Bullying and Harassment

Vicky Gray made this Freedom of Information request to Oxford City Council

The request was 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: HUGHES Martin
Oxford City Council

4 December 2008

Dear Ms Gray,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry dated
December 4th. I shall provide a response within 20 working days as
required under the Act.

Cheers,

Martin

Martin Hughes
Project manager
Oxford City Council
St. Aldate's Chambers
St. Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1DS

Tel: 01865-252669

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Vicky Gray

6 December 2008

Dear Martin

Thanks for your prompt response. 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

Link to this

From: HUGHES Martin
Oxford City Council

15 December 2008

Dear Ms Gray,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information enquiry dated
December 4th. I have set out the answers to your questions below:

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.

278 employees took 9546.5 days off during 1st August 04 to 31st Oct 08
under the heading Stress/Depression/Mental Health. (This includes
self-certified absence.)

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

17

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

None

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

None

I hope this assists, but if you disagree with any part of this response
you are entitled to ask Oxford City Council for an internal review of
the decision(s) made. You may do this by writing to The Monitoring
Officer, Oxford City Council, The Town Hall, Blue Boar Street, Oxford,
OX1 4EY. If, after the result of an internal review, you are still not
satisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner to intervene on your
behalf. You may do this by writing to The Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Hughes
Project Manager & Acting Freedom of Information Officer
Oxford City Council
St. Aldate's Chambers
St. Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1DS

Tel: 01865-252669

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Vicky Gray

15 December 2008

Dear Mr Hughes

Thank you for your prompt response. How many people actually work
for Oxford City Council? When the figures were collated for
constructive dismissal, did this include the employee directly?
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, can you confirm
how many employees have claimed on these ground for either
constructive dismissal or one(or more) of the various
discrimination claim and/or under the Protection from Harassment
Act?

Please confirm how many employees have claimed constructive
dismissal within the same period 1st August 2004 and 31st October
2008 for bullying/harassment, unfair dismissal or one (or more) of
the various discrimination claims and/or under the Protection from
Harassment Act.

You said: NONE. Did this include the aforementioned?

Please confirm how many claims have been filed against the city
council at the Employment Tribunal within the same period for
bullying/harassment or one (or more) of the various discrimination
and/or under the Protection from Harassment Act.

You said: NONE. Did this include the aforementioned.

Thank you for your assistance and full co-operation

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

Yours sincerely

Vicky Gray

Link to this

From: HUGHES Martin
Oxford City Council

7 January 2009

Dear Ms Gray,
Thank you for your further request - I have set out the
answers below:

How many people actually work for Oxford City Council?

1190 Full-Time, 300 Part-Time

When the figures were collated for constructive dismissal, did this
include the employee directly?

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but please see the answer to the
questions below

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, can you confirm how many employees have claimed on
these ground for either constructive dismissal or one(or more) of the
various
discrimination claim and/or under the Protection from Harassment Act?
Please confirm how many employees have claimed constructive dismissal
within the same period 1st August 2004 and 31st October 2008 for
bullying/harassment, unfair dismissal or one (or more) of the various
discrimination claims and/or under the Protection from Harassment Act.

We have had 1 claim for constructive dismissal.

Please confirm how many claims have been filed against the city council
at the Employment Tribunal within the same period for
bullying/harassment or one (or more) of the various discrimination
and/or under the Protection from Harassment Act.

We have had 4 claims under the various discrimination/harassment laws.

I hope this assists, but if you disagree with any part of this response
you are entitled to ask Oxford City Council for an internal review of
the decision(s) made. You may do this by writing to The Monitoring
Officer, Oxford City Council, The Town Hall, Blue Boar Street, Oxford,
OX1 4EY. If, after the result of an internal review, you are still not
satisfied, you may ask the Information Commissioner to intervene on your
behalf. You may do this by writing to The Information Commissioner's
Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Hughes
Project Manager & Acting Freedom of Information Officer
Oxford City Council
St. Aldate's Chambers
St. Aldate's
Oxford
OX1 1DS

Tel: 01865-252669

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Vicky Gray

9 January 2009

Dear Martin

Thank you for your full co-operation and for being so helpful. Have
a lovely New Year.

Kind Regards

Vicky

Link to this

Sherine Thompson left an annotation (20 March 2009)

Hi Vicky,
I am an ex- Lambeth council Employee, who is currently in dispute with Lambeth Council, and have been forced to take out 3 employment Tribunal claims against them in relation to discrimination, victimisation, Harassment, bullying, failing to protect from harassment, unfair dismissal and unfair selection for redundancy, as well as failing to follow both their statutory duty to me as an employee, and their own policy and procedures.

It is interesting to see that like yourself, they are refusing to answer question I have requested under the FOI Act, and equally the SDA questionnaires.

I am currently representing myself, (but looking for someone willing to take on the case).

However, I am determined even if I don't get representation, that I will persevere with my case, as I intend to vindicate my name, and highlight the plight of females within such institutes.

I believe, lambeth Council as a Local Authority should be setting an example by proactively putting their equal opportunities policy into practice, and by treating their employees with dignity and respect, not covering up unlawful actions of senior officers, and being inconsistent in following their own policy and procedures.

Lambeth Council should be held accountable in demonstrating a consistent and principled approach to the concerns raised by distressed employees, especially when it relates to bullying and harassment, instead of being ignorant to the fact that it is prevalent within the council, and victimising the offended employing for invoking their rights to complain about such unlawful actions, to the point of even colluding with the perpetuators as in my case.

I intend to rise to the challenge, and campaign for better protection, support and dignity rights, for individuals who have experienced such adverse and demoralizing treatment within their work place, and therefore, would like to be kept updated on your case and others.

I'm back at the tribunal on Tuesday 24th March 2009, and so i will keep you posted on my progress.

Wishing you all the very best.

Regards,
Sherine Thompson

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Oxford City Council only: