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Va. firefighter fights demotion over hazing
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A firefighter is challenging his demotion from captain after complaints of hazing last year.
Robert Valentine ran Station 9 in Kempsville for four years. His rank was reduced to master firefighter and he has appealed the demotion in Circuit Court. His lawyer contends that the grievance process was unfair.
Read the full article at http://tinyurl.com/97mmfl
If I read this article correctly, I believe this is more aboutthe process taken, however the whole topic really gets up my nose.
For some time, on multiple forums, I've argued against hazing and related actions in any emergency service, worldwide.
Hazing must stop, and it must come for the top down.
It's potentially dangerous.
It's potentially degrading.
It can potentially cause psychological damage.
We're about to go into 2009 and it still amazes me that hazing is an acceptable practice in many workplaces especially the emergency services- it's almost seen as a right of passage into the service.
Here in Victoria, Australia, there's some very tough enforcement happening- from our Workpalce Safety Inspectors website (WorkSafe), they have released a Guideance Note at http://tinyurl.com/4sbnqc
"Workplace bullying and occupational violence can affect employees and organisations in a number of ways. The effects can range from actual psychological and physical injuries to reduction in employee productivity. Employers have legal responsibilities to do as much as is practicable to eliminate or reduce risks to employees' health and safety. Employees also have legal responsibilities regarding how they act towards others within the workplace. WorkSafe Victoria has released a new Guidance Note on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work. The guidance note provides practical information about how to protect everyone in the workplace from risks to health and safety caused by bullying and occupational violence."
Robert Valentine ran Station 9 in Kempsville for four years. His rank was reduced to master firefighter and he has appealed the demotion in Circuit Court. His lawyer contends that the grievance process was unfair.
Read the full article at http://tinyurl.com/97mmfl
If I read this article correctly, I believe this is more aboutthe process taken, however the whole topic really gets up my nose.
For some time, on multiple forums, I've argued against hazing and related actions in any emergency service, worldwide.
Hazing must stop, and it must come for the top down.
It's potentially dangerous.
It's potentially degrading.
It can potentially cause psychological damage.
We're about to go into 2009 and it still amazes me that hazing is an acceptable practice in many workplaces especially the emergency services- it's almost seen as a right of passage into the service.
Here in Victoria, Australia, there's some very tough enforcement happening- from our Workpalce Safety Inspectors website (WorkSafe), they have released a Guideance Note at http://tinyurl.com/4sbnqc
"Workplace bullying and occupational violence can affect employees and organisations in a number of ways. The effects can range from actual psychological and physical injuries to reduction in employee productivity. Employers have legal responsibilities to do as much as is practicable to eliminate or reduce risks to employees' health and safety. Employees also have legal responsibilities regarding how they act towards others within the workplace. WorkSafe Victoria has released a new Guidance Note on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work. The guidance note provides practical information about how to protect everyone in the workplace from risks to health and safety caused by bullying and occupational violence."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
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I completely agree. A little fun in the station can be good for blowing off steam (when all parties are laughing), but when someone is in danger of being physically harmed or as you mentioned, degraded, humiliated, etc, there's a problem. I've been through a situation like this and also saw it happening to someone else (when I mentioned that it was a little much, it was my turn). There's no need for it. Yes, firefighting is a "different" job, but it doesnt mean we have to behave like bullying children for the rest of our lives.
I'm glad someone has taken a stand and made changes. There's another department in Ontario who has demoted a Capt due to harrassment issues his firefighters were involved in. Do your part, ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all, in all respects. It doesn't mean you have to stop having fun, it means you have to start using your heads!
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