CaB is a Charity: CHY 12848

 Contact CaB at: 72 Lakelands Avenue, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin

                            Tel.: 01 2887976

                             e-mail: odonnllb@indigo.ie

           1998-2000:-   See also the CaB Web-site: http://www.Clubi.ie/killick/CaB/

           and from September 2000, See and contribute news and views to the CaBullying  Web-site:
           http://indigo.ie/~odonnllb/cabullying/

            Read and use the CaB book: Bullying: A Resource Guide by Vivette O'Donnell

                           Published by CaB, Oct. 1998. ISBN: 0-9534145-0-7   Price £7.99p
 

What's so bad about Bullying? Where is the harm? Does it affect me?"

Your anti-Bullying role

Making or Hearing a Complaint about Bullying

Helpful Messages, Literature and Resources

What we stand for - and what we won't stand for

"What's so bad about Bullying? Where is the harm? Does it affect me?"

      Bullying is bad for the bully, retarding their development to a secure, responsible,
      well-balanced, fully integrated, emotionally mature adult.

      Bullying is bad for the victim, causing distress which, if severe and/or prolonged, damages the
      quality of every aspect of their life - their physical and mental health, their relationships,
      their work, their leisure, their property, their home atmosphere and their close family's lives.

      Bullying is bad for business causing, at the very least, poor communication, inefficiency and
      loss of morale, often manifested by an unpleasant atmosphere, high staff turnover, high number
      of days lost through sickness, absenteeism, delays, mistakes and accidents.

      Bullying is costly to the tax-payer where it is present in occupations paid for from the public
      purse.

      Bullying is costly to everyone where it takes any of the forms which are crimes such as
      intimidation, assault, larceny, theft, shop-lifting, vandalism, arson, armed robbery, bombings,
      protection rackets and drug dealing.

"We need to remember that bullying is not an isolated phenomenon which suddenly appears out of nowhere.
It exists along a continuum of behaviour which begins with people believing that it is acceptable to
disregard the feelings and sensitivities of others and ends with their giving expression to that
disregard in extreme and violent ways."  (Simon Richey speaking at the CaB Conference 27/3/93).

N.B. Racism is Bullying.
 

YOUR ANTI-BULLYING ROLE

You need to know what to do if:-

(1) You yourself are bullied. (2) Someone close, such as a family member, friend or colleague, turns
to you for help when they are bullied. (3) Your position gives you a special, recognised responsibility
for dealing with bullying, i.e. if you are any of the following:- a person in charge of children, (such
as a Parent, Religious Instructor; School Principal, Teacher, Matron, Sports Coach, etc.); a person
with responsibility for employees' welfare, (such as a Manager, especially within Personnel/Human
Resources, Equality and Health & Safety; a Staff Rep., Union Shop Steward, Union Official within
Equality and Health & Safety); a person with relevant statutory authority (especially within the
areas of justice, law enforcement, community policing, Health & Safety, Equality and Labour Relations); a
G.P. - family Doctor; a lawyer - family Solicitor; a person with influence on public opinion; a public
representative, (such as a T.D. or Councillor).

When making or hearing a Complaint about Bullying it helps clarify matters if you write down the
Answers to these Questions:-

1. At the latest incident, Who was involved, What happened, Where and When?

2. What led up to this incident? Have there been similar incidents? Have you proof?

3. What happened after the incident? Did you report it to anyone? Does an authority figure such as
your boss, principal, parent know what happened? Have you told your G.P.? Have you reported it to
the Police/Gardai? or to your Resident's Association?

4. What outcome do you want? The bullying acknowledged and stopped, of course, plus what else,
e.g. penalties, transfers, mediation, counselling?

5. What are you prepared to do? Report it? Move? See a Solicitor? Go to Court? Tell the Media?

6. What other resources have you considered? The Health & Safety Authority, The Equality Authority,   The Labour Relations Commission,   A Trade Union,   The Parents Association,
The National Parents Council,  The  National Association for Parents' Support,
The Campaign against Bullying,  The Anti-Bullying Centre,
other Voluntary Organisations,  Councillors,  T.D.s,  The Ombudsman?

7. What literature have you accessed, e.g. Books, Leaflets, Newsletters, Newspapers, The Internet?

8. What further help do you feel you need? e.g. meeting with an `expert' or with someone who has
endured similar bullying; assistance in formulating a written complaint; someone to attend meetings
with you as both witness and moral support.

9. What level of confidentiality do you need?  Some complaints can be made anonymously by yourself or through an anti-bullying spokesperson.

10. Are you willing to give feedback about your case? This can help others facing a similar situation
now or in the future. It may even help you where other reports confirm a problem area.
 

Helpful Messages, Literature and Resources.

There are four parts to the Respect message:-

* I respect myself; * I respect others; * I expect others to respect me and each other;
*I will not tolerate disrespect  to anyone.
This makes a useful motto for all places and purposes.

