*Update 20.11.2024 the question of how to distinguish between bullying and conflict has been brought up a couple of times lately so we link to an explanation here.* Original article: Our colleagues in the Harassment Watch Network (HWN) have published yet another study on bullying at the Commission, this time a collection of personal stories recounting the toxic situations lived and endured by our co-workers, our team mates, our collaborators. As mentioned in our recent event on this topic: we’d like to see the real-life examples presented in My Commission Calvary: Testimonies of harassment at the European Commission put through the forthcoming new anti-harassment framework (decision, action plan and guide, 25.10.2022 summary) to ensure it deals with them better than the current decision C(2006) 1624/3, because if the new decision is not significantly better than the 2006 edition, what is the point?
We want to see any new anti-harassment decision thoroughly tested with a representative selection of possible scenarios: you should be protected from bullying and harassment whether you’re a trainee, a probationer or a contract agent (CA) close to the end of your first contract: the process should be robust, transparent and fit for purpose. We spend a huge part of our lives working, we should not have to do it in a harmful environment and in fear.
We remind you of the 2021 Survey on diversity, inclusion and respect at the workplace results showing very low levels of trust in the current system and high levels of harassment behaviours witnessed and experienced. Even our most recent Blue Book trainees Survey diversity & inclusion in the Blue Book observed and reported discrimination. These levels are far higher than the 2-5% of staff being involved in conflict at any one time (General activity report of the Mediation Service 2015, p. 11, Point 10).
How many of these risk factors can you spot at the Commission:
‘For harassment, risk factors include inequity of pay, previous perpetrators not being disciplined, […] lack of trust in reporting to HR and managers, and more. If one or more of these risk factors are present, harassment is more likely….For workplace bullying, risk factors include stressful environments like crazy deadlines, unmanageable workloads, internal competition, or constant change. Unclear roles and responsibilities, a workforce full of long-time employees, highly intelligent staff such as lawyers or engineers, bureaucracy and rule-oriented cultures, and previous perpetrators not being disciplined. Again, if one or more of these risk factors are present, bullying is more likely.’ Catherine Marrice, Handling Workplace Bullying (EU learn via LinkedIn Learning platform).
Unfortunately, the Commission is not alone among the EU institutions in having an out-of-date system for dealing with harassment and unequal access to it. The European Parliament already set out its instructions for what needed to change across all EU institutions in December 2021.
Generation 2004 welcomes the increased offer of training (e.g. bystander training or mental health first aid) but recognises that there is much more to be done.
Well done to HR for addressing this long-overdue issue, we recommend that you update the HR strategy website to show not just the achievements of the past but also the planning for the future: let staff see and contribute to what you are doing!
Contribute to the discussion on Have Your Say and read the other HWN publications:
- 2020, Deficiencies of the anti-harassment policy of the European Commission and elements of a true reform: Working papers of the Harassment Watch Network, Volume 1
- 2021, Abuse of the annual appraisal exercise (“CDR”) in the European Commission as tool of psychological harassment with recommendations how to prevent this and better protect the targetted colleagues: second analytical paper
- 2021, Comments of the Harassment Watch Network on the draft HR strategy
- 2022, Expectations of the Harassment Watch Network with regard to a new Commission Anti-harassment Decision
- 2022, My Commission Calvary: Testimonies of harassment at the European Commission
For any questions do not hesitate to get in touch or leave a comment below.
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Older updates
*Update 25.04.2023 thanks to the colleague who brought this article on workplace bullying at the Court to our attention: Chroniques de la Cour, Intouchables.*
*Update 09.03.2023 Spain (Cantabria) has recognised suicide as a workplace accident, while this is not a first, it is rare*
*18.01.2023 thanks to the colleague who drew our attention to a new tool available (in French only) in Belgium.*
