Wounds that never heal

Veterinarian Stuart Bruere lifts the lid on

VETERINARY STAFF RECRUITMENT

and retention is a common topic of conversation in veterinary practices right now. In the context of this column, I’m referring to all the staff who make up a veterinary clinic.

In the past decade we have at long last acknowledged the subject of stress and how it affects our mental health and disproportionately high suicide rate. However, workplace bullying and abuse is rarely, if ever, included in the mix. To bring this to light, and after a broadcast on Australia’s Insight programme focusing on suicide and stress in the profession in that country, I added a post to the Massey University Veterinary Alumni Facebook page about my experience of being on the receiving end of workplace bullying and abuse during my lengthy career in New Zealand.

The response via Facebook and numerous private messages clearly supported my contention that bullying and abuse is indeed a widespread problem in New Zealand veterinary clinics. It’s fair to say that many of the comments came from colleagues still working in practice, albeit struggling with remarks made many years ago – but sadly, other remarks came from colleagues who’d left the profession after deciding they were no longer willing to participate if workplace bullying was part of the territory. In the more than 100 comments and likes there wasn’t a single disagreement with my remarks and conclusions.

Workplace bullying is not well defined in law; it’s accepted as a series of repeated behavioural events that cause distress to the recipient (WorkSafe, 2020). There’s no particular time span, but it’s something that will happen over a period of months. During my career I’ve been subjected to workplace bullying and abuse on several occasions, with the behaviours displayed including shouting, overtalking, distraction activities while I was talking, physical intimidation and unrelenting teasing. The less obvious ones included the bully being uncooperative, sulking and behaving in a passive-aggressive way.

The effects of bullying are profound and can be very long lasting. Bullying leaves you with a lack of self-worth, feelings of being disconnected from your workplace, embarrassed and guilty, and can leave you suffering posttraumatic stress disorder. No matter how you try to rework the logic of an attack, there’s only one conclusion – the bully wants power and control.

I recall a case early in my career of a deer velveting that went wrong. The farmer had asked me to velvet several wild caught stags, and one developed post-capture myopathy. The farmer rang me to describe the situation, and during the conversation became extremely aggressive and abusive. I genuinely feared for my safety and was extremely reluctant to visit the deer, who died soon after the phone call.

It didn’t end there: the farmer decided to make a complaint to the

BULLYING LEAVES YOU WITH A LACK OF SELF

WORTH, FEELINGS OF BEING DISCONNECTED FROM YOUR WORKPLACE, EMBARRASSED AND GUILTY…

NZVA (that’s how it was done until about 20 years ago). I was invited to Wellington to explain my side of events to the reviewing committee, after which they gave me a thorough arse-kicking and told me to straighten myself out. I received no professional support from my work colleagues or the profession.

The trauma was real, and its depth became evident to me three years ago when I retold my story to a colleague researching the emotional effects of bad clinical outcomes. The events had happened more than 30 years earlier, but describing them brought the emotions to the surface and I became tearful. The researcher was the first

Safe, convenient and effective disinfectant tablets for Safe, convenient and effective disinfectant tablets for clinical, agricultural and commercial use. clinical, agricultural and commercial use. colleague to validate me, and I’ll always be indebted to him for his care and concern. I can still remember the names of all the people who caused me distress, of whom some were ‘well-respected’ members of our profession. Safe, convenient and effective disinfectant tablets for clinical, agricultural and commercial use. I’ve also witnessed senior colleagues becoming abusive and extremely manipulative on matters such as after-hours rosters and being work lazy (them not me!), trying repeatedly to enforce nonsensical work expectations, and repeatedly lying about personal matters unrelated to work. On most occasions these episodes were what I call ‘ambush events’ – they were unexpected and caused a spike in my adrenalin and the initiation of the fight or flight response. More than 20 years ago I was diagnosed with clinical depression and experienced the associated panic attacks. Fortunately I made a good recovery, but to this day I have occasional panic attacks when exposed to ambush events. ABOUT US I’ve learned that unless the trauma associated with bullying and abusive behaviour is dealt with, it ABOUT US Worchem is New Zealand’s first and only company dedicated leaves a very deep scar. So now when I feel I’m being to supplying disinfectant tablets. In essence, our mission is to subjected to bullying behaviours I make detailed notes Worchem is New Zealand’s first and only company dedicated streamline access to top-quality antimicrobial technology to all in a document in my computer. If they’re repeated, to supplying disinfectant tablets. In essence, our mission is to New Zealand businesses, making our country safer, healthier more comments are added until the pattern of bullying streamline access to top-quality antimicrobial technology to all and more productive. behaviour is clear. New Zealand businesses, making our country safer, healthier What would I suggest next, to those experiencing and more productive. bullying? Given that it can come from the boss, ABOUT US approaching your manager alone may not be a path you wish to take. Instead, you could employ an expert WORCHEM Limited, sales@worchem.co.nz WORCHEM Limited, Waikato, New Zealandwww.worchem.co.nz Worchem is New Zealand’s first and only company dedicated to supplying disinfectant tablets. In essence, our mission is to streamline access to top-quality antimicrobial technology to all New Zealand businesses, making our country safer, healthier – such as an employment lawyer or an employment advocate in conflict management – to address the issue with your employer. These professionals are easily found online, and the fact that they’re always busy Waikato, New Zealandwww.worchem.co.nz and more productive. supports my view that this is a widespread problem. Many veterinary practices in New Zealand claim to have a good understanding of appropriate human resources and conflict-resolution practices. My anecdotal observation is that this isn’t the case. Having spoken with people who advise practice principals WORCHEM Limited, in this space, I believe we need to make significant Waikato, New Zealandwww.worchem.co.nz improvements. If the problem remains unresolved, good people will continue to exit our profession, never to return. I challenge all practice principals and owners to review their processes and attitudes in this space. If you believe people are your most valuable resource, it seems logical to place appropriate human resourcing at the top of your business plan.

REFERENCE:

WorkSafe. Bullying at Work: Advice for Workers. https://worksafe.govt. nz/topic-and-industry/bullying/bullying-at-work-advice-for-workers/? gclid=Cj0KCQjw9IX4BRCcARIsAOD2OB2oPeYK5bRRC-9grhbI14jsloQb s6LQHmcST41sPnKTMYBUbhtoq1MaAubdEALw_wcB (accessed 6 July 2020). New Zealand, 2017 PRODUCT APPLICATIONS

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