News & Support 2

1. News and Support
No 2 — July 2010
“Working with Difference” - Making a Difference
EDITORIAL Check out the New Blog
How important is it to have an active blog? As Equality Edge
Many thanks for the amazing response to issue one of has a message to give, a blog seems like an ideal opportunity
News & Support. As a result of the circulation, there has for regular statements and comments. Workshops on the use
been a 20% increase in the mailing list—so thanks to all of social media in business, suggest that with Twitter and
who passed it on to colleagues and friends. LinkedIn, the blog should be an integral part of a company’s
This issue presents a brief case study, which shows how public image.
vulnerable managers are to accusations of bullying. Social media detail below.
EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL (reference) International Association on Workplace
Following the figures quoted in June’s N&S, one reader asked Bullying & Harassment.
where the statistics came from.
The figures came directly from the Employment Tribunal’s The IAWBH is a member organisation of theorists and
Statistics (GB) Report1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. practitioners working in the field from all round the
world. It offers an opportunity to explore work and re-
search other people who are looking to reduce the
Expectations are too high - A Case Study negative impact of workplace bullying and harassment.
A highly accomplished manager working in a medium sized A member benefit, is access to the Special Interest
company was accused of intimidating younger members of Group (SIG) discussions on relevant topics. Have a look
the staff team. Three had taken out a grievance against him
at their website for more details.
over a four year period. The HR manager was put in a position
where she had to investigate.
The team never missed a deadline, were always high achievers
Top Equality Tips for Managers
and most had been loyal to the company for many years. They
all thought their manager was “the best manager”; so why was 1. Ensure managers are diversity competent. Offering equality
it that there was a problem with younger people. training doesn’t ensure legislative requirements are met. Place
Equality Edge was brought in to offer coaching to the manager equality best practice at the heart of learning and appraisals.
to help him understand his role in the grievances. He had 2. Provide diversity coaching for senior managers. With diversity
given all the staff plenty of scope to handle their work load in coaching, senior managers can help engender a culture of
their own way, which they achieved with great proficiency. inclusiveness, understanding and tolerance in the staff team.
He offered regular praise for achievement and success. 3. Check out your organisation management culture. Aggressive
The manager was not so tolerant of those who took time over or abrasive management, at the top of a staff team, can easily
tasks and needed, what he described as, “unnecessary lead to an accepted management style for the organisation
additional support”. He appeared to lack understanding of and expose managers to future accusations of bullying.
what it was like to be inexperienced or among older people .
One accused him of being “over aggressive and bullying”.
During coaching sessions, the manager explored how he had Free Services - Equality Edge is offering,
come to expect such high standards of himself and others. He to the first respondents to this advert,
remembered being a young worker and how he had struggled
two FREE coaching sessions or a FREE half-day
with demands of an over-powering boss. He was disappointed
that he had become like this former employer. He recognised a workshop. (Conditions apply)
need to adopt a softer and more tolerant approach towards
staff; not to expect the same output from inexperienced Equality Edge Social Media Details
workers that he got from the more experienced team members.
Twitter - @Equality_Edge with regular daily posts
The intervention enabled the department to develop, improv-
LinkedIn - Michael Lassman daily updates
ing communication for all. Since the management coaching
course, no further problem has arisen. Blog - equalityedge.wordpress.com weekly posts
Equality Edge offers service to help organisations fulfil their legal requirement. In dispute management, impartiality is
maintained enabling mutually acceptable resolutions to be found. Programmes help minimise the negative impact of
bullying at work, reducing long term sick leave and improving staff morale and productivity. This will cut potentially
exorbitant legal fees, ET compensation or compromise agreement pay-offs. No more will you be a hostage to the lose/
lose scenario — we can find the win-win solution. Contact for a no-obligation and confidential discussion.
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