Hullo to all the Black Sheep (those on the list at some stage during the past five years – Amber[1], Amy*, Barbara K[2], Cathy[3], Denise[4] Dianne R[5], Dianne W*, Helen[6], Jenny C*, Judy*, Kate[7], Lyn B[8], Lynne J[9], Margie[10], Penny*, Rikki*, and Narelle[11]) and those supporters (Alice*, Amy*, Anne C[12], Kate H[13], Jeannene*, Christine J[14], Christine P[15], Michael[16], Scott[17], and others who gave us strength and inspiration (Di F[18], Jane FC[19], Jocelynne[20], Ken[21], Noa D[22], Susan M[23], and Tina L[24]) and not forgetting Barbara Daddow[25](who tragically suicided)and Tim Field[26] (who died in 2006).
I have now been conferred the award of PhD and your stories (with over 600 documents to back them up) were the motivation to keep going with it during these past 5 years. The major themes were to do with the toxic and dysfunctional nature (some refer to it as corrupted practices) of public sector culture, and the isolation of ‘the Other’ or those who don’t conform to it, which takes the form of social and moral exclusion, unconscious discrimination, and the pack mentality of 'crush and destroy'.
Many of your stories were about the way the system seems to gang-up on those who have become ‘deserving targets’ because in some way their very existence challenges the dominant culture. Their expulsion (and incarceration in one case) is often based on false or exaggerated accusations. Ironically, in a number of cases, people were called “bullies” which some likened to being called a witch.
The thesis calls for legislation (not just policies that excuse bullying on the basis of reasonable management action) to address the complexities surrounding bullying and mobbing and to ensure that legal remedies are available to those targeted and that there is some accountability for the perpetrators. Our system tends to reward the perpetrators and punishes those targeted and perpetuates a system of ongoing psychological and emotional abuse.
However, despite the onslaught of attacks from ‘the supports’ in the system, many of your stories highlight the ability to ‘bite back’, ‘fight back’ or in an academic sense to ‘transform’ by realising what the true nature of ‘the game’ was. While many of us very naively believed that justice and truth would win out in the end, we were only able to fight back once we realised that the system was more interested in covering up and protecting the status quo! The biggest realisation I think for many of us was that the perceptions and feelings of the perpetrators (often based on rumour, gossip, hearsay, and innuendo) held far more weight than the proven facts. In mobbing, the facts become irrelevant and the irrational behaviour of the mob takes over.
I could go on….but will save that for the book and the many publications that I hope will come out of it. To all those mentioned so far who in countless ways have assisted with this research over many years I say a heartfelt thank you. To my long time partner, Derek, I say a big thank-you for the design and publishing of pamphlets, leaflets and posters, filming, advising, and for the emotional support over many years. To all the other partners/husbands/family and loved ones who have each provided support along the way, also a big thank you. And finally, I owe much to Robert Dawson, a psychologist who gave me insights into organisational behaviour that had never before occurred to me. I have frequently passed these enlightening and eye-opening observations on to others that have also helped them along the way – many thanks!
* Thankyou for your contributions to the overall picture highlight mobbing as an abusive form of psychological torture.
[1]Amber, the sexual harassment aspect of your case as publicly reported was included where the judge ruled that although the perpetrator’s behaviour was lewd, inappropriate, and generally disgusting, it did not constitute sexual harassment under the Act and where you were ordered to pay around $10K costs. Your fightback in getting a discussion on mobbing in WA Parliament is amazing!
[2] Barbara K, my observation of your ‘mobbing’ commenced my now long-time interest and study in the area.
[3] Cathy, the long term devastating impact on you and your family in fighting back is referred to (although not identified) in the thesis.
[4] Denise, some of your story is included to emphasise the irrational nature of complaints and subsequent “investigations” that are not about uncovering the facts but preparing a case for the prosecution.
[5]Dianne, some of your story was used as an example of intolerance of difference. Congrats on the PhD...and the medal...and...standing for Council!