The Stay Safe message for children is equally valuable and not just for children  -  it is: If you feel
unsafe, say, "No!", and get away to safety. Tell someone you trust. Keep telling the people you trust
until the problem has been resolved.

The Stay Safe literature is available in Primary Schools and Libraries. It includes a Parents' Guide.

Bullying: A Resource Guide by Vivette O'Donnell, publ. by CaB, is available from CaB, from bookshops
and from Libraries. CaB's telephone helpline is 01-2887976.

NAPS, The National Association for Parent Support has useful leaflets, conducts seminars, workshops, clinics and has a telephone helpline: 0502-20598.

The Sticks and Stones Theatre Co., 01-2807065, has plays for Primary and Post Primary School-Children  and Handbooks for their teachers.

The Telephone Directory lists charities and caring organisations and emergency helplines including
Barnardo's and ChildLine, ParentLine and Victim Support.

The National Social Services Board Directory also lists many helpful organisations.

The Citizens Information Centres and Youth Information Centres can provide files of information on
Bullying and related topics.

Libraries and bookshops can obtain for you books on bullying such as those by Dr. Brendan Byrne,
Michele Elliott of Kidscape; Tim Field's Bully In Sight (on Workplace Bullying) and Lucy Costigan's
recent book, Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace.

All the major Trade Unions, ICTU, SIPTU, MSF, IMPACT, INO, etc., have leaflets on Bullying, articles on  Bullying in their newsletters and guidelines on anti-bullying policies. Many have, also, questionnaires  and seminar papers, as do the Management bodies IPD, 01-6766655, and EAP, 051-855733, and the Employers  Confederation , IBEC, 01-6601011.

The Anti-Bullying Centre Research and Resource Unit at Trinity College, Dublin, 01-6082573, has a
library accessible to members and provides a range of services, books and files of anti-bullying
material.

The Employment Equality Agency/Equality Authority has a library file on Bullying, which may be
consulted by arrangement. They will advise or assist cases which fall within their remit, tel.:
01- The Equality Newsletter always contains relevant information.
[Equality Authority tel: 01-417 3333;  Office of the Director of Equality Investigations:01-417 3300.

The Health & Safety Authority may inspect a workplace following a complaint of bullying. They have
leaflets on bullying, violence and stress and newsletter articles on bullying, tel.: 01-6620400.

Many workplaces have policies on Equality, Sexual Harassment and Bullying/Harassment as well as their  Safety Statements, Disciplinary and Complaints procedures  -  formal and informal, and other useful  written material. Some workplaces have staff designated to assist anyone in distress. Sometimes  managers need encouragement to help them implement the policies and procedures smoothly and  consistently.

There is a wealth of material in print and resources available now to help you deal with your bullying
problems, and yet it can be hard going, for bullying can be a very complex issue with unexpected
obstacles, delays and conflict of interest. As a result, CaB continues to be very busy dealing with
requests for information and help. A nationwide network of Contact Points within the CaB framework is  being formalised at present. If there is a local Contact Person in your area, you can reach them  through CaB, the local library, the local CIC, or other main Resource Centres. CaB would welcome more  Contact Persons.

For other resources, go back to our homepage.
 

What we stand for

The main objects for which CaB, the Campaign against Bullying, is established are: to reduce the
incidence of bullying and to minimise the ill-effects of bullying by providing a consultancy service of
information, advice and support for individuals and groups by a helpline, correspondence, giving
lectures, seminars or workshops, visiting schools and other workplaces; providing, contributing to and  lending written material such as books, leaflets, notes. The subsidiary objects are to rouse, inform  and support. (Here `rouse' means `to raise awareness'). [CaB Constitution].

Tackling Bullying and dealing with complaints of Bullying require a good understanding and consensus  concerning the following points:

(1) The desired norm:-
CaB's definition is: Fairplay,  Courtesy,  Consideration and Respect from All to All.
This  definition covers social equality of opportunity, pay and conditions; inclusion; collegiality; special  consideration for special circumstances; duty of care etc.

(2) What Bullying is:-   CaB's definition is: Bullying is Abuse which causes distress and gives
gratification and power. To indicate some legal implications, CaB adds: Bullying is unnecessary,
unjustifiable, preventable, offensive behaviour, with predictable ill-effects and foreseeable
consequences.

(3) A bully typically does not accept responsibility for his/her actions or the consequences of these
actions.

(4) What a victim typically wants and needs urgently is for the bullying to be acknowledged and
stopped.

(5) The level of bullying is unacceptably high. You can demonstrate this by conducting a quick survey  using a simple form asking: Are you aware of bullying in this place? Yes/No. If Yes _ Is it Physical,  Verbal, Psychological?   Any other comments....

(6) All schools and workplaces are required to have an anti-bullying policy as part of their Safety
Statement. Procedures for dealing with bullying should be clearly laid out and consistently
implemented. Records should be kept and the efficacy of the policy monitored and necessary adjustments  effected.