Speak up: A graduate midwife’s experience with bullying

In my graduate year as a midwife I worked with a senior midwife who was my manager who bullied other staff, mostly the junior midwives and especially targeted graduates. Let’s call her Beatrice*.

Beatrice’s behaviour was sometimes overt and at other times covert. She would not greet me, say hello, and at times would barely acknowledge my existence.

As a graduate midwife I understandably needed a lot of support — especially in the birthing suite — and I did not receive support from Beatrice in the way that I needed to learn and safely care for my patients. She would seem irritated when I would ask a question or for help, would not make eye contact with me, and would come into a room when assistance was required and act unprofessionally, seemingly annoyed that she had to help. She made her displeasure very obvious to the patient and her family.

On several occasions Beatrice spoke to me in a hostile way in the hallway of the birthing suite in front of other staff, accusing me of something that I did not actually do.

I began to feel increasingly anxious working with Beatrice. I was terrified to ask for support when I needed it. I felt humiliated and belittled by her cold and unfriendly attitude towards me. I was concerned that the dynamic could result in unsafe patient care, as she seemed resistant to assisting and giving support to ensure my patients were well taken care of.

Beatrice didn’t seem to like her job and was also not kind or caring toward patients. I noticed she treated other junior staff like this, but they were too afraid to speak up. I worried about going to work. The situation began to negatively preoccupy my state of mind outside of working hours. I had to literally force myself to ask Beatrice when I was unsure of something.

I knew it was not right to feel this way at a time when my learning experience was meant to be a positive one. I was worried the situation would begin impacting my mental health in a negative way, so I sought the advice of a supportive educator. They encouraged me to put in a formal complaint to HR.

I was terrified to do it! I knew Beatrice would find out I had complained about her, and I was concerned about how it would then affect us working together. At the same time, I knew if I didn’t do something that the behaviour would continue and other midwives who came after me in their graduate year would be subjected to her bullying.

I made a formal complaint, and it was investigated by HR. Eventually Beatrice was stood down temporarily from her role as an ANUM. I don’t know what other actions were taken as of course it was confidential between Beatrice and upper management but it appeared that there were a range of changes made.

I felt empowered by the experience and was relieved my complaint was taken seriously. I did not have to work with the bully again with her being my manager, and this made my work less stressful.

I encourage anyone experiencing bullying to speak up. It is important for your health and wellbeing — workplace bullying is not OK.