1. Adult Bullying in the School Situation Barra Ó Dochartaigh (Presenter) Bríghid Cahalane (Chair)

2. What is Bullying?  An abuse of power  Opportunistic predation on vulnerability  An accumulation of many small incidents over a period of time  Forms include overwork, underwork, exclusion, discrimination, trivialization of contribution, assault, mobbing, cyberbullying

3. Definition of Bullying “Persistent, offensive, abusive, intimidating or insulting behaviour, abuse of power or unfair penal sanctions which makes the recipient feel upset, threatened, humiliated or vulnerable, which undermines their self-confidence and which may cause them to suffer stress.” Amicus-MSF trade union Amicus-MSF trade union

4. Bullying in Schools Teacher Managers Other Staff ParentsPupils Other Teachers

5. Understanding Bullies  “All cruelty springs from weakness” Seneca (4 BC – 65 AD)  Purpose is to hide own inadequacy  Aggressive but intelligent individual who expresses their violence psychologically  1 in 30 fit the behaviour profile  Good managers manage, bad managers bully

6. Targeting the Best  Anyone can be a target, anything can be a trigger  Target exhibits qualities lacking in bully  Bullies target intelligent, honest, creative, competent, diligent, loyal, honourable, trusting, tolerant, self-assured people  Bully uses these qualities to their own advantage

7. The Bully at Work  Obsessive, compulsive and manipulative  Inconsistent and impulsive  Recruits henchmen and keeps them close  Controls information and resources  Favours some, shuns other  Moves from one target to the next

8. How to spot a bully  Sickness absence / staff turnover  Total breakdown in communication  Stress breakdowns/death in service  Early and/or ill-health retirements  Frequent use of disciplinary procedures  Grievances / legal proceedings initiated  Frequent suspensions and dismissals

9. Effects on Health  Constant high levels of stress and anxiety  Poor concentration, indecisiveness  Frequent illness (e.g. colds, flus, etc.)  Insomnia  Tiredness, exhaustion, constant fatigue  Uncharacteristic irritability and angry outbursts  Forgetfulness, especially with trivial day-to-day matters  Low self-esteem / motivation, shattered self-confidence  Hypervigilance and hypersensitivity  Sweating, trembling, tearfulness, panic attacks  Reactive Depression, suicidal thoughts  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

10. Are you being bullied?

11. Why don’t they fight back?  Two stages: control and elimination  Transition occurs when target reacts  Climate of dysfunction and fear  Target disempowered through isolation, exclusion and manipulation  Artificially high levels of shame, fear, embarrassment and guilt  Fear of loss of job/income, no reference  “Why me?”

12. Grievance Procedures & PTSD  Bullying is the psychological and emotional equivalent of rape and leads to PTSD  Bully usually handles grievance  Bully has lots of manager friends  Bullies lie, cheat and deceive  Bully ensures process drags out  Bully/employer limit union representation

13. Bystanders and Bullying  “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it” Martin Luther King (1929 - 1968)  Implicit or explicit threats made by bully  Fear of reprisal  Denial is everywhere  Own problems, vulnerabilities  Don’t know how to respond

14. Bullying and Management  Bullies abdicate responsibility  Bullies are amoral  Bullies plagiarize, take all the credit  Bullies promote their own, denigrate others  Bullies are behaviourally immature  Bullies are divisive and manipulative

15. No managers here...

16. www.bullyonline.com Tim Field (1952-2006) Founder, Bully OnLine “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, bully” Those who can’t, bully”

17. Carpe Diem! www.bullyonline.org (UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line website). www.bullyonline.org (UK National Workplace Bullying Advice Line website). Field, F. (1996) Bully in Sight: How to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying. Success Unlimited. Field, F. (1996) Bully in Sight: How to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying. Success Unlimited. Kinchin, D. (2004) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Invisible Injury. Success Unlimited. Kinchin, D. (2004) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Invisible Injury. Success Unlimited. Namie, G. & Namie, R. (2003) The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job, 2 nd edition. Sourcebooks, Inc. Namie, G. & Namie, R. (2003) The Bully at Work: What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job, 2 nd edition. Sourcebooks, Inc.