« Champagne | Main | Family »
December 16, 2006
Bullying in government departments
A few days ago I mused about the dangers of a very large joined up national and local government in which employees are afraid of disagreeing with their managers.
In my work in councils and in central government I have seen this taking place and I have seen a number of people moved or bullied out of their jobs. In my case it has mainly been because they were trying to identify with the needs of the taxpayers rather than the administrators and, to some degree, holding to that view in the face of opposition both from their managers and their peers.
People outside in ordinary work find this hard to believe- they think it is unlikely to be true. So I recommend this article in a Scottish Newspaper. Believe me, if you will, this is a common problem- but it will be very hard to identify, because no one, obviously, wants to say where it takes place.
In many ways it is the behaviour of these bullies and small tyrants that has fuelled my desire to get to the bottom of the problems of the public library service. It is a culture that needs to be exposed.
I applaud the Accounts Commission of Scotland for the brave stand they took in the matter of this council. I would like to see the Audit Commission, the English equivalent, explore the same subject and a Parliamentary Commission explore the activities of quangoes and Departments of Central Government. Too much happens which is wrong and evasive. We all laugh and say "Yes, Minister" was an accurate and funny portrayal of Government life-- but actually it was describing deceit of huge proportions of which we should be deeply suspicious.
I mention British Aerospace in passing and, of course, the overriding need for intergovernmental cooperation in times of concern for national security. Overriding what?
Posted by Tim Coates at December 16, 2006 9:18 AM