We have reached the "wake up and smell the coffee" juncture!
Claire Warner - Lift Culture
Founder & Director of award-winning workplace culture consultancy, Lift: Workplace Culture | People Change Support | Management Training & Coaching. We lift productivity, motivation, retention, innovation, results & joy
"Hi Claire, Can I start by thanking you for the support and care you've shown me over the last five months. Your help has got me to today without me entirely breaking and I thank you for that. The tools and suggestions you've given me to try should have worked, and the mindset work has helped me to try them. And if I worked anywhere, or for anyone else, they probably would have worked. But I've decided I'm just going to leave. I can't, in all conscience, put a claim in for constructive dismissal and run the risk of [insert charity name here] being seen in a bad light by our fab clients and donors. I know I would probably win but that's part of the problem. I know how it would be 'spun' and I don't think I can win without making [charity] look bad. So I'm going to go without saying anything. I am aware this isn't the right thing for the people that will follow me into the team or for those who remain, but I can't live with it anymore"
This is the email I received at 17:57 this evening. This is the email that made me cry. This is the email that made me angry. This is the email that made me write a social media post after hours. To receive this at any time from anyone, let alone someone I've come to know and care about, is bad enough. But to receive it on World Mental Health Day absolutely "boils my p!ss" (to quote the saying of a very good friend)
The temptation to name the organisation and / or the person directly involved and those who are pretending to not be aware that there is a serious bullying culture in the organisation is HUGE. But I'm just the one receiving the email. I'm not the one who wrote it. Or who has been forced to leave a job they love; a job they're still amazing at (just not quite as amazing as they were before the new 'person' headed up their team. And I'm not the one who, for the sake of everyone else (except their own self) doesn't want the organisation's name associated with the behaviour they've had to face.
What has happened to us?
What has happened to our sector?
When did we stop caring?
Why does our care stretch to clients / patients / service users / beneficiaries but not to the people who we employ?
领英推荐
What is going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back?
There are times I consider jacking all of this in for the relative "ease" of becoming a cat herder or a hens teeth collector
I actually despair.
But soon after the tears came the rage and fury. And we all know Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Especially a woman who is going to fight every day for the rest of her working life to stop this from happening - to show how the opposite approach is so much better for everyone, and everything.
If you are worried this article might be about you - it's not too late. You've still got time to change and we'd love to help you to do so.
If you think that something like this might be going on in your organisation and you want some support in turning it around - get in touch, we'd love to help you to do so.
If you think this article might be about you and you don't care - it is too late. Keep on scrolling
Salesforce Consultant (charity specialist) helping charities achieve their mission though digital tech. Salesforce Certified Admin and Non-Profit Consultant. Trailhead Ranger. FormAssembly certified.
1 年Agreed and I scorned the idea of a coach as I was ‘ok’. When I realised i wasn’t and asked for a coach, she had to pick up the pieces. Should have done it years before, so on your side. And she saved me - thank you Bj?rna C.
Fundraising consultant, Trustee at Together Dementia Support, Wife, Step-mum, volunteer at Lymphoma Action & cancer survivor ??
1 年I’ve seen this so many times too. I absolutely agree, how can organisations treat their patients/clients so well, with so much love and empathy and compassion, yet walk all over their staff until they leave battered and broken? Sadly the person that sent this email is not helping anyone (let alone themself) by walking away. This is why so many charities “get away” with toxic cultures continuing. I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to be brave and call out bad behaviour and if you have a chance to make a real difference to the organisation, and by association the people you help (happy people are better at their job!), it has to be worth it, doesn’t it? And doing so won’t necessarily harm the charity’s reputation. I know so many people that have taken this brave step and the result has been largely positive. Changes made to policies, training put in place, investigations leading to disciplinary action. All with a non-disclosure agreement to maintain the charity’s reputation. I sincerely hope that the person that sent the email is ok and whatever course of action they take, it is the right one for them and their mental health. Sending them best wishes for the future. ??
Proud to be a fundraiser for more than 30 years! If I can support your fundraising journey let me know.
1 年Definitely experienced this. This is so awful, it makes me so angry that charities think it’s ok to behave like this. We have to be and do better than this.
Helping purpose-driven humans cut through the noise, create action plans, and breathe their way to success?? | Coach & Breathwork Facilitator
1 年Thank you for sharing…. This is why I left my fundraising job years ago too. Never said anything but everyone knew our “leader” was a bully and she got away with it over and over. I’m sure she still is ….
Relationship, Fundraising & Outreach Manager
1 年Jo Beverley