Bullying and Harassment

Vicky Gray made this Freedom of Information request to Blackpool Borough Council

The request was partially successful.

From: Vicky Gray

4 December 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

I would like to know how many employees of the city council have
been absent from work due to either stress, anxiety, depression or
any combination of those ailments between 1st August 2004 and 31st
October 2008.

Please also confirm how many complaints of bullying have been made
by employees of the council against managers or colleagues during
the same period.

Please confirm how many employees have claimed constructive
dismissal within the same period for bullying/harassment.

Please confirm how many claims have been filed against the city
council at the Employment Tribunal within the same period for
bullying/harassment.

I would ask that you remember the statutory duty imposed upon
public authorities by virtue of Section 16 of the Freedom of
Information Act to provide advice and assistance to requesters. If
for any reason you are leaning toward rejecting any part of this
request or if you plan to argue that it is unmanageable or
unanswerable in any way then I would expect you to contact me
promptly to find ways to answer this request to our mutual
satisfaction.

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

Link to this

From: Customer First
Blackpool Borough Council

5 December 2008

Dear Madam,

Thank you for your email dated 4 decemdber 2008.

So that we can deal with your enquiry, your email has been sent to: -

Department: Personnel

This Department will now deal with your enquiry.

If you have any further queries, please contact Customer First by:-

Email [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
Telephone 01253 477477
Facsimile 01253 478808
Web site www.blackpool.gov.uk

Or visit the Customer First Centre on Corporation Street Blackpool FY1 1NA.

We are open:-
Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm for Face to Face enquiries
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for telephone enquiries on 01253 477477.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm for Face to Face and Telephone enquiries

Please note our busiest times are Mondays and Fridays and over lunchtime (12pm to 2pm).

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From: Vicky Gray

6 December 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

I would also clarify when I mentioned constructive dismissal, I was
referring to the employee directly, similar point about bullying
and harassment complaints, there is no Employment Tribunal claim
called "bullying and harassment". This will usually form part of a
claim for unfair dismissal or one (or more) of the various
discrimination claim and/or under the Protection from Harassment
Act. Could you provide the information on the aforementioned.

Could you provide the information in electronic format via this
website.

Thank you for your full co-operation

Yours Sincerely

Vicky Gray

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From: Vicky Gray

8 January 2009

Dear Customer First

You have not replied to my FOI request within the 20 working days
you are allowed by law.

Kindly address yourselves to this matter immediately and explain
your lack of response.

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

Link to this

From: Customer First
Blackpool Borough Council

9 January 2009

Dear Ms Gray,

Thank you for your email dated 08/01/09.

I apologise for the fact that you have not received a reply to your earlier e-mail dated 04/12/08 which was forwarded to our Human Resources Department on 05/12/08.

So that we can deal with your enquiry, your email(together with a copy of your original e-mail dated 04/12/08) has been sent to: -

Department:Freedom of Information Officer (Corporate advice and ICT)
Telephone Number:01253 477477
Email Address:[Blackpool Borough Council request email]

This Officer will now deal with your enquiry urgently.

If you have any further queries, please contact Customer First by:-

Email [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
Telephone 01253 477477
Facsimile 01253 478808
Web site www.blackpool.gov.uk

Or visit the Customer First Centre on Corporation Street Blackpool FY1 1NA.

We are open:-
Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm for Face to Face enquiries
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for telephone enquiries on 01253 477477.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm for Face to Face and Telephone enquiries

Please note our busiest times are Mondays and Fridays and over lunchtime (12pm to 2pm).

Regards, Customer First .
Customer First, Blackpool Council
* Email: [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
* Phone: 01253 477477
* Fax: 01253 478808
* Web: www.blackpool.gov.uk

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From: Vicky Gray

14 September 2009

Dear Sir or Madam

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I originally requested the information on the 4 December 2008. It
is now 14 September 2009 please explain why you are failing to
adhere to the procedures of the Freedom of Information Act? Is it
perhaps because you have meticulously collated the correct
information that I requested?

I am writing to request an internal review of Blackpool Borough
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Bullying and Harassment'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bu...

I look forward to hearing your response to the above issues I have
raised.

Yours faithfully

Vicky Gray

Link to this

From: Customer First
Blackpool Borough Council

15 September 2009

Dear Vicky Gray

Thank you for your email dated...14 September 2009

So that we can deal with your enquiry, your email has been sent to: -

Department: Management Information Team

This Department will now deal with your enquiry.

