Bullying problem just overstated

Jan 20 2008 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

I DON’T normally take much notice of surveys but a recent one from the Samaritans caught my eye.

Almost one in three workers in the North East are bullied on a weekly or daily basis. Apparently.

I have no doubt that bullying by bosses and fellow workers happens. It’s wrong and it should be stopped.

But you have to wonder if those who took part in the survey are not over-egging the pudding.

In these days, accusations of bullying seem to be competing with stress as an excuse not to do the job you’re paid for.

Someone not very nice to you? Run off to human resources, spend a couple of hours in counselling, and go home early.

Even the Samaritans should be able to tell the difference between genuine bullying and politically correct nonsense. There are, in other words, occasions when it is right to pass by on the other side.

Launch a campaign, by all means, but ensure frivolous complaints are weeded out from the genuine ones.

Unfortunately, it’s easy to con do-gooders, and they don’t come more do-gooding than the Samaritans.

They want us all to sit down and talk about it on February 1.

That’s the date, believe it or not, of Stress Down Day, when we should take the opportunity to discuss problems before they escalate.

Sounds like an excuse for a extended coffee break to me.

I look forward to the time when someone launches a Get On With It day when we do our jobs to the best of our ability, meeting expectations, perhaps exceeding expectations, but not making false accusations of bullying in the workplace.