have passed with flying colours.

childcare_worker12:10 am 07 May 12

I am a current student at CIT and I have been bully by CIT staff members due to my disability and even students have bully me too and the head of the department did nothkin about. I have been diganose with depression due to the stress andf the way I have been treated at CIT and its about time CIT teachers respect students and when they report issues to CIT staff members

We live in strange times when a training organisation like CIT are not complying with workplace regulations whilst training our young (and not so young) people the skills they need for their employment opportunity. Are poor workplace health and safety attitudes issues that should never arise in education establishments?

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

I’ve read her stuff. Crazy Chester was crazy all along. Still may be, although I couldn’t face going back to her website to find out.

MWF said :

The Dark said :

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

LMFAO.

Do you really think such information would be given to students?

However it should.

The “senior managers” in the report involved should be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.

I have heard on the grapevine that one of the senior managers involved in this inconvenience conveniently left the employ of said Institute a couple of weeks prior to this report becoming public.

Funnily enough, they did, the head of our department came and spoke with us today about it, not entirely conclusive, but enough, also filled us in on our options incase we were quizzed about it by members of the general public should we come in contact with curious/nosey people.

In the end, all I really care about is that it wasn’t anything to do with my classes or people relevant to them.

imarty said :

It would still suggest a certain culture exists in this organisation.

It’s definitely not a good look, but at best it gives very slight credence to CC’s claims, which went far, far beyond the policy and procedure issues identified in this particular report.

It would still suggest a certain culture exists in this organisation.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back said :

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

So it would seem. I think all the people who hassled Crazy Chester should make a full and unconditional apology.

She was a CIT student rather than a staff member, as I recall, and her claims appear to pre-date the scope of this report.

VYBerlinaV8_is_back1:53 pm 13 Apr 12

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

So it would seem. I think all the people who hassled Crazy Chester should make a full and unconditional apology.

Maybe Minister Bourke needs to have the same lens applied to ACTETD…..just saying….

imarty said :

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

And she’s enjoying her workers comp as we type.

Crazy Chester was right all along!!!

The Dark said :

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

LMFAO.

Do you really think such information would be given to students?

However it should.

The “senior managers” in the report involved should be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.

I have heard on the grapevine that one of the senior managers involved in this inconvenience conveniently left the employ of said Institute a couple of weeks prior to this report becoming public.

Spykler said :

WorkSafe ACT’s inspector determined that the CIT does not have an adequate system for preventing or responding to allegations of bullying and harassment in the workplace.”
Name me one organisation that does. Massive fail for every organisation that I have worked for. The environment in my current job is the best I have ever encountered, staff have actively taken on bullies themselves- it works..

No crap of that nature allowed at my workplace. It has reared it’s head on a few occasions, and the consequences for the perps have not been good.

WorkSafe ACT’s inspector determined that the CIT does not have an adequate system for preventing or responding to allegations of bullying and harassment in the workplace.”
Name me one organisation that does. Massive fail for every organisation that I have worked for. The environment in my current job is the best I have ever encountered, staff have actively taken on bullies themselves- it works..

HOORAY!

It’s about bloody time.

What the hell? Incidents where bullying has caused injury sufficient to necessitate workers comp payouts… Intense. As a current CIT student, I wish they had more details, like which campus or industry, anyone know more?

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