Policies and procedures *not* vetted by the CIPD

A letter to the CIPD's  People Management Magazine with the headline "We badly need an anti-bullying service – but not this one" levels criticism at the National Bullying Helpline and adds: "I would also encourage the CIPD to review its support and relationship with this organisation". This comment is doubtless made because of the claims on the NBH website to operate procedures vetted by the CIPD. The letter is followed by an interesting footnote:

A CIPD spokesperson responds: "The CIPD does not endorse the National Bullying Helpline, has not vetted its policies and procedures, and does not have any relationship with the organisation. We have asked the National Bullying Helpline to correct its website to make this clear.”

Another journal for HR processionals, Personnel Today, contains an article this week which comments on the relationship between the NBH and HR&DM, as well as the CIPD's investigation of a specific complaint.

Meanwhile the NBH website has been updated with the statement: "OUR HELPLINES ARE EXTREMELY BUSY PRESENTLY DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND. If you are unable to get through on the phones, please keep trying. Your call is important to us. Alternatively, you can email us at admin@nationalbullyinghelpline.co.uk"

Yes, your call is important to them...

Is Max Clifford representing Christine Pratt?

No, apparently. This from Civil Society Governance web site, 1 March 2010:-

"Pratt answered the phone at her HR consultancy business, HR & Diversity Management Ltd, but refused to comment and referred enquiries to PR expert Max Clifford. Clifford, however, said he was not representing her and knew nothing about the BAE Systems lawsuit.

“Christine came to me last week to ask me to give her some unpaid advice and guidance, which I’ve done,” he told Civil Society.  “My advice was that if you want to change perceptions of the situation you have to provide some evidence to substantiate what you said.”

Bullyonline Press Statement

The familiy of workplace bullying pioneer Tim Field has posted a press statement on his bullyonline web site

re: National Bullying Helpline Ltd / HR & Diversity Management Ltd:

Tim Field's family supported the launch of the National Bullying Helpline in 2007. Tim's widow Susan became one of the founding trustees in the belief that the project would have met with his approval. In 2008, after she had received a number of complaints about the charity which she was unable to get resolved, Susan Field resigned from the board.

The family has today instructed the National Bullying Helpline operator to remove all references to the Field name, including Tim Field, from their web site.

1 March 2010