Qld Health ‘vinegar tits’ manager reinstated after investigation

A Queensland Health manager accused of using terms like “vinegar tits” and “root or boot” has been reinstated after it was found staff had contributed to the toxic culture.

A Queensland Health manager who allegedly called his colleagues offensive names like “vinegar tits” and played a work game rating women on whether he’d “root or boot” them has been reinstated at the state’s biggest public hospital district.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the man has been reinstated as a senior manager at Metro North Hospital and Health Service following a year-long investigation, sparked when 11 women complained of a toxic culture in which people were berated in meetings, had things thrown at them, were forced to eat lunch with him, were asked to rate the “hotness” of others and were chastised for “conspiring” just for speaking to colleagues.

While an internal investigation “partially substantiated” allegations the man bullied and harassed staff, and confirmed he‘d been flicking rubber bands at them, it concluded that staff members contributed to the culture of the workplace.

Complainants are furious at the findings, which they say amount to victim blaming considering the culture of fear, and can’t believe he’s been reinstated as a senior manager at Metro North.

They claim he presided over a chaotic workplace where people operated out of fear he’d victimise them next and say they can’t believe the outcome after so many people came forward to complain.

Investigators were told the man allegedly used names for his staff like “vinegar tits”, “crazy witch”, “bonkers”, and “devon head” and invited one of them to “the rape dungeon”, which is what he called a nearby cafe.

However, the investigation found “name calling in the team is normal and done in an endearing manner”.

“The evidence strongly suggests staff members contributed to the culture of the workplace by participating in the use of nicknames,” it said.

The letter found there was “inconsistent information” provided in relation to the senior manager giving staff “shefties” – a made-up term describing when he would swing his arms around like a windmill and hit staff on the head.

“Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to conclude this occurred,” it found.

The subject of the complaints is a senior manager at Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

The investigation did find that the allegation that the senior manager “bullied, and harassed staff was partially capable of being substantiated”.

“However, the investigation identified staff members contributed to the culture and behaviours of the team,” the letter continued.

It said they “did themselves participate in office banter and games” with him.

It did substantiate that the man threw things at staff but found that “the evidence strongly suggests staff members contributed to the culture of the workplace by flicking rubber bands at other staff members and participated in playing jokes on each other”.

“Further, the findings suggest other staff were often the instigator of pranks within the work environment.”

Former staff said they were shocked and angered and believed he would continue the behaviour.

“It’s actually humiliating to talk about it – just things you shouldn’t do in a job and behaviour you’d expect from a child,” one said.

“The blame that they put back on us is just what I find most upsetting.

“That they’re so concerned with covering their own arses than caring about the genuine people that do so much for that organisation.”

Another said working there “was just like a kindergarten”, except one operating under a “culture of absolute terror and fear”.

“We would send each other memos saying I've got so much work to do, can you please take him (to distract him).”

Metro North Health would not answer any questions on the matter, including whether the man had been disciplined at all, why the investigation could not substantiate more allegations made by such a large group of people or why employees had jointly been blamed for the poor office culture.

They would not comment on whether the process would discourage others from coming forward in the future with bullying complaints.

“Metro North Health is unable to comment on individual HR matters due to privacy and confidentiality,” a statement said.