Fiona Watt, Chief Executive of MRC (UK), apologizes for bullying

J

JohnTheJack

Moderator
Staff member
JohnTheJack said:
MRC is now part of UKRI.

On UKRI website:
https://www.ukri.org/news/ukri-issues-statement-on-bullying-complaint/

News article (paywalled):
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...ullies-says-shes-sorry-for-bullying-7pstqn0qr

Watt, for those who had forgotten, has been a vigorous defender of the PACE trial.
See, for example,
http://www.virology.ws/2018/08/28/trial-by-error-professor-edwards-letter-to-mrcs-fiona-watt/
Click to expand...
I'd forgotten about that letter of @Jonathan Edwards. Hits the spot on all counts. Might well be worth airing it again, given how enlightening it could be to the unenlightened, some of whom will be quite new to the party.

And Watt's apology does actually sound like ... a real apology. At the very least it seems like she has found herself with no choice but to take on a large helping of humble pie. About time too.
 
I have read the quote from Fiona Watt. Make of it what you will, I find it astonishing that someone who says they themselves have been a whistleblower and have supported victims of bullying could be completely unaware that their own actions were bullying.

I confirm that an anonymous whistleblower complaint was made related to my role as Executive Chair of MRC. I engaged fully with the investigation, accepted the findings and offered written apologies to the individuals involved. While of course respecting their anonymity.

I would like to apologise to them again publicly. I was devastated to learn that my actions and behaviour had affected colleagues in a negative way. I have now undertaken an extensive personal improvement plan to address the issues that were raised. I have learned a lot from this process and I am applying that knowledge actively in all aspects of my life. 

Over the years I have been a whistleblower myself and I have supported other colleagues to speak up when something is not right. Bullying is abhorrent and I am a fervent believer in a positive research environment where everyone feels comfortable raising and resolving issues in a timely fashion.
Click to expand...
 
Trish said:
I have read the quote from Fiona Watt. Make of it what you will, I find it astonishing that someone who says they themselves have been a whistleblower and have supported victims of bullying could be completely unaware that their own actions were bullying.
Click to expand...
Yes I also find that difficult to believe. My feeling is that she found herself with no choice but to make a genuine-sounding apology - how genuine it really is remains to be seen.

I also cannot help reflect that the PACE authors and other allies are past masters at accusing people of bullying them, when in truth the roles are reversed. Is Watt genuine? Or just caught out?
 
I am never sure what the phrase "bullying" refers to in these high-profile stories. The context is left opaque.

I feel this unclarity probably doesn't help when powerful people make false and usually vague accusations that they are being bullied and harassed. It just becomes another tactic, another weapon.

I understand the need for confidentiality but the "bullying" stories have so little information in them that it's hard to learn positive lessons from them or for these "apology" statements to meaningfully work to change workplace culture.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom