Harrow-based novelist aims to put an end to bullying in the workplace
A London-based novelist aims to get the issue of bullying in the workplace back into parliamentary debate, and raise awareness of the problem through her recently published novel ‘A Woman of Valour’.
The novel sees a female Property Consultant face bullying and harassment from her superior, and follows her quest for justice, touching upon the issues of racism and sexism along the way.
PM David Cameron has brought the issue up in the past and Australia has recently criminalised bullying in the workplace.
This summer’s box office hit ‘Horrible Bosses’ also brought the problem to the public’s attention.
Having experienced bullying in the workplace herself, Tamara West, wrote her first novel based on her own and the experiences of others, about a problem that has doubled in the last decade.
She said: “There are plenty of adult self-help and children’s books out there that deal with the issue of bullying, but there are not many novels aimed at adults that address this troubling topic.
“So I thought that I could combine my past and quite traumatic experience with my passion for writing, and hopefully help people across the UK through the story, ‘A Woman of Valour’.
“I feel that the Government is just not doing enough and I need to take further action to raise awareness about this.
“There is no direct legislation about bullying in the workplace so I have asked my local MP, Bob Blackman of Harrow East, to raise the matter again in Parliament. He has written to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, and is awaiting his response.”
Tamara also has several book signings coming up through which she also hopes to raise awareness about and help people suffering from bullying in the workplace.
She added: “For those to who do not belong to a trade union, ideally I would like there to be a neutral body established that employers and employees could go to for mediation, particularly as many affected employees find the whole issue of approaching their employer intimidating. I also think that it should be compulsory for employers to undergo regular training and their grievance process should be set out with more transparency.
“This would increase the productivity and well-being of UK workers and reduce the workload of employment tribunals and High Courts. UK businesses lose far too many days taken as sick leave due to stress at work.
“I often have people coming to me for advice about the issue; men and women from very small companies to the largest corporations, and I’m only too happy to help, as I know how difficult it can be to go through it.”
‘A Woman of Valour’ is the first offering from this new British author, and the beginning of her own quest to eradicate bullying in the workplace and improve the lives of workers across the UK.
