Picture this if you can...
In a Scout Hut in Wiltshire, an unpaid band of volunteers is holding a meeting. Reference is made to rumours in the NHS. The leader of the group, 70 year old Mrs. Anna Farquhar, says "You cannot help the jungle drums."
Up in the public gallery, a trouble making jungle bunny (offensive remark intended) shouts "You can't say that!" A bemused Mrs Farquhar thinks - quite correctly - she has said nothing wrong but being a polite old dear, she apologises anyway. The aforementioned junge bunny seems to be appeased and stops for tea and cakes after the meeting. No-one thinks any more about it, until...
Thump! 13 weeks after the meeting in the Scout hut — a ten-page report commissioned by Wiltshire County Council lands on Mrs Farquhar’s desk with the sinister sounding title 'Complaint Investigator’s Report'. The jungle bunny has made an official complaint!
‘The comment was inappropriate and caused offence' it says. Her colleagues had ‘failed to challenge’ her statement. There was a ‘clear lack of understanding of equality and diversity issues’ among the group. All this is, of course, total bollocks!
The bunny had been interviewed, of course, before the report was published. So, too, had members of other organisations that had dealings with Mrs Farquhar and her team. Scandalously, though, the only person who wasn’t interviewed was Mrs Farquhar herself or anyone on the 20-strong ‘steering committee’ who were present in the Scout hut. Except one, that is. And she was the one colleague who agreed with the bunny.
The story doesn't stop there and you can read more about it in the Daily Mail by clicking here.
What is clear in this case is that the Council wasted good taxpayers' money on a ridulous complaint which should, within the confines of the law, have been rejected out of hand on a test of 'reasonableness'. Because they failed to act appropriately, a decent woman has been caused unnecesaary stress and upset.
Frankly, if I were her, I would lodge an official complaint. This seems to work for everyone else!
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