Deadline-driven project work and stressed-out managers
are taking their toll on IT workers across the UK, with nearly
two-thirds claiming to have been bullied, says trade union
Unite.
A survey of 860 IT professionals showed 65% believed they had
been bullied at work, and 22% had taken time off work because of
stress caused by bullying.
Staff reported unachievable deadlines, excessive monitoring and
supervision, and constant criticism on minor matters. More than
half said they had been bullied by a more senior member of
staff.
Bullying has forced some workers to leave their jobs, causing
problems for managers in an increasingly difficult
recruitment market.
One woman quit after she received e-mails last thing at night
with work to be done for the next morning, was given impossible
deadlines to meet, and was ridiculed in front of her
colleagues.
Unite national officer Peter Skyte said, "She didn't report the
problem because she felt she couldn't face it. She lost weight and
went off sick, and we only learnt about the case after she left the
company."
The survey found many victims felt unable to report bullying
because of fears that it would get worse, or because they thought
their complaints would be dismissed as an inability to cope.
Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health
at the University of Lancaster, said, "Most bullying is not
malicious - it is because managers are overloaded and can't
cope."
Professor Edward Truch, chairman of the
BCS
Management Forum, said IT departments were becoming more
pressurised.
"Clients realise the benefits of a programme and their
expectations are raised, but they still want the project delivered
within the same budget and timeframe, thereby putting pressure on
delivery teams," he said.
Project managers need better soft skills, said Denise Plumpton,
IT director of the Highways Agency, and managers must communicate
better to the business how complex a project might be, so they are
not put under such pressure. "Sadly, many IT professionals, while
being technically brilliant, focused and driven to achieve, do not
have a sufficient balance of the 'human touch'," she said. "Much
training and development that goes into a project manager will be
about process and technical matters, rather than team
leadership."
How to deal with bullying
• Tell your manager the effect their behaviour is having on
you.
• Speak to colleagues to see if they are experiencing the same
thing.
• Keep a log of all bullying instances.
• Write a memo if you feel you cannot confront the bully.
• Keep copies of anything referring to your inability to do your
job.
• Try to avoid being alone with the bully and try to get
witnesses to incidents.
• Try making a collective complaint with colleagues.
• Check any new responsibilities you are given with a copy of
your job description.
• If nothing changes, report the problem to HR.
Source: Professor Cary Cooper, University of Lancaster, and
Unite.
Have you been bullied at work? Tell us about your
experiences in confidence:
Rebecca.Thomson@rbi.co.uk