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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/25/stop-whitehall-bullying-civil-service-unions-tell-ministers-abuse
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| Stop Whitehall bullying, civil service unions tell ministers | Stop Whitehall bullying, civil service unions tell ministers |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Whitehall civil servants who work for government ministers are demanding urgent changes to complaints procedures to protect them from what many say is a rise in aggressive and bullying behaviour by bosses. | Whitehall civil servants who work for government ministers are demanding urgent changes to complaints procedures to protect them from what many say is a rise in aggressive and bullying behaviour by bosses. |
| Following a string of cases in which ministers have clashed with their officials and allegedly sought to blame them for policy failings or other problems, the three main unions representing Whitehall civil servants have launched a joint campaign calling for clear and transparent systems to stamp out harassment by ministers, and stop it being covered up. | Following a string of cases in which ministers have clashed with their officials and allegedly sought to blame them for policy failings or other problems, the three main unions representing Whitehall civil servants have launched a joint campaign calling for clear and transparent systems to stamp out harassment by ministers, and stop it being covered up. |
| Only last week, it emerged that unions – worried that many civil servants are quitting – had written to the top official in the business department, Alex Chisholm, to raise concerns over claims that the energy minister, Claire Perry, had sworn and screamed at her civil servants. Incidents reported to the unions allegedly included Perry texting one civil servant to say “Fuck off” and writing “What’s this shit?” on a memo produced by her staff. Perry has reportedly declined to comment on the allegations. Whitehall sources say relations between the civil service and ministers have become more fractious recently, particularly after extra pressures caused by Brexit. Departments have found themselves struggling with increased workloads and distracted from their normal duties by the challenges of preparing for 29 March next year, when the UK is due to leave the EU. | Only last week, it emerged that unions – worried that many civil servants are quitting – had written to the top official in the business department, Alex Chisholm, to raise concerns over claims that the energy minister, Claire Perry, had sworn and screamed at her civil servants. Incidents reported to the unions allegedly included Perry texting one civil servant to say “Fuck off” and writing “What’s this shit?” on a memo produced by her staff. Perry has reportedly declined to comment on the allegations. Whitehall sources say relations between the civil service and ministers have become more fractious recently, particularly after extra pressures caused by Brexit. Departments have found themselves struggling with increased workloads and distracted from their normal duties by the challenges of preparing for 29 March next year, when the UK is due to leave the EU. |
| The Observer has been told by a senior Tory source close to Downing Street that two ministers who have served recently in Theresa May’s cabinet were involved while in government in “internal procedures” resulting from serious complaints by their civil servants. In both cases, though the complaints reached the Cabinet Office, the claims were never made public and no action was taken. | The Observer has been told by a senior Tory source close to Downing Street that two ministers who have served recently in Theresa May’s cabinet were involved while in government in “internal procedures” resulting from serious complaints by their civil servants. In both cases, though the complaints reached the Cabinet Office, the claims were never made public and no action was taken. |
| In other cases, Steve Baker, when a Brexit minister, was forced to apologise after publicly criticising civil servants. Asked if he could name a single civil service forecast “leaked or otherwise” that had been proved accurate, he responded: “No ... I’m not able to name an accurate forecast, and I think they are always wrong, and wrong for good reasons. My longstanding views on the flaws in the epistemology of the social sciences and consequences for econometrics are long set out.” | In other cases, Steve Baker, when a Brexit minister, was forced to apologise after publicly criticising civil servants. Asked if he could name a single civil service forecast “leaked or otherwise” that had been proved accurate, he responded: “No ... I’m not able to name an accurate forecast, and I think they are always wrong, and wrong for good reasons. My longstanding views on the flaws in the epistemology of the social sciences and consequences for econometrics are long set out.” |
| Michael Gove, the environment secretary, has reportedly criticised civil servants as lazy on many occasions, and, when education secretary, dismissed them as “the blob”. | Michael Gove, the environment secretary, has reportedly criticised civil servants as lazy on many occasions, and, when education secretary, dismissed them as “the blob”. |
| Civil servants can take a complaint to the permanent secretary of their department or ask officials in the Cabinet Office to investigate. But the unions say there is no transparency in the system, and it allows prime ministers and ministers to hush cases up. Also they say the system is so opaque,that many civil servants either do not know how to complain and so suffer in silence, drop their complaints, fearing their careers will be damaged, or leave for another job. | Civil servants can take a complaint to the permanent secretary of their department or ask officials in the Cabinet Office to investigate. But the unions say there is no transparency in the system, and it allows prime ministers and ministers to hush cases up. Also they say the system is so opaque,that many civil servants either do not know how to complain and so suffer in silence, drop their complaints, fearing their careers will be damaged, or leave for another job. |
