Former Derby City Council worker Jennifer Barkess escapes police action over her obscene e-mail

“Hiya WikkiTikki, I agree with you, hardly in the public interest is it, after the Telegraph got hold of it I was contacted by a news agency who would not leave me alone, they even parked outside the house untill they saw me arrive back from somewhere and then followed me to the front door!!
I agree with you about the racism issue as well, I am white and my children are mixed race, we have suffered racism from both sides, my son had his face smashed in for being a 'white ni******' when he was in his teens, has this made me more protective I wonder??”

“I think this should never have been made public. The only action that should be taken is for the council to discipline the person who leaked this. I hope Ms Barkess has a long happy retirement. Having worked for both City and county councils in Derby I know racism is present but also certain staff where untouchable because they played the 'race card' Before red arrowing my comment please note I am black.”

“@leolady; Perhaps it would be best to put the whole sorry experince behind you and to get on with your life. I imagine there will be some fall out in the council from your revalations as there shold be zero tollerance of bullying or racism from whatever source. I certainly hope that your retirement is all that you hope for best wishes.”

“@leolady; "I have never at any time used the 'F' word and there is nothing in the article that says I did, where do you get your information from?????"

Oh I see, because you used a different curse word to the one implied in the article, it's OK?
At what point did it become acceptable to reply with swear words at anyone with the temerity to send you an email?”

“Hiya Spondon, no I wasn't ignoring you and thank you for your advice but actually I would rather forget the whole business, in the two months since I finished I have been enjoying my retirement and have no idea why the Telegraph have dug the business up again, incidently the comments on this article attributed to me are not true. I can only assume it was a slow news day.
I had set myself a target of working untill I reached 65 and am a bit dissapointed in myself that I didn't achieve that.”

“@leolady; "Incidentally it is still open to you to make the complaint of racism and bullying even though you have terminated your employment and you could also make a case for constrructive dismissal on those grounds, however 95% of those claims are rejected at tribunal. So leolady a biy of constructive advice are you going to take any notice?"
You seem to ignore this part of the post but I would like to add that you have 3 councillors in Spondon. If as you allege your complaints were ignored or not responded to that contraveens the councils own policy. On that basis alone you could consider a complaint to the standards officers. Any employee of the council is entitled top complain if they sufffer from an injustice or are subject to bullying or racism and I would urge you to take it up again and to retain any evidence you may have to substantiate your complaint. I don't think I can add anything else to assist so its now up to you if you wish to procede down the complaints route.”

“Leolady, there are far more of us with you than against you. Forget laws about racism, ageism sexism and exploitation etc. It's still going on, the bigger the organization, the more money they'll have to spend on denials and any legal defence expenses. The appalling treatment you have described is just one allegation among thousands and thousands. Many of us tolerate disgusting abuse of all kinds just to keep our jobs. If you haven't already taken legal advice, do it now, your union or association should be able to help. A friend of mine resorted to carrying a tiny video camera for recording incidents of abuse and very effective it was too. Keep your chin up.”

“Hello Spondon, if you had read my posts you would have seen that I did report the racism through the proper channels and it was totally ignored, after all we are not suposed to make complaints about managers are we??
I have also said before that my role was being moved to a different department, leaving me redundant???????? I appealed about being turned down to the Chief Executive, needless to say I did not get a reply from him.”

“It should be noted that there was no redundancy in Ms Barkess's case so it was not appropriate to transfer another worker to the post. Secondly the cost of a redundancy is considerable probaly in the region of £5,000. If the council had switched workers it would have cost the rate payer monies that were not due.(try that on the tax payers alliance) On a personal basis I can understand why some posters and Ms Barkess are angry but innoring the fact in no way strengthens their case.
"@leolady;And perhaps 'Spondon' would like to explain how they would have reacted to being turned down for redundancy after years of bullying including suffering racist comments about their children?????????????"
I would have reported the allegations of bulling and racism directed to her children useing the city council policies. A similar respons to the refusal to be granted redundancy could have been progressed to the highest level. There are several trade unions who's responsibility is to deal with such matters in a professional manner and the Citizens Advice Bureau could also advise if you do not wish to consult a union.
What you don't do is to rubbish your fellow workers and to post insulting remarks about them on an open ste,that is hardly either ladylike or professional. Incidentally it is still open to you to make the complaint of racism and bullying even though you have terminated your employment and you could also make a case for constrructive dismissal on those grounds, however 95% of those claims are rejected at tribunal. So leolady a biy of constructive advice are you going to take any notice?”

“Thank you Willcroft for that, as regards your question about them moving someone into my job, well of course they could have, there was a girl in the same room as me who had been told that her job was at risk, who knew the things I did and the problems I encountered. She has subsequently left any way.

In actual fact they wouldn't have needed to fill my job, my role was to facilitate the supply and payments of stair lifts etc, it had already been decided by the Head of Service that this role was to be moved to the Grants department, making me redundant in theory, because of this role I was fulfilling being 'specialised' I was not alowed to move into the business support hub / resources departement, where I could have taken voluntary redundancy.


Also to 'Hotlush' I have never at any time used the 'F' word and there is nothing in the article that says I did, where do you get your information from?????”