Beds the BBC had in alcoholic treatment centres were phased out by the time I became a full-time Bectu trade union official within the BBC. Most alcoholics self-medicate with alcohol to num abuse experienced in childhood. Alcoholics I have represented have had to find a healthy way out of their hell alone. Whether they are given the time and understanding to do this depends on the awareness of their management – variable and on whether their alcoholism was combined with any other serious disciplinary offense.
The best I could do when management had hard evidence of drunkenness on duty and racism combined was to advise the member to resign before racism and alcohol were added to their record, which would have to be disclosed to future employers asking for references.
The only downside to racism being taken more seriously is that when I’ve represented black members who were on the end of a racist comment, the culprit would rather stick needles in their eyes than admit anything at all, even a microaggression. My members found it very difficult to accept that nothing could be done without evidence, especially when colleagues present at the incident wouldn’t support them. To be effectively gaslit by culprits and colleagues is horrible, destroying the trust that makes hard work fun.
The most frustrating cases have been those of capability. If feedback isn’t constructive, the manager has the capability issue. Nevertheless, I’ve had members; fortunately, only a few where the member, perfectly able to do their job, refuses point blank to do that job in the way the manager stipulates. If the manager’s demands are ‘reasonable,’ the member will be in capability/disciplinary, ultimately losing their job. Usually, I’ve managed to get them some financial compensation, but their manager still has won.
I can understand why a member of BBC staff feels that subbing their employer should be reciprocal. I used to spend thousands during a 6-8 week shot, including paying for my hotel bills. Then, you claim it back with receipts at the end of the shoot. Had I argued I didn’t have enough money, an arrangement would have been made for the production to cover the cost of hotel bills. However, this would have been agreed upon before the expenditure, rather than the production accountant having to marry up what was and what wasn’t legitimate. Using a BBC credit card to purchase something clearly not for work is embezzlement, and unless very minor, the result is always the sack.
The fifth circumstance concerns redundancy – what lazy management do is come up with a ‘new’ job title that has a fag paper’s worth difference from the current one and make everyone apply for that ‘new’ job. Managers should manage their staff correctly, helping everyone reach the required standard, and then, if they have to make cuts, letting the last to join the corporation go first. What blows my mind is how much lousy management employers tolerate.
#LazyManagement #KeepYrJob
