The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) yesterday said its investigation on workplace bullying allegations was conducted according to the standards of the Executive Yuan’s Directorate-General of Personnel Administration (DGPA), and that it would discuss the issue further with the agency.
Ministry of Health and Welfare Deputy Minister Lue Jen-der (呂建德) made the remark at a Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee meeting when questioned by lawmakers about the investigation results.
Lue on Thursday reported the ministry’s findings: Of the eight accused, the claims against three were confirmed and the rest were deemed unsubstantiated. Seven officials received punishments ranging from a major demerit to a simple reprimand.
Photo: CNA
However, several legislators questioned the credibility of the investigation and asked the ministry to report to the committee yesterday.
Local media have shared videos and photographs of the Department of Long-term Care head making subordinates do push-ups and squats.
Lue said it was not considered workplace bullying, as the head said they only “encouraged” their subordinates to exercise.
Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) at the Legislative Yuan said only very few people felt uncomfortable about being asked to squat or do push-ups, as most people understood the department head’s intention.
The ministry respects the external investigation committee members’ expertise and objectivity, he said.
Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿) asked why remarks such as “you must commit suicide to show you sincerity” made by the ministry’s secretary-general was not deemed bullying, and why the department head who asked subordinates to do push-ups and squats was punished for “improper management” even though it was not considered bullying.
She also questioned why the ministry does not want to make its investigation report public.
Chen said the ministry’s superiors were “shielding each other” and urged it to reinvestigate.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Liu Chien-kuo (劉建國) asked why three department heads were deemed to not have engaged in workplace bullying, but were punished, and whether the Ministry of Health and Welfare had followed the definition of workplace bullying the Ministry of Labor used in its investigation.
In response, Lue said some officials were punished because they had improper management or poor supervision issues, adding that the definition of workplace bullying it used was in accordance with the DGPA’s standards and previous court rulings.
Some key points include a superior’s repeated verbal or non-verbal actions which cause a “hostile workplace environment” and result in subordinates feeling belittled or other mental influences, he said.
Lue said he personally disagrees with the management style of making personnel do push-ups, but the investigation was conducted in accordance with the DGPA’s definition, which might differ from common sense.
Responding to lawmakers’ requests that the Ministry of Health and Welfare publish its investigation report, Chiu said they would go through a data de-identification process to protect interviewees’ privacy and send the report to the committee within two weeks.
Chiu added that he guarantees the investigation was conducted professionally and objectively.
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