Bullied' immigration staff quit
More than 170 staff quit the immigration department during the first three months of 2006, it has emerged.
Nearly one out of every five returned a questionnaire saying it was because of discrimination, harassment or bullying.
One ex-employee said she was bullied by managers trying to meet targets to deal quickly with immigration claims.
But one ex-worker, who did not wish to be named, told the programme workers checking applications to stay in Britain had been under constant pressure to approve them quickly rather than seek extra information, which might have resulted in them being rejected.
"You were not given any credit for using your brains and finding out that something was falsified," she added.
"You were meant to skim over the top. If it virtually looked all right and it met most of the criteria, then you were to grant it.
"If you carried on, and you dug, or you thought something was a bit off, you were penalised for it.
"You lose out on your money, not meeting your targets, and being told that you have got to perform better.
"We actually ended up with the management team stopping you from refusing, and saying that you are being too picky, and you should have just granted that person."
More than 170 staff quit the immigration department during the first three months of 2006, it has emerged.
Nearly one out of every five returned a questionnaire saying it was because of discrimination, harassment or bullying.
One ex-employee said she was bullied by managers trying to meet targets to deal quickly with immigration claims.
But one ex-worker, who did not wish to be named, told the programme workers checking applications to stay in Britain had been under constant pressure to approve them quickly rather than seek extra information, which might have resulted in them being rejected.
"You were not given any credit for using your brains and finding out that something was falsified," she added.
"You were meant to skim over the top. If it virtually looked all right and it met most of the criteria, then you were to grant it.
"If you carried on, and you dug, or you thought something was a bit off, you were penalised for it.
"You lose out on your money, not meeting your targets, and being told that you have got to perform better.
"We actually ended up with the management team stopping you from refusing, and saying that you are being too picky, and you should have just granted that person."
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