Defence Forces to create €400k grievance procedure after report uncovers unsafe workplaces
More Sexual 88% Or Have In Of Of Picture Harassment The Experienced They That Surveyed One Some Female File Review Forms Reported Respondents
The Defence Forces is set to spend almost €400,000 to develop a new grievance procedure, which comes on the back of a report earlier this year that found people serving, particularly women, are working in systemically unsafe workplaces.
It has gone out to tender for the project to design and develop the processes, which are set to be implemented before December 2024. The Defence Forces said that substantial gaps exist within the current grievance management model and it must establish a new model that is robust and fit-for-purpose.
In March, the Government published the report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) on the Defence Forces, which recommended a "statutory fact-finding process" following its investigation of matters first raised by a group of female veterans.
Some 88% of female respondents surveyed in the review reported that they have experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment. It found that bullying, harassment, discrimination, and sexual harassment continue in the Defence Forces today, with increased reports of sexual harassment among serving members.
It also said that women in the Defence Forces have low status, with the organisation displaying “pockets of misogyny” and a hyper-masculine culture.
On the specific topic on the grievance processes, the review said: “[The IRG] is conscious that it has not heard from those who have had a good experience of the grievance procedure, but the sheer volume of criticism it has heard is a serious cause for concern and cannot be ignored.
“[The IRG] believe that this apparent widespread dysfunction in the complaints is bound to be corrosive of trust and confidence.”
As part of the recommendation to reform its procedures, the Defence Forces said it wants to create a “modern grievance management system” which is “tailored to [our] specific needs and culture” and must "build and inspire trust".
The model developed must also have a training and communications plan while the successful contractor must project manage its roll-out to the organisation’s approximately 8,000 members.
Another key part of the project is to commence a cultural change at the Defence Forces, which it said should “begin the groundwork of cultural change that will be required to support the implementation and sustainment of a new grievance management model”.
It is expected work on the new grievance model for the Defence Forces will begin in February.
Earlier this month, the Women of Honour group said they would take time to “digest” the latest terms of reference for a statutory inquiry into how complaints were handled, following a meeting with Tánaiste Micheál Martin.