Achi news desk-
Most of the cases relate to bullying, with eight complaints of sexual harassment and eight complaints of harassment currently being investigated.
The NIU only handles the most serious bullying-related complaints after all other attempts at resolution have failed.
Investigations have been launched under the HSE’s Respect at Work policy, which promises to protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees.
Data obtained by Independent Sunday Show The investigation unit has opened seven investigations into bullying so far this year. It opened 27 investigations last year and 38 in 2022.
It is estimated that the data represents a small portion of the complaints submitted throughout the organization
The number of harassment and sexual harassment investigations launched last year and in 2022 is in the low single digits – the exact number has not been disclosed by the HSE to protect the identity of the complainants.
Of 33 complaints submitted to NIU that have been closed since January 2022, fewer than five have been upheld and 21 have not progressed.
According to industry sources, the figures published today represent a small portion of the complaints submitted throughout the organization.
The Irish Medical Association previously said that 50% of its survey members had experienced bullying at some point in their careers.
The former head of transformation at the HSE, Professor Martin Curley, claimed after he left the organization last year that bullying was a recognized problem in the health service.
“It happens everywhere, but in corporate environments it gets wiped out immediately,” he said.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (Inmo) last year called for the Health and Safety Executive to be recruited to investigate workplace bullying at the HSE.
The team said they were stressed and nearing burnout
The union also called for mandatory training in the HSE’s Dignity at Work policy to combat bullying.
Complaints about bullying were also featured in a cultural survey conducted among staff at one of Ireland’s largest hospitals, as reported by Irish Examiner in March.
The survey, limited to one ward at University Hospital Cork, reported that staff said they were stressed and approaching burnout and that there was an “aggressive” and “shouting” communication style by some staff.
The HSE said that workplace bullying is a “priority concern” to ensure the dignity, wellbeing and safety of employees and that it encourages staff to report it.
Respect at work aims to prevent bullying from occurring by ensuring staff are treated with dignity and respect.
“This policy is designed to prevent bullying and protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees,” the HSE said.
“We take any allegation of bullying and/or harassment very seriously. When complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment occur, they are handled locally. Our policy is to ensure that all parties are treated with fairness, sensitivity, respect and confidentiality.
“Early intervention is a feature of the dignity at work policy. Not all complaints progress to formal investigation. Local service managers have a role in resolving complaints informally and our mediation services manage to resolve the majority of complaints referred to them.
“These interventions reduce the number of complaints that are formally investigated.”
