It's time to stop the bullies
I HAVE been a director of the Chamber of Commerce for almost a year, and during this time I have attended many events and meetings and met a great many business people and organisations.
On the downside, however, I have been to non-chamber meetings where I have seen and heard things that make me very uncomfortable and I think it's time to talk about it!
I am troubled that on many occasions I have found discussions focusing on the fact that some individuals in our wonderful city seem to bully their way through their professional life, thinking it's ok to step on people and break the rules if it means they can succeed.
On writing this piece, I am reminded of something my late father said: "Emma, if you sit back and say nothing when people are being racist, sexist or bullying others, you are condoning their behaviour. If you see wrongdoing, stand up and say so."
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And like most parents, he was right – and I am troubled that I have not commented and "let it go" when some of my business contacts have acted inappropriately.
As parents we encourage and support our children to stand up and expose bullies, and as responsible employers we don't tolerate this kind of behaviour in our offices, so why do we let it happen in other business arenas?
Why are people afraid to rock the boat, and stand up when we see individuals abusing their power, breaking the rules and intimidating people to make them or their business look good?
I am not naive, I know that people say "business is business" and "I didn't set up my company in order to make friends".
But neither is it my aim to put others down, ignore the rules, and be handed lucrative contracts as a result.
I want Fireproof PR to succeed on its merit, not by holding people to ransom or using bullying tactics that result in us getting work we don't deserve.
If by being honest, just, and "the nice guy" my business ceases to grow and expand, then so be it.
At least I will have a clear conscience.
But one thing I will not do is ignore the advice my father gave me.
I am going to speak out when I see inappropriate behaviour and business activities, and I hope that on reading this column, one or more of you will do the same.
This way we will be able to show the business bullies, that Plymouth is a great place, for great people to do business and isn't somewhere where bullies succeed.
4 Comments
by Waltersmith
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:25PM
“@jaygeek
.and then if you whistleblow you've had it”
by HermesThelema
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:11PM
“The pyramid marketing suicide cults Freemasonry and Church of Scientology which by existence attempt to create a false voice in god-go-do (the subconscious) which is actually more reminiscent of Satan in order to exert power, control, political and monetary influence, and ultimately attempt to drive to suicide any who protect against their diamond in pyramid – there is no second tier, those in thirst Satan leave us all to fight in the hell of the creation of the first, least, tier; use the common blaggards tool-set of bullying, intimidation, nepotism, and conspiracy to 'mordor' (close more doors than opening leaving only one option to least in fate).
There are other options.”
by Lashius
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:43AM
“you want to see bullying try the people in such management positions who do little work while taking all the credit if there company turns out a success off the backs of the hard workers on the shop floor. No respect for `managers` what so ever. and I fail to see why this article is in the news section once again!”
by jaygeek1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:11AM
“Business advert masquerading as a business person against something immoral ?
If you want to help bullying and be taken seriously then:
1. Don't mention your business name.
2. Provide your time towards a charitable cause which deals with bullying.
3. Champion protecting someone from bullying and get their name tarnished in court.
Life has taught me how unfair it is. Life has shown me those who break the rules either go to jail OR earn exceptional amounts of money in a short time. Life has given me the ability to do something about it.
What have you done to stop bullying other than this online open letter ? Maybe you should have mentioned it in the letter.
During my active working life (of which I still have many years to go) I have found that the upper echelons of management will preach one thing in public then go ahead to do something completely different. All the while you can watch your management team build their own little circle of trusted people around themselves who in turn become "untouchable" who then push the dictators wishes onto the mass workers with no thought or regard for anyone other than themselves.
This is business, business is about making money and to make money in the amounts demanded by the owners of the business every corner will be cut (leaving a circle in the end because of so many corners lost) and staff will be discarded/disrespected if they cannot do exactly as told at the requisite time.
They have no trouble sleeping at night either.”