Scarlett McNally: We must all change, not just the bad apples

A recent report by the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery found that 30% of women surgeons surveyed had been sexually assaulted by co-workers.12 In response to the report there have rightly been demands for improved reporting structures and better support after an assault. But we also need prevention. Toxic workplace cultures allow poor behaviours, including sexual misconduct, to flourish. Most of us haven’t been explicitly taught how to behave or communicate since school. But we all need to change, and so do some cultures in the NHS.Two recent academic studies show that a focus on “bad apples” isn’t sufficient to tackle bad behaviour in the workplace. A study by the University of Surrey3 showed that whole team interventions for behaviour change, such as full team meetings or workshop sessions to improve clarity and communication, can be successful and that managers need to improve their competencies—especially around being clear,…
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