Parliamentary Services boss slams CPSU, former workers for 'false evidence' over bullying claims

[Neferti]

Parliamentary Services boss slams CPSU, former workers for 'false evidence' over bullying claims

The head of the Department of Parliamentary Services has accused the main public sector union of providing false evidence to senators and relying on the accounts of disgruntled employees who played victims following allegations bullying and harassment was rife within the workplace.

Department secretary Rob Stefanic instead told senators workplace morale had significantly improved for Parliament House staff, though there was still "room for improvement", in a Senate committee hearing held on Friday.

He also addressed allegations by the Community and Public Sector Union that staff had felt intimidated and bullied by senior management, claiming they were "simply not accurate" - a point the union has defended against.

"Like every organisation, we have a marginal cohort of staff that behave inconsistent with the code of conduct and values," Mr Stefanic said in his opening statement on Friday morning.

"Misconduct in various cases was proven to be dishonest, disrespectful, bullying, threatening, and even unlawful.

"This cohort dishonestly recast themselves as victims and whistleblowers, and they are not concerned to give false evidence to a parliamentary committee."

Survey data included in the union's submission to the committee showed three-quarters of department staff who responded had experienced bullying within the workplace.

Liberal senator James Paterson questioned the validity of the surveys the union had conducted, adding the union's survey sample size was not large enough to be reliable.

He added the union's evidence appeared to be "false" and would need to be scrutinised further.

Union deputy secretary Beth Vincent-Pietsch hit back at the claims, noting the secretary had himself conceded workplace culture needed further improvements.

"The two DPS security surveys in the CPSU submissions had a participation rate of 20-25 per cent," Ms Vincent-Pietsch told The Canberra Times on Tuesday following Senator Paterson's accusations.

"While that is not all staff, it is a significant portion that even if the only people who are concerned [about], or experiencing toxic workplace culture, are the ones doing our survey that would still be a significant problem.

"Given the seriousness of the concerns raised, any staff expressing these concerns should be listened to [and] not dismissed by political grandstanding by Liberal senators."

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/ ... /?cs=14329

[sprintcyclist]

bullying is more common in public jobs than private.

with the adversarial, 'win at all costs' mentality, it is unavoidable

[Aussie]

bullying is more common in public jobs than private.

with the adversarial, 'win at all costs' mentality, it is unavoidable

How do you know that?

[Neferti]

bullying is more common in public jobs than private.

with the adversarial, 'win at all costs' mentality, it is unavoidable

I worked in the Commonwealth Public Service for 10 years and never got bullied. They wouldn't have dared!