Dramatic rise in number of cases of bullying in States departments

Friday 19 August 2016

There’s been a 350% rise in the number of reported cases of bullying in States departments, and a 250% rise in the number of complaints being upheld, between 2013 and 2015.

A Bailiwick Express Freedom of Information request shows there were four complaints of bullying in 2013, and that all of them were upheld.

In 2014, the number of complaints had more than doubled to ten, with half of them being upheld.

And in 2015 – the last full year for which records are available – the number of complaints had almost doubled again – to 18, ten of which were upheld.

The original Freedom of Information request also asked for the figures for 2010, 2011 and 2012, but this wasn’t possible because there was no reliable data.

A request to break down the complaints department by department was refused because it was argued with so few cases being reported it might lead to the identification of the complainant.

It’s not clear why there has been such a dramatic increase in the number of complaints but in the answer to the Freedom of Information question it’s speculated this might be because the way the data is recorded is now more accurate.

Other possible explanations of course include: the obvious – more people are, or feel they are, being bullied; or that people are now more willing to come forward and complain because they feel they will be taken seriously.