Members who use the social networking website Facebook may already have seen the pop-up alert about their privacy settings. However, the Teachers’ Support Network is advising users to review what aspects of their profile are accessible by Google and other search engines.
The Network says that “Teachers, like anyone else, can derive enjoyment from using social networks, but may want to optimise their profiles to keep students, colleagues and supervisors from seeing everything.”
Disabled people and those with long term ill-health are facing higher levels of hostile and negative treatment in the workplace according to new research published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
In a survey of nearly 4000 workers, the British Workplace Behaviour Survey 2008, conducted by Cardiff University and the University of Glamorgan, found employees with a disability or long-term illness reported they were more likely to have negative experiences at work. These experiences range from low expectations of workers, bullying and humiliation to, in some cases, physical violence. Findings included:
Ahead of the upcoming Equality Bill, the Commission will ask whether existing equality laws provide clear enough protection to disabled individuals at risk of bullying and harassment at work, for example, in relation to ill-treatment by clients or customers.
As the Government moves to introduce welfare reforms designed to enable more disabled people to enter work, the Commission hopes the issues raised in today’s report will be addressed.
Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “In these difficult economic times we must do all we can to help as many people as possible to stay in work. If disabled people and those with long-term ill health are more likely to experience hostile and negative treatment at work, we risk losing both their talent and their economic contribution.
“Disabled people and those with long term ill-health should be supported to get into, or back into, work, but they’ll only stay in work if they are treated with dignity and respect.”
A copy of the research report can be downloaded from the EHRC website.
In case members are not aware, the National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) has produced new Anti-Bullying Guidance. Although aimed at schools it is likley to be of interest to a wider audience. A copy of the guidance can be downloaded from the NHSP wesite.
Three and a half million people (14 per cent or one in seven of the workforce) say they have been bullied in their current job according to a YouGov poll for the TUC published today (Friday). 21 per cent (one in five) say that bullying is an issue where they work.
Bullying is more likely in the public sector where 19 per cent say they have been bullied compared to 12 per cent in the private sector and eight per cent in the voluntary sector.
Surprisingly people in professional and associate professional jobs are the most likely to be bullied (16 per cent). This may reflect the large number of professional and associate professional jobs in the public sector such teaching, and across the NHS.
Men are more likely to be bullied (16 per cent) than women (12 per cent). 45-54 year olds (19 per cent), followed by 35-44 year olds (17 per cent) are the age groups most likely to be bullied. 25-34 year olds are the least bullied (8 per cent).
The East Midlands workforce is the most bullied at 18 per cent, with the East of England the least (eight per cent).
It is not the low paid who are most likely to say they are bullied. Those earning less than £20,000 report much less bullying than those earning between £20,000 and £60,000. (17 per cent). But among those earning above £60,000 only seven per cent say they are bullied.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘This level of bullying at work is completely unacceptable. It is particularly disturbing that more people complain of bullying in the public sector. Every organisation needs to have an anti-bullying policy, and every manager should ensure that there is zero-tolerance of bullying either by line managers or workmates.’
Recognition and awareness of workplace bullying is essential if it is to be legitimately challenged. The TUC fully supports and endorses the work of the Andrea Adams Trust, who run a national annual campaign to raise awareness of the issue, culminating in Ban Bullying at Work Day held on 7 November.
Andrea Adams Trust Chief Executive Lyn Witheridge said: ‘We encourage every employer to become involved and use this opportunity to participate in the wide array of activities provided by the Ban Bullying at Work Day campaign.’
Nearly half (46 per cent) of teachers have seen schoolchildren bullied or excluded by their peers for not owning clothes or goods that are branded, a new poll has revealed.
Conducted by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the survey of 380 support staff, teachers and lecturers found that 85 per cent believe possessing fashionable clothes and branded goods is important to their pupils.
General secretary of ATL Dr Mary Bousted said there is huge pressure on youngsters to ‘fit in’.
“Schools and colleges should be places where all children feel equal, but it is virtually impossible for schools to protect their pupils from the harsher aspects of these commercial influences,”she remarked.
As more schools look towards commercial sponsors to provide much needed equipment, Dr Bousted added that this pressure could “intensify”. (Taken from the ATL website).
