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The History of Bullying Campaigners
The History of Bullying Campaigners
Andrea Caroline Adams.
Born 10 May 1946. Died 7 November 1995.
In the late 1980’s Andrea Adams became the first person in the UK to speak out publicly about the negative implications of workplace bullying. At the time she was working as a book illustrator and journalist.
In 1992, by then a BBC Broadcaster and Journalist, Andrea published the UK’s first anti-bullying book; ‘Workplace Bullying. How to Confront and overcome it’. Andrea also wrote and produced a number of articles and spoke on Radio 4’s ‘Does He Take Sugar’ and ‘Woman’s Hour’. Without doubt, she was UK’s first anti-bullying campaigner
Around 1993 Andrea helped the late Tim Field through his own workplace bullying experience. This left Tim with a profound desire to use his personal experience (which he later referred to as his ‘insight’) to help others. He shared his vision with Andrea and later with others, including Christine Pratt who went on to establish The National Bullying Helpline.
Prior to this, in 1994 Christine telephoned Andrea Adams. Andrea advised Christine what to do with regard to her own workplace bullying situation. Knowing by this time that Tim wanted to help others too, Andrea referred Christine to Tim and they formed a long lasting, professional, association.
Sadly, in 1994 Andrea was diagnosed with Cancer. She passed away, peacefully, on 7 November 1995 surrounded by her family at her home in Salisbury. Tim and Christine vowed to continue her good work.
Tim Field
Born 24 April 1952. Died 15 January 2006
1n 1996 Tim Field was finally recognised as a world authority on bullying and psychiatric injury following 2 or more years campaigning, predominantly through his website. Tim wrote the best-selling book Bully In Sight and he set up the UK’s first workplace bullying website, which he initially called Success Unlimited but which later became known as BullyOnline. Tim’s website was a huge success and was recognised worldwide.
Cyber bullying and ‘bullying on line’ as we know it today, was relatively unknown at that time.
From 1995 onwards Christine and Tim worked together. Christine provided Tim with employment law material and case studies for his book. Tim released two editions of his book, which contained some of Christine’s work. Tim and Christine formed a close business association. Together they formed The Field Foundation – run today by an independent group.
In October 2005 Tim felt unwell one Sunday and he telephoned Christine. He had been feeling unwell for some time. Two days later Christine was at his bedside at the John Radcliff Hospital in Oxford when Tim’s Consultant told him he had Cancer. Tim replied; “I’m not ready to go just yet. I’ve got at least another two books left in me to write”..
Sadly, whilst Tim was in denial at that time, he was clearly terminally ill. He went from hospital to live with Christine and her husband in Swindon through October to late December 2005. Three weeks before his death he moved up North to be with his children. Tim died on 15 January 2006 surrounded by his family.
During his final few months, between October 2005 and January 2006, Tim and Christine spoke at length about the continuation of Tim’s work and also about Christine’s ongoing work in this arena. Tim said that being diagnosed with Cancer, having experienced a traumatic bullying experience, was an ‘occupational hazard’ and he instructed her to take care and put her welfare above all else. In turn Christine promised Tim that she would promote her workplace helpline and launch a separate National Bullying Helpline in his memory.
Christine launched The National Bullying Helpline charity from the House of Commons in April 2007. (The helpline had been in operation as an independent helpline since 2002).
Simply, Andrea passed her knowledge to Tim and Tim, in turn, passed his expertise on to Christine. Tim left Christine with a personally written (never published) guide on how to run a bullying helpline which he wrote late 2005.
Bully in Sight
How to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying
The late Tim Field wrote the first UK website for employees. He also published Bully In Sight : How to predict, resist, challenge and combat workplace bullying. Tim’s unique insight into bullying, gained from personal experience, enable everyone to appreciate the causes, consequences and costs of this inappropriate but widespread style of behaviour which blights lives.
In his book, Tim talks about; Human behaviour, effects of bullying, common excuses, remedies and what can be done. He addresses the role of the bully. How bullying manifests, itself’, process, serial bullying, bullying phases, bully behaviours and bullies in denial. He even discusses psychopathic personalities and bullying phrases. For the victim he talks about strategies, symptoms, hypervigilance, remedies and solutions through to recovery and relationships moving forward.
Bully In Sight was written before the technology kicked in and before cyber bullying became an issue. Nevertheless, this book was written with real ‘insight’ and years ahead of its time. We recommend it to you. If you would like a copy, please contact us.
