What would happen in your school if...

[Hmmmwhatwouldyoudo]

A member of staff called another member of staff a bitch? In front of witnesses?

Needs context. I could say it to some people and we’d sort it ourselves. If I called the head it....

I was verbally abused by a colleague and nothing happened.

Needs context x

Needs context but theoretically if it was nasty it's against the code of conduct and therefore would be misconduct and dealt with under the disciplinary procedure

In an argument between two people or behind someone’s back and someone else has told tales?

It would depend on context. My headteacher called me a ‘dirty bitch’ last week as I sniggered at her innocent remark. We both laughed a lot and then made even more inappropriate comments.

If said in seriousness it would be a very different matter.

Who were the witnesses? Other staff, or children? Primary or secondary? What's the context - argument or two mates joking around?

Definitely context.

If said between me and close colleagues it would be because one was bitching about somebody/something.
No offence would be taken.

Said with venom. Witnesses adult. Primary. Can’t give more context.

The person saying the word meant that the other person was a bitch.

Ooh.. I actually have no idea if it was said with nastiness! Am interested to know though.

I still think more context needed. There's a difference between someone venting about their headteacher in the staffroom during a stressful moment, or someone describing another member of staff this way during an SLT meeting to be vindictive. Or were the other adults who witnessed it parents from the school?

Who called who a bitch? Was it said to you? Did you say it? Or were you one of the ones overhearing? I'd still want to know more before drawing any sort of conclusion about this.

I can’t give too many details. All people involved are staff. Person A said that person B was a bitch. The comment was said to person Bs face and with venom as part of an bigger issue. It was the final comment to said by A as their final point in the argument. Incident happened in classroom. No parents or children about.

I’m not going to say who I am in the situation, I’m just trying to get a sense of how much shit person A would be in.

I don't require context! Some posters' responses remind me of what happens when a pupil swears at teachers and SLT 'take into account context'

It si totally unacceptable to swear at a member of staff. I have never even done it non-venomously!

So, anyway, just to follow up my outrage : I'd expect this to be a disciplinary issue.

Didn't happen in a school setting but a colleague was given a verbal warning for a similar incident in our work place.

Person B is well within their rights to make a complaint to Person A's line manager. I would encourage witnesses to give accounts too. I would expect a formal verbal warning about professional standards of behaviour (referring to teachers standards if Person A is a teacher) for a first offence. If this is not the first time then whatever comes next according to the disciplinary policy should be followed.

If there is backstory and historical issues between the two members of staff then I would expect an investigation and some form of restorative meeting. The person who swore should expect at the very least to have to apologise. It does very much depend on context. A person who is being bullied who snaps is different from someone who has a short fuse. I suppose the question is ‘who has the most ‘form’ for this kind of behaviour?’

Thanks for your input. I’m friends with person B and we were discussing what her option are.

I wouldn't complain if it was an argument.

It really does depend on context. If person B is being really nasty and saying some really awful things then she should expect some come back. If person B is sitting minding her own business or engaged in a mild conversation then no she shouldn't be calls
anything.
I can't see someone just go up and shout bitch in someone's face without prior contact

Unacceptable, but in a good school, I’d expect the question to be why? What triggered that level of aggression? Not implying that person B was in any way responsible.

We would only act if there were a complaint.

Then, we would interview both members of staff and the witness.

Finally, we would have the two people kiss and make up via a conciliation meeting.

Person B is well within her rights to bring this to the attention of SMT. With the usual caveat that they need to be sure that they are 'without sin'. There is likely to be some kind of investigation and witnesses called. Unfortunately this sometimes serves to make a toxic relationship even more toxic and can sour relationships across the whole staff. Person B, if this has come out of the blue will, no doubt, continue to be aggrieved by the management response and it's likely that both person A and person B will lose in the long run. I'm not saying this is right but I've seen it happen many times in my long career.

Our school wouldn't act unless someone raised it, but given there's an argument then person B needs to be sure that they are without fault in this.

It's unprofessional to swear at a colleague. The details of the situation will depend on the nature of argument and situation.

I don't think its a nice thing to say but it could be worse. It sounds like a heated row that got a bit personal. I would expect an apology from the said bitch name caller & if it isn't forthcoming I'd say in front of witnesses 'hey you know that time you called me a bitch? I still haven't received an apology from you yet'.
Then just carry on with a conversation & let it sink in.