Bullying V horseplay

[Pete999]

Seeing as my last post got such a good reception, I though well Pete you're on a roll lets give it another go, I haven't been on what constitutes a site for a long time now, and did see a lot of Apprentices getting bullied, me for example, when I was a mere Lad, oh and believe it or not I walked out on a part time job a few weeks ago for being accused of bullying, anyone who knows me will tell you it's virtually impossible for me to be classed as a bully but that's another story.

Just wondered what experience you blokes and blokesses have encountered.

 

[Harni]

I think the whole thing boils down to gauging how the person can handle banter. For example, you can call me any name under the sun and if i know its in jest, ill just return it probably worse but there are some people out there who don't like anything like that at all. I think if you are going to dish out something, its your responsibility to gauge how that person will react and the main thing is if they make it clear they don't like it, you stop. Simple!

 

[M-Ty]

I am not an electrician, but work in electronics manufacturing.
My employer has policies that we and the installers are obliged to give our written commitment to annually.
It's not a case of "if they make it clear they don't like it, you stop."
Nor even that you could if they made it clear they would like it!
It is absolutely strictly forbidden on pain of summary dismissal.
The workforce is mature (bordering on elderly, even, including me!) and the odd apprentice who did not learn to act maturely left to find a more suitable, exciting and better-paid job, with no ill-feelings, which was for the best for all concerned.

 

[Bobster]

I am not an electrician, but work in electronics manufacturing.
My employer has policies that we and the installers are obliged to give our written commitment to annually.
It's not a case of "if they make it clear they don't like it, you stop."
Nor even that you could if they made it clear they would like it!
It is absolutely strictly forbidden on pain of summary dismissal.
The workforce is mature (bordering on elderly, even, including me!) and the odd apprentice who did not learn to act maturely left to find a more suitable, exciting and better-paid job, with no ill-feelings, which was for the best for all concerned.

That sounds like a truley boring place to work.

 

[ruston]

That sounds like a truley boring place to work.

Sounds like bullying to me.

 

[Bobster]

Sounds like bullying to me.

You'll have gone through the same quarry initiations I did... That wouldn't be allowed anymore.

Thing was, everyone had it done to them it was indiscriminate. A sort of rite of passage.

My mentor was a nice bloke, yeah he played jokes. It was called character building ha!

 

[ifindoubtdont]

I agree with Aurai, it's not what is said or done or from who, but how it is received. I have been on the receiving end of bullying and harassment, it went on for years and it was not until the company doctor spotted it that something was done. I ended up taking early retirement and the manager responsible for the bullying and harassment lost their job. I now worship the ground that manager has got coming to them. This was eight years ago and yes I'm still very bitter about it.

 

[Adam W]

Probably Adam, I have been at the home brew. I thought you were agreeing with Aurai, who's comments are wrong in my opinion.
As you say, someone should not have to complain, that is a situation that should have been banished a long time ago. A lot of the guys who "dish it out" are the ones who can't take it, and that is true bullying.

I didn't agree as such, I just disagreed with your opinion that his post was a "load of b******s".

 

[Aurai]

I hope this one helps

Wearing one of my other caps, a female caller complained to me that the Apprentice manager had seduced another female trainee. My caller explained that she had a consenting relationship with the manager the previous year, though, that had ended. Now my caller could see the pattern emerging. These are all professional adults, by the way. I had to ask if my caller was making a complaint, she was not prepared to. I asked her to advise the other trainee to complain, in confidence, and I was advised that the other trainee was perfectly happy with her relationship. There was no case to deal with.

i am not saying that the employer could turn a total blind eye to these matters either, but that would require other routes in the absence of any complaint.

Thank you.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

I was at once place and watch 3 grown men take the p out of a girl right from school and it was going over her head.
So I stood behind them and told to get on with their job.
Well they took this as a que to go for me.
I gave it back, and then one of them asked me out for a fight, this guy was in his Late 40s and we'll put of shape
I stood there a bit shocked by this, and figured. What the hell Ok
The guy walked off
I reported this to a manager who said it wasn't his problem, and to report it to his manager
I did that and his managers comment was he would of had me (seems they were ex school mates)
Pointed out he was dam old and I would f easy kill him
For me using them words I got the sack
Hard to find a job when you have been sacked

I still don't like bullies and will stand up to them.. But I do think that some are a bit more sensitive than others and we can't say some things as it might be class as racist.. I normally stay quiet till I know people... Because in the UK we can joke by calling someone a name or telling them to f.off and not mean it in a.nasty way

 

[Mighty Chum]

I'm a trainee I guess. Started in the electrical side of site works at 27, 28 now and just starting college. At my age it seems like most sparks, mentors or what have you, aren't trying to break me and remake me. They know I'm a man grown and that my personality is ingrained. Sometimes I get talked to like I'm an idiot when I do something that an experienced tradesman would know, or ask a question that is idiotic once thought about. For me that's actually a great way to hammer things home to me. I know that to them it's as obvious as night following day so that's sparked the tone, yet I am able to reason internally that I don't have the experience so don't take it personally, instead listen and absorb the answer and don't repeat the mistake.

With the youngsters I've noticed they do the same but some of them will also try to alter the apprentice's mind set too. Let's be honest a lot of them are fresh from school where they were likely Berty Big ********, trying to project that persona into a mans world which ultimately, if not curbed, will get them hurt by a man grown who can't control his temper. I think that's a solid way to behave and is beneficial for them.

However some of the sparks forget you can't just break them, you've got to remake them. One lad in particular on my firm is, without pulling punches, terrible. Third year, no drive, no independence, no initiative. Often talked about behind his back and to his face as being worthless. He was assigned to me and my Sparks for one job, we'd heard all the sniping and **** talking about him before meeting him so were expecting essentially a sweeping monkey. We were surprised. The kid was slow, lacked knowledge and needed to be watched to make sure once he finished a task he moved on to the next, we mugged him off and did the usual "Go ask X for a long wait" etc. We also encouraged him, prompted him to make decisions for himself, let him **** up, explain why it was ****ed, then let him fix it. Within a few weeks that kid didn't become a new person but clearly grew and was on track to having potential.

I guess after that long winded rant what I'm trying to say is, getting mugged off, asked to make the teas, sweep up and occasionally getting berated for mistakes is an apprentice's lot in life. However if no one is also giving the other side of the coin, encouraging them, trying to instill solid traits in them etc, then you're not just having fun. You're a bully.

 

[Barry White]

Bully or harras my aprentice he is 6 foot 5 and built like a brick ****house nice kid tho and learns quick and works hard. He double checks any list of materials he is given to collect! Did get him with a falopean tube but he is wise to this now as for banter he gives as good as he gets now and time passes nicely