[IER] High Court asked to rule on Boris Johnson's interpretation of workplace bullying

Fri Nov 19 18:34:42 GMT 2021

News brief - 19/11/21                                                                            <https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=948865287b> View this email in your browser 

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High Court asked to rule on Boris Johnson’s interpretation of workplace bullying

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After this week's partial u-turn on the Owen Paterson scandal, a spotlight has been shone on Boris Johnson's approach to his staff and the workplace culture he presides over. 

These concerns are not new. Previous scandals have included Dominic Cummings  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/downing-st-faces-unfair-dismissal-claim-after-aide-frogmarched-out-her-job-armed-police/> having a sacked aide frogmarched out of number 10 by armed police, and  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/priti-patel-row-adds-to-concerns-over-govt-devaluing-of-workers-rights/> resignation of Permanent Secretary, Sir Philip Rutnam, who claimed that he and other members of staff were being bullied by Home Secretary, Priti Patel.

Boris Johnson later declared that Patel was not guilty of bullying because, he claimed, she was not aware that her behaviour was upsetting. This statement flew in the face of the recommendations of his own independent advisor on the matter - Sir Alex Allan - who resigned in protest.

The FDA, the union for senior civil servants, has previously pointed to a  <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/civil-servants-fleeing-whitehalls-toxic-work-culture-stats-suggest/> toxic workplace culture at the heart of Whitehall as being behind a dramatic increase in civil servants leaving their jobs.

Now, the union has called upon the High Court to decide whether Boris Johnson's intepretation of 'bullying' is legal.

Without any explanation … [the Prime Minister] departed from the civil service definition of bullying,” Tom Hickman QC, representing the FDA, said in a written submission to the Court.

He argued that Ministers should be bound to the same workplace laws as any other employer. 

 <https://www.ier.org.uk/news/high-court-asked-to-rule-on-boris-johnsons-interpretation-of-workplace-bullying/> Read more 

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