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Christine Pratt
Christine experienced bullying in both her personal life and at work. In September 1996 Christine started her CIPD studies (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development). She chose Employment Law as her specialist study (as opposed to Training & Development or Remuneration), encouraged by Tim and her husband. Her vision was to work alongside management in order to help them understand the complexities and the seriousness of workplace bullying.
At that time, bullying in the workplace was regarded as ‘effective management’ and a means of getting instant results. The longer-term and lasting damage to productivity and employees, caused by workplace bullying, was only acknowledged by a select few. The CIPD encouraged Christine to qualify and said they wanted far more people who had experienced workplace bullying first-hand to enter into personnel management.
In 1997 Christine went on to become the first person in the UK to write a Workplace Bullying Guide for Managers. From this the very first employer Anti-Bullying policies were drawn up.
Those employers who engaged at the time included; GEC Marconi, EMI, IBM, Zurich, Toshiba, Johnsons Wax, Sun Life, Old Mutual, Corrugated Products (part of the David S Smith Packaging Group), Old Mutual, British Aerospace, Royal Mail and The Post Office and over 80 other employers. These companies were amongst the very first UK employers to introduce anti bullying and harassment policies. The wording in those policy statements, across the UK, were based entirely on Christine’s work.
We all have a duty to report bullying and to protect others, particularly the vulnerable or those in our care
Christine Pratt,
National Bullying Helpline
ACAS
ACAS did not roll out their own Bullying & Harassment policies until 6 years or so later, around 2004. Between 1997 and 2004 ACAS had been focussing on a re-structure and on strengthening their arbitration scheme.
When ACAS finally drew up a Bullying & Harassment guide, Christine recognised a great deal of her own work in their Guide and she went on to work closely with ACAS.
In 2007 Christine, recognised by the CIPD as an expert in her niche field by this time, was invited by the CIPD to write articles which were published. She was also asked to take part on a CIPD panel to debate the abolishment of The Employment Act following the outcome of The Michael Gibbons Review. This panel of experts considered what should go into an ACAS Code of Practice.
Christine, along with others, influenced elements of that Code of Practice. Two other panels existed at that time (one led by Unions and the other by ACAS themselves). The findings of the three panels were collated and reviewed and The ACAS Code of Practice, which we know today, was formed.
All employers in the UK are required to adhere to The ACAS Code of Practice.
The History of ACAS
1896:
The government launches a voluntary conciliation and arbitration service, which also gives free advice to employers and unions on industrial relations and personnel problems.
1960:
The service is named the Industrial Relations Service.
1993:
Acas' statutory duty to promote collective bargaining removed.
2000:
The Acas Chair and the Chief Executive become two separate roles.
2001:
Acas introduced its Arbitration Scheme as an alternative to certain employment tribunal hearings.
2002:
A national telephone number is brought in for the Acas helpline, replacing separate regional numbers.
2004:
New employment tribunal regulations introduced, which limited the Acas duty to offer conciliation to either seven or 13 weeks for most cases.
2009:
Following the Government Dispute Resolution Review (DRR), which ran through 2007 and 2008, Acas extends its helpline service and publishes its new Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
2014:
It was announced that before being able to lodge an employment tribunal claim, potential claimants must first notify Acas of their intention to claim so that Acas can offer the opportunity to resolve the issue using Early Conciliation.
eCRIME
In order to help the public with cybercrime and take pressure off the Police and helplines, including The Samaritans, Christine went on to establish www.ecrime-action.co.uk
The National Bullying Helpline was the first organisation providing operational, free, help for both adults and children, whether the bullying was in the community, the home, the School or the workplace. Today there are lots of websites offering anti-bullying advice for both children and adults. Very few provide a telephone helpline service although ChildLine run a helpline for Children.
The Samaritans work closely with The National Bullying Helpline. The two organisations benchmark and debate techniques and models relied on to provide support where it is needed.
Doctors, the Employment Tribunal, Solicitors, Citizens Advice, The Samaritans, ChildLine and other helpline service providers all refer clients to The National Bullying Helpline.
Over twenty years have passed since Christine first started to campaign for a fairer world, both on and off line. She has not sought recognition for her work but has quietly worked in the background, making a difference and saving lives. She continues her Voluntary work today through her helpline and she is, without doubt, the only person in the UK to voluntarily dedicate over twenty years of her life to the subject of anti-bullying.
The National Bullying Helpline
Call: 0300 323 0169 or 0845 22 55 787
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