Priti Patel

[Walkaround]

Is it actually possible to unintentionally bully someone? I always thought there had to be some knowledge of abuse of power - it’s supremely difficult to intimidate or coerce someone accidentally. The fact that the people Priti Patel works with as equals- other ministers - are falling over themselves to say how delightful she is to work with, whereas those who work for her accuse her of bullying surely makes it more likely her behaviour is deliberate bullying? Otherwise, her equals would find her to have an frightening, tyrannical demeanour, too!

@SorryAuntLydia

Priti Patel sounds like a typical shit macho-style bullying boss, although, according to the report, she has now acted on feedback and improved her behaviour.

However, let’s be clear, Priti Patel’s real crime is behaving like all the men around her whilst simultaneously being an uppity brown woman. How very dare she?

I’m not saying I’d like to work for her, but I think I can guess why she was the one complained about and investigated.

Exactly. Quite telling how the report, at the very bottom, also acknowledges that she didn't get the support from the civil service that she could have expected. Funny how that little snippet isn't being reported other than by Laura Kuennsburg.

Fact: she has been found by an independent investigation to have broken the ministerial code.

Fact: every single time a person has previously been found to have breached the code they have been sacked/ resigned. Every single time.

“she did not get the support of her dept” ..... I wonder why the predominantly white ex public school male dominated civil service did support her? Surely that’s their job? It’s a mystery 🤷‍♀️

I think it’s possible to unintentionally bully people.

If you are a perfectionist, a make-work, if you have rock-solid confidence and you have learned to put your needs first, you can tell yourself that a robust response is what the default should be and that anyone who can’t cope is lacking.

Why yes I have worked with someone like this...It’s impossible.

SorryAuntLydia
Priti Patel sounds like a typical shit macho-style bullying boss, although, according to the report, she has now acted on feedback and improved her behaviour.

However, let’s be clear, Priti Patel’s real crime is behaving like all the men around her whilst simultaneously being an uppity brown woman. How very dare she?

I’m not saying I’d like to work for her, but I think I can guess why she was the one complained about and investigated.

I definitely feel there is an element of this even though I'm not a huge fan.

Having temped myself in the HO (admittedly a long time ago) the culture was quiet a shock so someone coming in and trying to be efficient, change things will never go down well.

Perhaps Boris daren't sack her because she knows something he doesn't want made public.

As a human being I think she's probably as much of an arsehole as the other members of her party. I think she's probably a bully and probably breaks ministerial code. I also think that if she were a man this wouldn't be a story, and so whilst I don't like her behaviour or values, I maintain that if we're going to start ejecting all the bullies there are others we should focus on first.

There's a very fine line between strong leadership and firm management rather than bullying.

Accusations of being bullied are often made by those who can't get away with things ime

Without knowing more detail I don't think anyone can know the real story.

I used to work for someone who was a bully and from what I read about Patel I imagine there are a lot of similarities between their leadership styles.

My ex boss used to shout and rant and rave. Would frequently have people in tears. Everyone was terrified of her. If she asked a question in a meeting nobody would dare answer because you know that she would just rip your answer apart infront of everyone.

After multiple people whistle blowing and a full blown investigation she was sacked, marched off the premises. I’ve heard that apparently she was totally surprised to be accused of bullying and genuinely thought she was a strong, decisive leader. If nothing else that lack of insight is a major flaw. Being a democratic leader gets better results than being an autocratic leader.

Gone are the old days when someone was shown up to be awful or incompetent they would have the decency to resign. Now they just cling on and are propped up in power and the gov't couldn't give a stuff what the people thinks

I'm guessing it's because they know they have 4 more years before the next election, Well I'm hoping people have LONG memories.

She must know where all the bodies are buried is all I can say

@justgeton - here is a summary of the findings of the independent adviser who investigated the allegations. He has just resigned, because the PM rejected his conclusions. I don’t think it’s the independent adviser who is trying to get away with things!

