How do we define leadership? How do we steer through the troubled waters of workplace bullying? Perhaps our organization needs help to FIND OUR VOICE to create a respectful workplace for all employees.
“Dr. Greg Passey, who specializes in treating first responders who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, says less than a month after the public apology in October, two senior Mounties paid him a visit to discuss his medical recommendation that the force must settle lawsuits with two of his patients before they can return to work. Rather than settle, the RCMP sent the women their final dismissal papers last week. “You have this big public apology and about a month later the abuse of power continues, the harassment continues,” Passey said. ”
“His two patients in the process of being fired, Atoya Montague, a civilian communications strategist, and Cst. Susan Gastaldo, an undercover officer, are suing the force separately and are both on sick leave suffering from PTSD. According to their lawsuits, Montague claims she was sexually propositioned daily by senior officers and Gastaldo claims her supervisor repeatedly sexually assaulted her. They say the force is now in the process of unfairly firing them, and continues to deny all their claims, despite the public acknowledgement of decades of “shameful conduct.” ”
Effective leadership starts at the top with enforcement and accountability and resolving conflicts. Sending victims back to work in the same toxic workplace is useless and causes further trauma. Why not address the issues, make those perpetrators accountable and allow the victims, men and women, an opportunity to be productive employees.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-harassment-allegations-psychiatrist-1.3998752