Allegations of bullying within the Northern Territory health sector are increasing in number, and calls for the government departments in charge to do more often “fall on deaf ears,” according to the public sector union.
Over at least the last 18 months, the claims of workplace bullying have included multiple allegations of people inappropriately accessing private personnel files for information to use against colleagues. The most recent allegations were raised by a former health worker, Kirsten Stevens, in the NT News last week.
Stevens claimed she had faced bullying from a manager, and that her manager and co-workers had accessed her personnel file more than 150 times without her permission. She said the experience had led her to quit her job at the remote health clinic.
At least 25 complaints were reportedly made in the 2013-14 financial year. A manager at one remote health clinic was sacked in August last year following bullying claims.
Erina Early, acting NT branch secretary for the United Voice union, told Guardian Australia complaints about bullying within the health sector were on the rise.
She said the union was not involved with Stevens’s case but it was aware of and working with a number of other health sector employees alleging workplace bullying.
“They come to the union, usually through their delegate or through the office [because] they need someone they can go to in confidence and talk about what they’re experiencing in the workplace,” said Early. “A lot of people don’t see HR or managers as someone they’re comfortable discussing concerns with because it could be about their supervisor or manager.”
Early said employees need to know they do have a workplace right to lodge a complaint of bullying regardless of who that’s against.
“Workplace bullying won’t go away unless it’s addressed,” she said. “A lot of the time it comes down to who you’re dealing with in HR. There’s some really great HR people in the department of health – and I’ve got to give them credit. When we do go to complaints of bullying these certain HR people will investigate and bring people in.”
Sometimes complaints were resolved through mediation, “but others are just ongoing, so you have people going on worker’s comp or getting stressed and anxious about going into the workplace because the investigation is extended or they are ignored,” said Early.
She said it was “very common” for cases to be ignored or unnecessarily extended.
Northern Territory unions regularly meet with the public employment commissioner, and lobby the government on the issue “but some things fall on deaf ears,” she said.
The Central Australian health service (CAHS), did not answer specific questions about the extent of bullying allegations, but Sue Korner, its chief operating officer told Guardian Australia an investigation into the claims made by Stevens would be completed “as soon as possible.”
“I am disappointed to be told that a member of my staff was so unhappy they had to leave as I am very proud of the Central Australia Health Service team,” she said in a statement.
“Our commitment to supporting our workforce and investing in their development is supported by the Board. I would also like to give Ms Stevens the opportunity to discuss her concerns directly with me and I will be contacting her.”
Korner said the CAHS was “committed to having a positive workplace culture” and would not tolerate inappropriate behaviour.
Northern territory health minister John Elferink told Guardian Australia a process for dealing with bullying claims is “well established” within the NT government, with an anti-bullying policy introduced when he was minister for employment.
“Complaints are taken very seriously and pursued to the end of the process,” he said.