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/937010/Findings_of_the_Independent_Adviser.pdf

Can't believe there are people on this thread arguing that shouting and swearing at work is ok?! It's not, it never is. Glad I work for a company with zero tolerance for that behaviour.

She should absolutely be sacked.

Hopefully someone she’s bullied brings a case against their employer. Employers have a duty of care to their employees and keeping someone in post who has been proven to be a bully is not abiding by that duty of care.

My dh works with someone like this. She is rude, belittles people, shouts at everyone even when it’s her fault, basically workplace bullying.

Only problem is she’s the boss’s mother!

I wonder at the point of having an investigation if you're going to just ignore its findings. And also what the point of an ethics adviser is if you aren't going to take any notice of them.

I do believe that it's possible to bully people unintentionally, because I've seen it happening. However, I would be deeply concerned about a minister who shouts and swears at her staff unintentionally, as that would suggest that she has no control at all over her own behaviour.

It is shocking (but not surprising) that the PM has asked MPs to rally around her in this situation, and that she will not face any consequences for her behaviour, which was clearly unacceptable by anyone's standards. People have lost their careers as a result of her behaviour.

The irony of this happening in anti-bullying week is not lost on me. I will be writing to my MP to express my concern.

@Walkaround

Definitely worth reading that summary.

Javid was an 'uppity' brown man in that job. His civil servants didn't rebel.

May & Jacqui Smith & Amber Rudd got on ok with their senior secretaries while in the home secretary job.

Patel owns this. This is a Priti Patel problem. Not her race or sex problem.

@MedusasBadHairDay
No one said it’s ok . It’s happened where I work

We investigate . Give the person an explanation of why it’s not acceptable and give them a chance to improve.

Sometimes these things happen especially in high powered jobs . And I agree if someone is deliberately bullying someone it’s not acceptable .

But as with most things in employment you should be given a chance to put things right . Once it’s pointed out .

Plus also make sure that the person complaining is also making a valid complaint .

I don't think anyone's in the least bit surprised that she's horrible to people who work for her, are they? She's an awful person.

And is anyone surprised that Boris has backed her anyway, since he's an amoral slimeball who doesn't give the smallest shit about general decency among those who work with him?

The only slight surprise is that people keep voting for these pricks.

@Unsure33 - yes, it is worth reading the summary. If that is a fair summary of the independent adviser’s findings, then why on earth would Boris Johnson reject it, and the adviser consequently feel the need to resign?! Something smells off, here!

Am I the only one that sees a woman of colour in power accused of bullying and my first reaction is scepticism?

This was my thoughts precisely.

How many men over the years have been the most god awful to their staff and aides. The swearing and shouting, and losing their tempers on a regular basis. Those that were sexually assaulting female staff and all the rest. And yet they go for the woman? And a woman of colour no less.

Why have we not seen similar investigations en masse over the years with some ministers that have been far worse than her??

I don't believe she was anymore or any less abrasive than the next man, literally, but because she was a woman, and a woman of colour they could not accept it.
To me it now looks like a witchhunt, and for once I am relieved that it has been decided she has not lost her job. That would be a very poor message indeed, as the bullying looks like it is aimed at her and not the other way around.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/10/priti-patel-brexit-ignorance-ireland-vote-uk

Many derogatory adjectives to describe Patel. Don’t forget “thick”.

@SebastianTheCrab

Am I the only one that sees a woman of colour in power accused of bullying and my first reaction is scepticism?

No, you’re not. It’s you and @Friendsoftheearth and erm...anybody else? Nope? Cool.

@SebastianTheCrab

Am I the only one that sees a woman of colour in power accused of bullying and my first reaction is scepticism?

The amount of vitriol Patel gets is completely disproportional and, imo, fueled by sexism and racism.

Exactly.

She probably bollocked a few useless civil servants and they won't have like been spoken to like that by a woman.