13th August 2011, 09:08 AM
It takes a high level of self confidence, personal courage and indeed knowledge to stand up as a whistle blower and face the consequences. Without concrete evidence and personal conviction people will be very reluctant to face the fall out.
I avoid working for companies where I have any doubts and it has nothing to do with whether they are IFA registered or not. I look at staff turn over, the clients they are working for and their reputation on the grape vine within their local county. Along with their publication record etc. Yes I know, things the IFA does or should do. Reputation at grass roots level may be very different from the picture portrayed by management.
Health and safety is one of those areas where I feel confident having worked for non archaeological organisations and received a very good level of training. Having a written health and safety policy and applying it on the ground in all situations are two different things, a few conversations down the pub after work soon gives you a clear idea of which companies are good and which are not. I do compare my personal list with the IFA list and it makes me think and question the IFA. No concrete evidence you may say, it's all hear say and unsubstantiated rumours but it works for me. I have on occasion brought up health and safety issues with organisations I have worked for and on whole their response has been good, but I have done it knowing that they will listen as that is one of the reasons I chose to work for them. Again registration or not with the IFA has no bearing on this.
At the moment I can to a certain extent pick and choose who I work for. This may not last much longer and I can foresee that somewhere further down the line I may face a situation where I feel strongly that things are very wrong. I am prepared to fight for my and the rights of others but when I do it will be with the knowledge that I might not ever be able to work within the field I love again. With that in mind I will try and pick my final battle and make it something worth fighting for. When I do my first port of call will be BAJR an organisation/individual who has a well established reputation for fair and impartial advice and for getting things sorted.
I agree that the IFA should be the organisation used as this first port of call for archaeologists with problems but it isn't . Why not? Perhaps it comes with too much baggage from the past?
I do know the difference between pragmatic solutions to archaeological problems and incompetent management or inexperience
I avoid working for companies where I have any doubts and it has nothing to do with whether they are IFA registered or not. I look at staff turn over, the clients they are working for and their reputation on the grape vine within their local county. Along with their publication record etc. Yes I know, things the IFA does or should do. Reputation at grass roots level may be very different from the picture portrayed by management.
Health and safety is one of those areas where I feel confident having worked for non archaeological organisations and received a very good level of training. Having a written health and safety policy and applying it on the ground in all situations are two different things, a few conversations down the pub after work soon gives you a clear idea of which companies are good and which are not. I do compare my personal list with the IFA list and it makes me think and question the IFA. No concrete evidence you may say, it's all hear say and unsubstantiated rumours but it works for me. I have on occasion brought up health and safety issues with organisations I have worked for and on whole their response has been good, but I have done it knowing that they will listen as that is one of the reasons I chose to work for them. Again registration or not with the IFA has no bearing on this.
At the moment I can to a certain extent pick and choose who I work for. This may not last much longer and I can foresee that somewhere further down the line I may face a situation where I feel strongly that things are very wrong. I am prepared to fight for my and the rights of others but when I do it will be with the knowledge that I might not ever be able to work within the field I love again. With that in mind I will try and pick my final battle and make it something worth fighting for. When I do my first port of call will be BAJR an organisation/individual who has a well established reputation for fair and impartial advice and for getting things sorted.
I agree that the IFA should be the organisation used as this first port of call for archaeologists with problems but it isn't . Why not? Perhaps it comes with too much baggage from the past?
I do know the difference between pragmatic solutions to archaeological problems and incompetent management or inexperience