A recent news story on News Talk 980 CKNW highlighted that Vancouver Coastal Health has seen a drop in the number of bullying reports received from employees.  Last year saw 184 anonymous calls to the VCH No-Bully Hotline, compared to 269 in 2015.

Anti-bullying measures paying off

As the first employer in Canada to offer a confidential 1-800 line to report bullying and disrespectful behaviour, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is seeing the value of taking a proactive approach. Since introducing its Respectful Workplace Program in 2014, over 1700 VCH employees have come forward to report bullying and disruptive behaviour in their work area. Out of the roughly 1700 reports, 967 were resolved by Human Resources, 700 were referred to the VCH Employee & Family Assistance Program for confidential counselling and 34 are under investigation.

Confidential reporting

The No-Bully Hotline provides a unique form of support where employees and physicians can confidentially discuss their experience with a counsellor, who will help with next steps. Complaints are either referred to a confidential counselling program or to HR for investigation and resolution.

“Many staff that call VCH’s No-Bully Line don’t realize that this may be the first step – and the only step – required to deal with bullying,” said Sara Arwin, Clinical Services Associate for VCH’s No-Bully Line. “Our anonymous support line provides confidential advice and can give staff the courage they need to have the conversation and address this behaviour directly without having to file a formal compliant with HR or their manager.” Research shows that most people will stop their behaviour once it’s brought to their attention.

Problems are typically resolved through apology and behaviour change, and communicating respectful workplace expectations. However, 116 staff or physicians who have been found to have breached respectful workplace expectations have received a letter of warning, suspension, termination, demotion or have had their privileges revoked.

Celebrating respect in the workplace

On February 22, 2017, employees and physicians throughout VCH celebrated the power of a respectful workplace by wearing their VCH pink bracelets and shirts.

“Our 2017 Pink Bracelet campaign is about staff making a personal commitment to demonstrating VCH’s respectful workplace values which benefits us all – staff, patients and the public,” said Kathleen Daluz, Lead of VCH’s Respectful Workplace program.

No-bully line

If you see or experience bullying,  report your concern to your manger or call VCH’s confidential No-bully line at 1 844 NO BULLY (662-8559).

More information

More information on workplace bullying is available on the Employee Relations section of VCH Connect