Friday 31 January 2020
Drugs and Defecation at HMRC's Manchester HQ - WTF!
Fintech Futures reports the following:
"UK government staff working for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have been warned about repeated acts of vandalism at its Manchester HQ, including defecating on toilet floors and using faeces to “write unpleasant messages”.
A member of the facilities management team at HMRC – which governs the collection of tax and payment of state support – wrote to staff about repeated bad behaviour at the department’s Trinity Bridge House HQ in an email seen by FinTech Futures.
“Last week there was another deliberate act of vandalism in the ground floor toilets resulting in the flooding of the facilities and the corridor,” the note states, adding that there has been an increase in reported incidents.
Staff were reported to have “deliberately blocked toilet bowls with paper towels”, smeared “bodily fluids” on doors, walls and toilet seats, used faeces to “write unpleasant messages”, defecated on toilet floors, and taken illegal drugs.
More than one member of HMRC staff is involved in the vandalism, according to the email. It adds that anyone identified as carrying out deliberate acts of vandalism will be dealt with “severely”.
Esther Wallington, chief people officer of HMRC, told FinTech Futures: “These reprehensible actions, committed by a few individuals, have no place in our organisation and absolutely do not reflect the professionalism and values of the overwhelming majority of our Manchester colleagues. We are working with police to investigate these acts of vandalism and identify those responsible.”
The email bears striking resemblance to one issued by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) chief operating officer Georgina Philippou to staff to the watchdogs’s new Stratford HQ.
Philippou called out employees for defecating on the toilet floors and verbally abusing catering and security staff.
HMRC completed the letting of a new 157,000sq foot Manchester location in March 2018.
The new building, less than a mile away from Trinity Bridge House, will be centred in the New Bailey development near Salford Central station. Members of staff will begin moving to the seven-storey complex from Spring 2022 onwards.
In 2015 HMRC announced its aim to bring employees together into 13 “large, modern offices”, making it “easier to collaborate and work flexibly”.
The department’s Locations Programme is the largest office transformation programme in the UK and involves the development of more than 429,000sq metres of new office space. It plans to save around £300 million up to 2025 through the programme."
WTF!
Tax does have to be taxing.
HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tax does have to be taxing.
HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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This is not an uncommon occurence! The soiling of the toilet areas was quite common in one northern office. The culprits were never found. Management did their best with that. However, one person of managerial grade urinated against the wall of a meeting room and was never sacked. That was a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteGSH?
DeleteGeorge Stephenson House ?
DeleteDo the major news outlets e.g. The Times, BBC, Sky etc, know about this? These HR people are doing a shocking job, as ever. When I, a loyal HMRC officer of over 2 decades, was hounded out by relentless bullying & violence, the HR Casework people saw their job as to cover-up for the bullies and the law-breakers. Meanwhile these inept HR staff are presiding of recruitment of incredibly disturbed and strange people who are committing criminal damage in the workplace. I am not surprised but am disgusted. HMRC once again proves the culture is out of control. Time for root and branch reform. An utter disgrace.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I doubt that The Times are about to hold the front page because someone's soiled a lavatory floor in Manchester.
DeleteBy the way, has the police investigation into the violence against you finished yet. If so, what was their conclusion.
When a Senior Officer lied; created fake backdated documents to cover their tracks(attempting to pervert the course of justice); broke the law in relation to Data Protection Act, Commissioners for Revenue & Customs Act etc, people in HR prevented the issues being investigated by Internal Governance etc, so how can we TRUST them to act properly in regard to the latest in a long line of criminal behaviour from HMRC staff?
ReplyDeleteAttempting to pervert the course of justice is an extremely serious criminal offence. Have you passed the evidence on to the police yet?
DeleteHMRC's attempts to pervert the course of justice were brought to the attention of my solicitor - a law officer - who I am certain will have raised the devious misconduct through the appropriate channels. Thank you for your helpful suggestion, but if you had any experience of fighting injustice from a large & corrupt organisation like HMRC, you would understand the path is not clear, nor is the battle fair.
DeleteHMRC pulled a number of tricks to block a fair outcome - they are corrupt. If I have got it wrong (I haven't), then they are welcome to stop running away from it and face up to reality at any time.
Of course it isn't easy for an individual to go head to head against a large organisation like HMRC. But surely, if you have been the victim of illegal wrongdoing and have the evidence to prove it you would want to pass that on to the relevant law enforcement agency.
DeleteAlso, I'm not sure that your solicitor does have a legal obligation to pass on allegations without your insistence.
Same happened (and is probably still happening) at the new FCA building in Stratford, right opposite the HMRC regional centre.
ReplyDeleteThis was reported in the press in November, and on the BBC News:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50401780
Just so nasty and seems to be a problem at many places now.
As for all the unlawful stuff mentioned on here, please go to the police, a solicitor dealing with employment matters (there are many on google) or speak to the Employment Tribunal people at the very least. Just do something positive-moaning about it countless times is not positive in the least, and until you do something to conclude the matter, you will get negative comments, even from those of us that have some empathy with you.
The department treats AO's like animals and the working conditions are worse than a zoo. It's not too surprising when they start acting like pigs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long way from the old Inland Revenue. Hector the Taxman in a pinstriped suit.
Poli PR wanted to move away from the 'taxman' label. Not that anyone gives a toss about her overpaid opinion. Well Poli, lets hope the Mail on Sunday don't start joining dots on this one.
Esther Waffleon Chief Pointless Specimen is also enjoying waxing lyrical about 'small minority' 'professional' and whatever pre written rebuttal script they have come up with.
Maybe soneone should fill a tuppaware box full of bodily fluids and hide it under their desks over the weekend.
HMRC has numerous and obvious faults and many in higher management are either clueless (due to being professional managers on the merry-go-round) or overpromoted idiots.
DeleteBut working conditions are obviously not worse than a zoo. Do you not realise that this absurd hyperbole weakens your arguments.
Whatever animals are they employing at HMRC nowadays?
ReplyDeleteWell they unlawfully hound out skilled, knowledgeable staff (with a long background in debt management and tax) and appear to be replacing them with filth - Neil in HR must be proud! Well done, Sir, I'm sure an OBE awaits you...for your, errr, 'achievements'...
You should read the final paragraph of 1st February at 12.29. Put up or shut up.
DeleteSounds like Esther should be looking at the culture within these palaces of modernity as clearly this is a sign, psychologists say, of PTSD, OCD, anxiety and any number of mental health problems. As head of HR you'd have thought Esther would be aware of this possibility. Why waste police time on a domestic or employer issue? HMRC utterly without empathy or wisdom.
ReplyDeleteForget Esther..... Benefits & Credits new director (ex Vodafone) is turning out to be a right fascist....so much for the new "respect at work" caring HMRC.....same as usual....treat their staff like white.... gentleman Jim Harris is turning out to be another false prophet....all senior management scum....fuck them
ReplyDeleteWould that be that soulless woman Julie Etheridge....?
ReplyDeleteA hatchet woman.