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Bullying and harassment, PIP

john luke made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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From: john luke

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act regarding the policy teams within Labour, Science and Enterprise (LSE) group for the period of 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025:

Part A: Quantitative Data
For staff at the level of Senior Advisor, Principal Advisor, Manager, and General Manager (or equivalent bands):

1. The total number of complaints of bullying or harassment recorded.

2. The total number of staff placed on a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).

3. Of the individuals in (1), the number who were also subject to a PIP at any point during the same 12-month period.

Part B: Policy and Governance
4. Copies of any internal policies, guidance, or frameworks used by LSE leadership to ensure Performance Improvement Plans are not utilised as a tool for bullying or harassment.

5. Documents or reports detailing the Ministry's specific strategies for identifying and mitigating "conscious discrimination" and "prejudice" within performance management and disciplinary processes.

6. A description of the "checks and balances" (e.g., HR oversight, second-level manager review) required before a PIP can be initiated for a staff member.

7. Please provide copies of MBIE’s policies regarding protections against victimisation or retaliation for staff who lodge formal bullying or harassment complaints. Specifically, what documented 'safe reporting' channels exist that bypass direct line managers (i.e. if you are a Senior, you want to report on the Manager and the GM), if that manager and GM is the subject of the complaint?

8. What is the established protocol for investigating conduct or bullying allegations made against Tier 3 (GM) or Tier 4 leaders (Managers)? Please provide the policy that dictates when an independent external investigator must be appointed, rather than an internal HR process, to mitigate the influence of hierarchical power imbalances.

9. Please provide the policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the collection and use of 'upward feedback' or '360-degree reviews' for Tier 3 and Tier 4 leaders.

Yours faithfully,
Oliver Heth

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From: Ministerials
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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Kia ora Oliver Heth,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 16/03/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information
Act regarding the policy teams within Labour, Science and Enterprise (LSE)
group for the period of 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2025:

Part A: Quantitative Data
For staff at the level of Senior Advisor, Principal Advisor, Manager, and
General Manager (or equivalent bands):

1. The total number of complaints of bullying or harassment recorded.

2. The total number of staff placed on a formal Performance Improvement
Plan (PIP).

3. Of the individuals in (1), the number who were also subject to a PIP at
any point during the same 12-month period.

Part B: Policy and Governance
4. Copies of any internal policies, guidance, or frameworks used by LSE
leadership to ensure Performance Improvement Plans are not utilised as a
tool for bullying or harassment.

5. Documents or reports detailing the Ministry's specific strategies for
identifying and mitigating 'conscious discrimination' and 'prejudice'
within performance management and disciplinary processes.

6. A description of the 'checks and balances' (e.g., HR oversight,
second-level manager review) required before a PIP can be initiated for a
staff member.

7. Please provide copies of MBIE’s policies regarding protections against
victimisation or retaliation for staff who lodge formal bullying or
harassment complaints. Specifically, what documented 'safe reporting'
channels exist that bypass direct line managers (i.e. if you are a Senior,
you want to report on the Manager and the GM), if that manager and GM is
the subject of the complaint?

8. What is the established protocol for investigating conduct or bullying
allegations made against Tier 3 (GM) or Tier 4 leaders (Managers)? Please
provide the policy that dictates when an independent external investigator
must be appointed, rather than an internal HR process, to mitigate the
influence of hierarchical power imbalances.

9. Please provide the policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
regarding the collection and use of 'upward feedback' or '360-degree
reviews' for Tier 3 and Tier 4 leaders.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 15/04/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

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