Vol. 556 No. 3
513 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures employed by each health board to deal with complaints by its staff of bullying by other personnel employed by a board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19985/02]
A national anti-bullying policy for the health service was agreed in 1999 as a partnership initiative involving health service employers and staff representative bodies. It details the procedures, both informal and formal, for dealing with complaints of bullying in the workplace.
The Deputy may wish to note that this policy is currently under review by a working group comprising representatives of health service employers and staff representative bodies. It has been agreed by the working group that the policy should be developed into a dignity at work policy to encompass sexual harassment and harassment as prohibited under the Employment Equality Act, 1998. The proposed dignity at work policy will also incorporate appropriate best practice drawn from the following codes of practice which issued earlier this year: the Health and Safety Authority's prevention of workplace bullying; the Labour Relations Commission's procedures for addressing bullying in the workplace; and the Equality Authority's sexual harassment and harassment at work.
It is intended that the dignity at work policy will focus on the prevention of bullying and harassment at work by creating a workplace environment that respects the dignity of all staff. The policy will contain definitions of bullying and sexual harassment and also indicate the range and types of behaviour that could constitute bullying/harassment. The policy will also include revised procedures for dealing with complaints of bullying and harassment, having regard to current best practice and the experience of health service employers in dealing with such complaints.
It is also intended that the working group will make recommendations on appropriate education and training initiatives to ensure that the dignity at work policy is fully implemented throughout individual employing authorities.