[6] Helen, your assistance with research for QPILCH (in trying to mount a class action in the public interest), your indexing and highlighting, your transcripts, your untiring support and encouragement has helped in getting the thesis to conclusion – with many thanks!
[7] Kate, your achievement in getting an article published by the Courier Mail newspaper Harassment_culture_starts_at_the_top.doc on the abuses of Section 85, compulsory ill-health retirement, as well as some of the discussion in Parliament and some of your strategic actions in fighting back were included.
[8] Lyne B, one chapter is based on your experience of fighting back from the nightmare of being publicly humiliated as a ‘deserving target’ yet denied any justice.
[9] Lynne J, I used an example from your story to highlight intolerance towards pregnant women and having children.
[10] Margie, a section is dedicated to your story on downward mobbing and highlighting the deliberate nature of the attacks (expressed by one perpetrator as ‘running down the target’).
[11] Narelle, your case has to get the prize for the most ludicrous and as evidence of mainstream insanity in that you were attacked and demonised as a witch and then found the staff had gathered together to sing ‘ding-dong the witch is dead’ when you were ejected from your job. A section about how the system emphasises the feelings and perceptions of the perpetrators and denies justice to those targeted is based on your case.
[12] Anne C, your story of discrimination on the basis of race and accent, and the rejection of your case because it didn’t fit the system definition of discrimination was mentioned in the thesis.
[13] Kate, your story of courage and persistence in fighting back, although not identifiable, contributed to the fighting back theme. Your paper on mobbing demonstrates that you are indeed a 'biting beast'
[14] Christine J, some of your story as published by The Australian is included as an attachment to the thesis (and mentioning Barbara).
[15] Christine P, your story highlights the power that can be obtained by perpetrators in claiming ‘victim status’ and I’ve used that as an example in an early chapter. Also as an example of how the perpetrators are able to convince management that you are the tyrant (without any evidence) despite their own despicable and public behaviour (with evidence)
[16] Michael, I lost contact with you after a particularly harrowing time for you and I can only hope this message finds you safe and well (parts of your story are included in examples relating to the high risk that gay men confront in being mobbed at work)
[17] Scott, similar to Michael, some of your experience is used as an example of the public humiliation that is used against people demonised as ‘deserving targets’.
[18] Di, your story created a fear of irrational behaviour when you were imprisoned and then an inspiration when you fought back and was eventually exonnerated by the High Court (albeit, after six months behind bars). Your story (as publicly reported on an almost daily basis), was an inspiration for the research to continue on to PhD level.
[20] Jocelynne, your story of being mobbed and bullied when you were the Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner demonstrates the ‘toxic and dysfunctional’ (some might suggest corrupt) nature of the public sector. Your story (some of which is published in your final annual report as commissioner) was highlighted in the thesis as inspiration for the research.
[21] Ken, your research and participation in the Black Sheep’s Workplace Mobbing Conference was immensely encouraging and helped make sense of our mobbing experience. Your generosity in assisting others and the information on your website has been enormously useful to many of us.
[22] Noa, Gail, and Ruth, your book “Workplace Mobbing: Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace” (1999) has truly been a godsend to nearly everyone involved in this study. As thousands of people have probably told you, “your book was based on my story”. Many of those involved in this thesis say a thousand thankyous! Reading your book helped us give some meaning to our experience.
[23] Susan M, you helped many of us with your legal savvy when we were at our most vulnerable and your passion and commitment to fighting back (no doubt at your own personal cost emotionally and financially) is a refreshing reminder that the legal system is not only for the perpetrators but for those targeted as well! Your campaigning against the misuse of Section 85 has been amazing.
[24]Tina, we may have lost contact, but your patience, compassion, and practical assistance will never be forgotten by many of us who call ourselves the Black Sheep.
[25] Barbara’s case (and Christine J’s) in fighting back against the Qld government over some years as reported in the The Australian was included as an Appendix to the thesis.
[26] Tim, an anti-bullying campaigner, gave voice to many of us in publishing our stories on line at the www.bulllyingonline.org site which sustained many over a long period of time until his death in 2006.
