Ninety complaints of bullying and harassment investigated by HSE

Most cases relate to bullying, with eight complaints of sexual harassment and eight complaints of harassment currently under investigation.

The NIU deals with only the most serious bullying-related complaints after all other attempts at resolution have failed.

Investigations were launched under the HSE’s Dignity at Work policy, which promises to protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees.

Figures obtained by the Sunday Independent show the investigation unit launched seven investigations into bullying to date this year. It opened 27 investigations last year and 38 in 2022.

The figures are believed to represent a fraction of the complaints made across the organisation

The number of harassment and sexual harassment investigations launched last year and in 2022 are in low single digits — the exact number was not disclosed by the HSE to protect the identities of complainants.

Of the 33 complaints notified to the NIU that have been closed since January 2022, fewer than five were upheld and 21 were not progressed.

The figures published today are believed to represent a fraction of the complaints made across the organisation, according to industry sources.

The Irish Medical Organisation has previously said that 50pc of its members surveyed experienced bullying at some point in their careers.

The former head of transformation at the HSE, Professor Martin Curley, claimed after he left the organisation last year that bullying was a recognised problem in the health service.

“It happens everywhere, but in corporate environments it’s stamped out immediately,” he said.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (Inmo) called last year for the Health and Safety Authority to be drafted in to investigate workplace bullying in the HSE.

Staff saidthey were stretched and approaching burnout

The union has also called for mandatory training in the HSE’s Dignity at Work policy to combat bullying.

​Complaints of bullying were also highlighted in a cultural survey of staff at one of Ireland’s biggest hospitals, as reported by the Irish Examiner in March.

The survey, confined to one department at Cork University Hospital, reported that staff said they were stretched and approaching burnout and that there was an “aggressive” and “shouting” communication style by some staff.

The HSE said bullying in the organisation is a “priority concern” to ensure the dignity, well-being and safety of employees and that it encourages staff to report it.

Dignity at Work is designed to prevent bullying from happening by ensuring staff are treated with dignity and respect.

“This policy aims to prevent bullying and protect employees from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment by other employees and non-employees,” the HSE said.

“We take any allegation regarding bullying and/or harassment very seriously. Where complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment occur, they are managed locally. Our policy is to ensure that all parties are treated with fairness, sensitivity, respect and confidentiality.

“Early intervention is a feature of the Dignity at Work policy. Not all complaints progress to formal investigation. Local service managers have a role to play in resolving complaints informally and our mediation services are successful in resolving most complaints referred to them.

“These interventions reduce the number of complaints that are formally investigated.”