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Don't talk to me about bullying in the workplace.
If Reggie-baby got fined $10,000 plus costs after pleading guilty to failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others in the workplace by using abusive language, then a certain former proprietor/ director of 3AK should have got life!
Witnesses please form an orderly line.
I remember years ago working at a certain radio station in Goulburn in the 80's. The boss was a guy with an ego the size of a house(and he matched it physically). His way was the ONLY way and if you didn't follow there was hell to pay!
I remember reading a news bully about someone having their licence revoked, I think the word was "revocation". This bloke insisted I pronounce the word "revoke - shun" and we had a full 10 minute argument over the matter. In the end he says "you'll f'n say it my boy or you'll deal with my fist!" And he poked his rather large digit into my chest but when you're only 19 what can you do ? You want and love radio. This guy is dead now so I don't feel bad bringing it up but to anyone in Goulburn these days all I can say is you have it pretty good now!
This is not a story of colourful dressing-downs but a scary moment that I wouldn't wish on anyone..... and It's absolutely TRUE.
One morning after days of heavy rain I was just beginning to read the weather when I spotted a Funnel Web spider inching it's way towards me across the panel in it's 'ready to strike' position and there was nothing I could do but wind-up the three day forecast quickly without showing any alarm. That was the most hair-raising moment I have ever had. Once I finished and the mike was off and after some fancy Astaire-like footwork and waiting for it to be far enough away from the panel, not wanting to risk damaging anything 'useful' in the studio, it was basically flattened with a Florsheim!.
This was the only time I've ever wanted to have a stiff drink whilst working. For a long time I kept the mangled specimen in a jar and for a while afterwards always looked under the desk before starting a shift, especially after a lenghty downpour. I showed it to a vet friend of mine and he said that it was unusual for a Funnel Web to come indoors at all. Yeah! me and Murphy's Law.
I'm sure if radio was a visual medium, that footage would have been priceless!
On Behalf of Rod ( Rod's Roll of Honour )
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" Sure my Roll of Honour is getting large - More to the Point 95% of the people you would love to see back, the rest ....I was glad to see go "
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I think it's about time someone took the initiative to stop this kind of behaviour and stamp it out. I'm not saying that $10000 is deserved, I don't know the full circumstances, but I have worked with a lot of heads over the years, and some have been pretty awful. Saying that there have been times when the circumstances around me me have sent me completely off as well.
Perhaps the rule of respect for all should be introduced right across the board, from the upstairs to the grounders, and respect for the respect etc. This has been going on for a lot longer than just my 20 odd years in the job. Time it stopped I think we all deserve a break from the thought of bullying in ANY workplace.