THE BULLY AT WORK


Mandatory Reporters ©2014 Gail Pursell Elliott


In health care and human services organizations, professionals on all levels have to complete state mandated training in the area


of reporting abuse and neglect. These programs focus on the treatment of patients and consumers entrusted to the care of these agencies. Workers completing this training become Mandatory Reporters, which means that they are obligated to report any instances of abuse or neglect that they witness or suspect. If they do not, they are considered to be complicit in the offense.


In an environment in which workplace mobbing and bullying are rampant these same workers may still commit abusive acts toward coworkers. The quality and integrity of services to their consumers easily can become compromised. In these workplaces, the staff may be underpaid and over worked or less than adequately trained for their jobs. Stress factors like these can create an environment in which a bullying situation both exists and persists. The erosion of teamwork and trust on the part of staff as well as the nature of the work that is done leaves vulnerable individuals open to inadequate or untimely assistance which can border on abuse and neglect. When staff members are watching their backs, gossiping, judging coworkers or thwarting the work of others they are not paying attention to the people entrusted to their care. In other cases, the care of individuals becomes secondary to power plays on the part of staff.


Human Relations issues between employees cannot take precedence over the focus on the well being of the people being served. When people are used as bargaining chips to serve some dominance or control agenda, or worse become collateral damage as a result of that agenda, everyone loses and everyone is at risk.


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SCHOOL VIOLENCE In Newtown, Mental Health Needs Persist 2 Years After School Shooting


Agencies in Newtown, Conn., are setting up support system for next 12-15 years with youngest survivors in mind as the 2nd anniversary of Sandy Hook massacre nears. According to the superintendent 'issues are more complex' than 1st year. Many people in Newtown, Conn., now report psychological issues including substance abuse, depression, insomnia, anxiety, depression, guilt, sleeplessness, marital strife, drug and


alcohol abuse —two years after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The scope of the psychological damage to children, parents and others is becoming clear, and the need for treatment is likely to persist.


"Here it is two years later, and it's still hard to deal with. But God, you didn't want to know me two years ago," said Beth Hegarty, a Sandy Hook mother who happened to be inside the school that day with her three daughters, all of whom survived. Hegarty and her girls are among the many in this close-knit town of 27,000 who have taken advantage of counseling and other programs made available through millions in grants and donations.


Newtown has received about $15 million in grants from the U.S. Education Department and Justice Department to support its recovery.


Source: http://www.latimes.com/ Read more


Simple Solutions for School Security That Works Rick McCann MS CAPP CLEI


Despite the earnest efforts of some school systems and well-meaning school boards, administrators and security advisors, the security and safety of the students and staff of most schools is marginal at best.


While we can focus on the headline grabbing "Active Shooter" phrase, (the hot button of today's media) the truth is while these incidents certainly are becoming more frequent and unpredictable, there are other more pressing, serious safety concerns that we're not focusing on.


Having worked in the bug extermination business I learned that the best place to stop any bug is not once they get inside your home, but rather, outside, as far away from the structure as possible. The most effective extermination plans are ones that start with a triple layer process which begins outside, in the yard, around the footing of the structure, under the structure and anyplace bugs might breed, rest, nest or feed.


Additional layers of protection are then put in place inside especially in areas that are not fortified such as openings under sinks where pipes were installed, drainage areas, basements or crawl spaces and anyplace that might be considered a path of least resistance.


School and workplace security should be looked at in the same light.


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