Current Page

[Merrick N Sniper]

A page of our strata manager’s web site headed ‘Dealing With a Bully’ authoritatively declares: “Bullying can occur anywhere that people live or work together. Strata and community living unfortunately can create an ideal situation for a bully to thrive especially if they find their way onto their executive committee.”

“If you’re on an executive committee and someone reports an incidence of bullying to you it must be taken seriously. Bullying creates a risk for the health and safety of the person or group of people it’s affecting. As a committee member you may also be held personally liable if you are aware of certain behaviour but did nothing to address the issue.”

Are they right? Because the problem is, a bully has found their way onto our executive committee and is making one or two other residents life hell. (“Charming on the outside, rotten on the inside” says Martha Stout PhD in her book The Sociopath Next Door.) We’re talking bad stuff, done in the middle of the night, slashed tyres, insulting notices, anonymous emails… police say they can do nothing because although everyone knows who’s responsible, there’s no proof.

Our executive committee and strata manager say there’s nothing they can or need do and contrary to what their web site proudly states, EC members cannot be held ‘personally liable’. “It’s a civil matter to be sorted out by neighbours” the say.

We’re a block of 24 units in Sydney. IS THERE ANYTHING they could or should do, does anyone know please?

Topic