| Now the FDA, which represents senior civil servants, the Public and Commercial Services Union, and Prospect, are holding joint talks with civil service leaders demanding a properly structured, transparent and independent complaints system. | Now the FDA, which represents senior civil servants, the Public and Commercial Services Union, and Prospect, are holding joint talks with civil service leaders demanding a properly structured, transparent and independent complaints system. |
| They want it to be given as much priority as changes that are being pushed through for officials working in the House of Commons, since harassment claims there broke last year. | They want it to be given as much priority as changes that are being pushed through for officials working in the House of Commons, since harassment claims there broke last year. |
| Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary of the FDA, said: “The process for complaints against ministers [should] be more transparent so that all civil servants are aware of how they can put in a complaint against a minister. Importantly, there needs to be independence and transparency when determining sanctions, which is currently left in the hands of the prime minister. | Amy Leversidge, assistant general secretary of the FDA, said: “The process for complaints against ministers [should] be more transparent so that all civil servants are aware of how they can put in a complaint against a minister. Importantly, there needs to be independence and transparency when determining sanctions, which is currently left in the hands of the prime minister. |
| “Only when staff know how to put in a complaint and have the trust and confidence that it will be dealt with fairly will they use the system. We’ve seen in Scottish government and in the House of Commons they have tried to make processes more independent and transparent. There is more work still to be done in both those areas but it is clear they are far more advanced than in Whitehall. We have civil servants tell us about the bullying, harassment and sexual harassment they have experienced at work. Clearly this can be very distressing and upsetting, and when there is a minister involved there is also a great deal of fear that their career will be negatively affected. | “Only when staff know how to put in a complaint and have the trust and confidence that it will be dealt with fairly will they use the system. We’ve seen in Scottish government and in the House of Commons they have tried to make processes more independent and transparent. There is more work still to be done in both those areas but it is clear they are far more advanced than in Whitehall. We have civil servants tell us about the bullying, harassment and sexual harassment they have experienced at work. Clearly this can be very distressing and upsetting, and when there is a minister involved there is also a great deal of fear that their career will be negatively affected. |
| “What many civil servants find equally upsetting is inappropriate responses to their complaint because of inadequate processes. The government should make a stand and bring in a transparent and independent process so that bullying, harassment and sexual harassment will not be tolerated in Whitehall. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at work, especially in the heart of government.”A government spokesperson said: “Within the civil service, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that all staff are treated with dignity and respect, by everyone they come into contact with, irrespective of seniority or position.” | “What many civil servants find equally upsetting is inappropriate responses to their complaint because of inadequate processes. The government should make a stand and bring in a transparent and independent process so that bullying, harassment and sexual harassment will not be tolerated in Whitehall. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at work, especially in the heart of government.”A government spokesperson said: “Within the civil service, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that all staff are treated with dignity and respect, by everyone they come into contact with, irrespective of seniority or position.” |
| Garry Graham, Prospect’s deputy general secretary, said it had welcomed the government’s amendments to the ministerial code to clamp down on bullying. But he added: “Changes to the code are ineffectual without processes to ensure staff, where they have concerns, have routes via which those concerns can be raised, investigated and appropriate sanctions applied. Progress on bringing in those processes has been glacial. We have deep concerns that blockages to progress are a result of political expediency. The changes we are seeking reflect the changes recommended by Dame Laura Cox in her report on the House of Commons, and it is vital that ministers are held to account for how they interact and engage with civil servants.” | Garry Graham, Prospect’s deputy general secretary, said it had welcomed the government’s amendments to the ministerial code to clamp down on bullying. But he added: “Changes to the code are ineffectual without processes to ensure staff, where they have concerns, have routes via which those concerns can be raised, investigated and appropriate sanctions applied. Progress on bringing in those processes has been glacial. We have deep concerns that blockages to progress are a result of political expediency. The changes we are seeking reflect the changes recommended by Dame Laura Cox in her report on the House of Commons, and it is vital that ministers are held to account for how they interact and engage with civil servants.” |
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