If you have any further queries, please contact Customer First by:-

Email [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
Telephone 01253 477477
Facsimile 01253 478808
Web site www.blackpool.gov.uk

Or visit the Customer First Centre on Corporation Street Blackpool FY1
1NA.

We are open:-
Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm for Face to Face enquiries
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for telephone enquiries on 01253 477477.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm for Face to Face and Telephone enquiries

Please note our busiest times are Mondays and Fridays and over lunchtime
(12pm to 2pm).

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Link to this

From: Vicky Gray

15 September 2009

Dear Customer First

Thank you for your prompt response. This was the original request I
submitted on the 4 December 2008. I do hope I am not going to have
to wait a further 10 months for the correct information. After all
as council you do have legal procedures to adhere to.

I would like to know how many employees of the city council have
been absent from work due to either stress, anxiety, depression or
any combination of those ailments between 1st August 2004 and 31st
October 2008.

Please also confirm how many complaints of bullying have been made
by employees of the council against managers or colleagues during
the same period.

Please confirm how many employees have claimed constructive
dismissal within the same period for bullying/harassment.

Please confirm how many claims have been filed against the city
council at the Employment Tribunal within the same period for
bullying/harassment.

I would ask that you remember the statutory duty imposed upon
public authorities by virtue of Section 16 of the Freedom of
Information Act to provide advice and assistance to requesters. If
for any reason you are leaning toward rejecting any part of this
request or if you plan to argue that it is unmanageable or
unanswerable in any way then I would expect you to contact me
promptly to find ways to answer this request to our mutual
satisfaction.
I would also clarify when I mentioned constructive dismissal, I was
referring to the employee directly, similar point about bullying
and harassment complaints, there is no Employment Tribunal claim
called "bullying and harassment". This will usually form part of a
claim for unfair dismissal or one (or more) of the various
discrimination claim and/or under the Protection from Harassment
Act. Could you provide the information on the aforementioned.

Could you provide the information in electronic format via this
website.

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

Link to this

From: Customer First
Blackpool Borough Council

16 September 2009

Dear Ms Gray,

Thank you for your email dated 15 September 2009.

So that we can deal with your enquiry, your email has been sent to the
Freedom of Information Officer.

This person will now deal with your enquiry.

If you have any further queries, please contact Customer First by:-

Email [Blackpool Borough Council request email]
Telephone 01253 477477
Facsimile 01253 478808
Web site www.blackpool.gov.uk

Or visit the Customer First Centre on Corporation Street Blackpool FY1
1NA.

We are open:-
Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm for Face to Face enquiries
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for telephone enquiries on 01253 477477.
Saturdays 9am to 2pm for Face to Face and Telephone enquiries

Please note our busiest times are Mondays and Fridays and over lunchtime
(12pm to 2pm).

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From: Debbie Botham
Blackpool Borough Council

13 October 2009

Dear Vicky

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested in your email of below.

Q1 I would like to know how many employees of the city council have been
absent from work due to either stress, anxiety, depression or any
combination of those ailments between 1st August 2004 and 31st October
2008.

A1 2547 employees had absences logged against the absence code for STRESS,
DEPRESSION, ANXIETY for the period 1^st August 2004 to 31^st October 2008.

Q2 Please also confirm how many complaints of bullying have been made by
employees of the council against managers or colleagues during the same
period.

A2 The Council procedure for dealing with Bullying & Harassment in the
workplace was only introduced in December 06.

Since this date to 31/10/2008 there have been 25 formal Dignity at Work
Cases.

Q3 Please confirm how many employees have claimed constructive dismissal
within the same period for bullying/harassment.

A3 Unfortunately our records do not indicate what grounds the claims for
Constructive Dismissal are based on and so I am unable to provide an
answer to this question.

Q4 Please confirm how many claims have been filed against the city council
at the Employment Tribunal within the same period for bullying/harassment.

A4 We have been able to identify two employment tribunal cases filed on
the grounds of bullying/harassment.

If you have a complaint about the handling of your request you may ask for
an internal review and you should submit this in writing to: Council
Complaint, Blackpool Council, PO Box 50, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NA.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the review, you have the right to
apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. You can
contact the Information Commissioner at: Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF,
([1]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk).

If you have any queries about this letter you can contact me, or write to:
FOI, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NA, or email us at
[2][Blackpool Borough Council request email]. Please remember to quote your
reference number when you contact us.

Yours sincerely

Debbie Botham

HR Systems & Information Officer

Ext 7242

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From: Vicky Gray

4 November 2009

Dear Debbie Botham

Thank you for providing the correct information.

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Blackpool Borough Council only: