Mohawk Valley PC leads battle against bullying
By DEBORAH A. MILES
A survey recently conducted among 15,000 state workers in five agencies showed bullying and violent conflicts among co-workers, managers and supervisors is a statewide problem.

Co-worker conflict is referred to as “Type 3” workplace violence.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), millions of American workers experience this type of conflict every year.

PEF Executive Board Member and PEF Division 183 Council Leader Jeanette St. Mary said the results of the survey taken at Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center (MVPC) shed new light on bullying and co-worker conflicts. It also alerted managers at MVPC to a problem they are willing to resolve.

“The survey revealed high rates of bullying at MVPC,” St. Mary said. “The results from various facilities were pretty even across-the-board. The problem is widespread. The managers at MVPC were shocked and decided to take steps to find solutions.”

In late January, MVPC managers met with union representatives and employees to discuss the survey results and examine certain areas with higher percentages of co-worker bullying. Along with verbal abuse, some areas indicated physical contact among workers.

Groups are being formed at MVPC to hone in on solutions. St. Mary said they would examine other programs such as co-worker mediation to prevent problems from escalating.

“This survey is a positive first step on how the union can address this issue,” said PEF Vice President Pat Baker. “It brings more awareness to the problem. Bullying only creates a toxic and hostile environment that distracts members from doing their jobs.

“Our members’ role is to treat clients, and our members should not be the objects of conflict. The willingness of MVPC managers to work with the union and rank-and-file members should be a model for other OMH facilities,” Baker said.

PEF health and safety specialist Matt London, the project coordinator, said research is critically needed to assess the effect of various prevention efforts on this damaging problem.

This is a federally funded project with the collaboration of PEF and other unions, conducted by the University of Maryland.

All agree the survey is the launching pad in the battle against bullying and co-worker conflict. And, by law, state agencies must develop prevention plans for all types of workplace violence, including co-worker conflicts.

“We have to come up with positive ways to address these problems, and make strides to prevent bullying and violence in the future. Our goal is to have a peaceful place to work,” St. Mary said.