Aged care - is it the norm to have lots of gossip and staff that can cause conflict

Hi, I totally agree with NotYourWhippingBoy1968 "Usually they bully and harass their own country folk or another migrant worker". I worked in Regis Cranbourne for 3 years as a PCA and in the last year i was appointed to do Medication Administrator. One of the PCA from my own country "folk", was very jealous of my position. She being a senior staff (PCA) was constantly insticating that PCA Meds girl to rush with the Medication round in order to help more on the floor. She was intimating me and ordering me around like her maid, constantly spying on me (more like breathing down my neck) with what i do during my shifts. I ended making 2 minor medication mistakes due to stress. Spoke to the RN but nothing was done. One day she yelled at me infront of the residents and family members because i complained to the RN again about her ordering me about. The resident's family member witness the incident and filed a complain about her. Since that incident, i took annual leave due to stress.

I'd feel sick in the stomach everytime i had to go back to the facility to get my pay slip.

The kitchen staffs told me since i left, the residents were not being fed afternoon tea. Other staff members told me the standard of care to the residents during the PM shift has deterioated.

I applied for all my annual leave and hoping to find job else where. The fear of going back to that place is overwhelming. Since my absence from work, "the bully" applied to do her Medication Administration course with Regis. Its heart breaking the fact she's allow to get away with what she did.

Now is the time to have a voice and stop this god dam awful bullying.. I suffered in my first position I was green as; fresh from doing my cert 3. Accepted a position where I did my student placement. I work in one of the better age facilities in the south east of QLD. I applied for a second job age care job in May so I could pick up on extra shifts , and well I quit last week could not stand a particular RN there. Absolute cow .. I am an easy going type of person I can get along with most people. . But this RN was ridiculous. At hand over she would signal me to do all the donkey work, hey I didn't mind at first but when my co workers were all going out for a smoke with her the RN.. Well hells bells whats going on.. I downed tools and went out with them. Rn said what you doing out here. I said what are you lot doing out here we had a break 40 minutes ago. Came the reply from Rn get back inside or I will report you. Well go ahead .. I will be doing the same thing about you in the morning. As mentioned I quit the next day management were aware of this RN and complaints made against her. Manager tried to talk me into staying but there was other issues I was not happy about.. Born in the UK came to Australia in my early teens. This RN a New Zealander. similar age to my self. I don't know why I was her target. I do realise by reading some of the posts here migrant people get picked on even by there own countrymen.. When someone is a bully always a bully, and why this industry attracts them I dun no.. I have worked a great number of years in the clothing industry and that had its hairy moments.. It would be a massive shame to lose people to the Cretans ... Make written complaint. Find other staff members who have suffered sign a petition, send them off to head office don't bother with your lifestyle or care manager or what title they want to call themselves. Get your union involved...

Bullys are everwhere, I have only just started working in aged care and spent alot of time in the private sector in various industries and it (Bullying) is everywhere. Bullys are everywhere. The system is in place to fight these sort of people but it takes some moral fortitude and documentation.

Firstly every work place MUST have an anti bullying policy, get hold of it, start to document everything that happens. Get a diary and start writing in it. note who was there at the time, what time & shift it was, be meticulous in your documentation. Try not to be alone with these people if possible.

You go through their internal procedures and if that doesn't fix the problem, then you go to the proper authorities, every time we walk away from a job and allow a bully a WIN, you are part of the problem and are handing them other victims. They will continue till they are stopped, make no doubt about that.

BULLYING IS AGAINST THE LAW and GOSSIPING IS A FORM OF BULLYING and not something you should put up with. but they are cunning people, bullys that is, which is why you have to have the diary, be meticilous with your information on what happens, remain calm and factual during the process.Everytime the do something, irrespective of how subtle, advise your supervisor or theirs, note that down who you told and what happened in your diary.

They rely on people being too scared and ignorant of the process to keep on with their tactics.

I was being bullyed at my last office job and I had to print out the anti bullying policy of the company and show my boss what bullying was and he then realised that this woman was doing all that the policy said was bullying. When I left I made a detailed informal complaint about her in detail to my head office in my exit interview and she is now being counselled. I am not sure what else has happened to her but it pulled her up somewhat and made things better for the other workers there. Some times the supervisors have no idea what bullying is and you may have to educate them on what is.

If you are so fearful and stressed, go to a doctor explain what is happening. having a proffessional on your side will help you. Document all of this. You can't be sacked for making a complaint. Not for the next couple of years anyway unless the libs get re elected in 2013.

You do have the power to make a difference, even if it doesn't feel that way. if everyone just feels they can't make a difference or feel powerless then the bullys will keep on bullying and nothing will change. It is we the people that have to change things.