A Watershed Moment? The removal of a successful CEO, who had overseen significant growth at Primark, signals that the cost-benefit analysis of tolerating misconduct may finally be shifting. Companies are increasingly recognising that the long-term damage to organisational culture, reputation, and legal liability far outweighs any short-term disruption from leadership changes. For the…
The Machinery to Silence – How Abusers Weaponize the System to Bury Victims In a world where women are persistently encouraged to speak out against toxic and abusive behaviour, the reality of doing so often comes with devastating consequences. Recent revelations by Kate Beckinsale and Blake Lively shed light on how the machine of institutional…
When public figures like Gregg Wallace dismiss harassment allegations, what message does it send to employees experiencing similar issues in their own jobs? Gregg Wallace’s response to accusations of inappropriate behaviour has ignited widespread backlash and raised serious questions about workplace culture and accountability. The allegations against the MasterChef presenter include inappropriate sexual jokes, undressing…
In the early hours of Saturday morning, as thousands across the country rose from their beds to participate in Darkness Into Light, an event aimed at raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, a family was engulfed in a wave of inconsolable grief. The reason behind their devastation was not just the loss of…
Toxic workplaces, the not so silent epidemic that claims lives and leaves countless others shattered. This tragic death was preventable, the loss of Dr Vaish Kumar’s life, and the loss her family and friends will feel is lasting. This headline will move down the website into oblivion, their pain is forever. BBC covered the story…
Sharing your unique experiences of trauma can indeed be a difficult and painful process. When faced with someone who responds dismissively, it’s important to remember that no one else can truly understand the depth of your trauma except for you. People who make statements like, “I wouldn’t have got that from them,” lack the insight…
After I reported teachers’ abuse at one private school, then watched administrators and the board cover up, I resigned in protest. I was hired to work at another private school. In my third year at the new school, a student reported directly to me that she was being “sexually harassed by a teacher.” I didn’t…
In the last blog, I spoke about losing my temper one afternoon with two students. I drew a clear contrast between this awful mistake and the abusive conduct of four teachers that students reported on in 2012. My goal in this blog is to encourage others to be whistleblowers and especially when it’s high-stakes such as…
I am often asked about the difference between demanding and demeaning conduct. The first aims to raise expectations and enhance performance for all. The second is humiliating and degrading. There’s zero comparison between them, but those who demean like to say it’s actually to “motivate.” Don’t fall for that lie. Part of why I am an…
In writing about whistleblowers, John Solas talks about those he categorizes as “bad followers.” When abuse happens, the spotlight is shone on poor leadership, but it’s also important to examine the ways in which others contribute to a culture where abuse flourishes. Solas organizes bad followers into four categories. The first set of followers obey and I devote…