I’ve been speaking to the press all morning in the aftermath of the allegations by Christine Pratt, Founder of the National Bullying Helpline, regarding bullying in Downing Street. From my perspective, the issue of whether there was bullying or not at No. 10 was secondary – the main issue for me as a patron of the Helpline was the breach of confidentiality – I had no choice, I had to resign.
When staff report a problem to a bullying or counselling helpline it is a matter between them and the operators of that line. Mrs Pratt did not reveal any names, but that is irrelevant. She has revealed the employer, No. 10, to the press: I think that is wholly wrong and inappropriate. There is no way any helpline or counselling service giving advice to people should release anything into the public arena based on calls it receives. I am involved with a range of charities, none of whom do that kind of thing – it is just not the way you behave and therefore I felt that I could no longer be a patron to that organisation. I told Mrs Pratt I wanted to resign last night and she asked me to sleep on it. I said I would, but I knew what I was going to do.
Don’t get me wrong – I am passionate about stamping out bullying and promoting well-being in the workplace. Leaders and managers have a responsibility to get this aspect of working life right for their employees, but naming and shaming specific organisations from a position of trust is just not the way to promote that kind of behaviour.
Lots of interviews to do today around this story, so that’s it for now but I’ll post again on this subject as things develop. Read my official statement regarding my resignation at http://www.robertsoncooper.com
Thank you for standing firm on this issue.
This is a matter of professional ethics and it is heartening to know that you are willing to stand in the fire for this. In the interviews I have heard on the radio today there are so many collapsed distinctions around that it will be difficult for many listeners to tease apart the facts from the hyperbole.
You have clearly pulled apart the different facets.
Thank you
Tilla Brook
Dear Prof. Cooper
Following the controversy today regarding the revelation that persons from The Prime Minister’s Office called the National Bullying Helpline, and the denial by Mr Peter Mandelson on the BBC1 Andrew Marr programme on Sunday morning that The Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown does not harass or bully staff at No 10 Downing Street, I think it very regrettable that you chose to resign, just at a time when Christine Pratt and her colleagues needs all the support she can get.
I believe it incumbent on you that, as a patron, you would have given Mrs Pratt more support in the excellent work she is doing to combat bullying in the workplace. Instead you chose to resign precipitously. She did not, I believe, breach any confidentiality, only that she countered a denial by Mr Mandelson. Your academic standing would have carried much weight in a crucial time for this organisation. When one accepts a position as patron of any organisation, it carries a high level of responsibility to that body and its members.
In so resigning, you have done a great disservice not only to the National Bullying Helpline but to those who experience daily bullying and harassment at work.
What “M A Cowan” is saying here is “I am Christine Pratt”.
First, she tries to deflect attention from the real “controversy”. Christine’s correspondence to anyone who has seen behind her flimsy mask of sanity is meant to make the recipient feel guilty about all the innocent and helpless folk who will be let down as a result of the recipient’s action. This inimitable style is evident in her “trustee’s” correspondence, and now in that of “M A Cowan”.
You are to be applauded with respect your decision to stand down as Patron of the National Bullying Helpline (NBH).
I can only imagine that Christine Pratt thought this breach of confidentiality was outweighed by the press attention it would bring to the organisation.
The NBH, a charity few had heard of until these recent ‘revelations’ about bullying at the heart of our government, will now get all Christine wished for – except I very much doubt it’ll be positive.
Dear Prof Cooper
It’s 25 years since you taught me as an undergrad at UMIST. You were an inspirational and passionate teacher – and have been a great role model to so many of us since.
I am absolutely appalled by the actions of Mrs Pratt – and having listened to her on the today programme I am even more appalled that she is running a national charity helpline with absolutely no regard to respecting the confidentiality of personal data. In my opinion she has shown herself to be wholly unfit for such a position. I hope she considers her position and resigns immediately.
You have done the right thing – I would expect nothing less.
Dear Professor Cooper
You were one of my lecturers at UMIST and I have the greatest respect for you.
I was bullied at work a couple of years ago and it was a terrifying experience – I didn’t have anyone to turn to because the bully in question had intimidated everyone including the Dean. If there had been someone for me to talk to then I would have expected nothing less than complete confidentiality – I would have been worried about the ramifications of speaking out.
Ms Pratt breached the confidentiality of the people who contacted the NBH. Did she not realise that there are only a limited number of people in the Prime Minister’s Office – each one will now face the finger of suspicion being pointed at them, rightly or wrongly, and possible dismissal (or a move) from their job.
Shame on Ms Pratt for her actions (I understand the reasoning but she only thought of herself rather than the people who come to her for help), and now to say that she will be approaching the PM’s Office about new allegations. (*rolls eyes*) She is putting a noose round the necks of the people who need her help.
Well done standing firm against this breach of confidentiality. As far as I am concerned you have done the right thing … the only thing that you could have done faced with this breach.
Always with respect
Su
Dear Cary,
well done on taking the stand you have today. You were right to do so.
As an HR professional who has set up bullying helplines, the highest degrees of confidentiality are of prime importance to those that take the big step of contacting a help line. It is only when they see things happen and that there is no come back on them do they start to trust the organisation.
Dear Cary,
Your supporters in the comments above sum up more than sufficiently my own appreciation for your stance, but I wanted to add my congratulations for putting up with people calling you Gary all day! Journalists can be so lazy…
I am disappointed to hear that you resigned from this really worthwhile charity.
They only disclosed the issues at Downing Street, AFTER No 10 denied that such a culture existed…when anyone aware of current politics knows full well that Bullying is an issue at No 10.
This charity has itself been bullied and your resignation was not well considered…unless there is an imminent quango with your name on it?
Thanks to those of you who have left comments supporting my decision to resign as patron of the helpline yesterday. I must emphasise that this decision was taken on principle and related to what I see as a breach of confidentiality on the part of the National Bullying helpline. Despite various suggestions, I must emphasise that I have no relationship with the Labour party and that the helpline was one of a number of charities that I support. In all cases I got involved with these charities because I believe in their missions. In this case I could not the support the specific process that was used in the name of the mission.
Thanks again for your interest and support
Cary
This surely has to be the end of a very worthwhile service.
Confidentiality? What about confidentiality for the boss? Once the organsiation is identified, then whether the allegations are justified or not, the mud sticks.
Well done for taking a principled stance.
Why on earth did you not resign earlier? Surely you spotted something wrong given the strained relations with every other anti-bullying group?
You know how bullying works! Come on Cary, this is a matter of damage limitation for you. You of all people realise that targets are known to have severe anxiety and trust issues.
Now we have the problem that previous callers are getting PTSD flashbacks. Doing nothing meant doing harm!
I admire your principles and you did exactly the right thing. I am so glad your actions were publicly documented. Not such bad press for you !
From a selfish point of view, I have to welcome your decision, and the publicity it received, because otherwise, I may not have encountered this great blog!