Victim in 'staff abuse vid' files police report

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that it has been notified via e-mail of an online video depicting a supervisor who appears to be physically abusing a co-worker.

The 33-second video clip, which has gone viral online, shows a man striking the head of a younger subordinate repeatedly while shouting at him.

Even when another man steps in and asks the abuser to stop, he ignores him and hits the victim, who remains seated and silent.

The clip, which was posted on citizen-journalism website Stomp last Saturday, has since garnered over 28,500 views.

MOM said in a statement yesterday that it has been in touch with the informant who recorded the video.

The statement said:

"We also alerted police. As updated by the police, the victim has lodged a police report."

The police confirmed that a report was lodged yesterday.

MOM said that employers are expected to treat their employees fairly and with respect.

If a threat is made involving physical harm, employees should report this to the police immediately, added the ministry.

Human-resource (HR) industry experts My Paper spoke to said that bullying at the workplace is not uncommon.

However, the banging of tables, shouting and hitting are more common among low- or mid-level employees, said Mr David Ang, executive director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute.

"More subtle bullying occurs within higher-management ranks in the form of threats or emotional abuse," he said.

Mr Bruno Marchand, a business- support division manager at Robert Walters Singapore, advised employees facing difficult employers to avoid sharing personal information, which could be used as blackmail.

Mr Marchand said: "If you can, speak with a counsellor, an HR representative or another manager who can help you.

"In such talks, stay calm. Do not speak out of emotions, and mention only facts."

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