Have you ever witnessed a microaggression at work and not known what to do?
In this Diversity Coffee Connect session, we welcome Dr Toby Merriman. The session will explore some of the research and learning from designing and delivering the Beyond Bystander Workshop alongside the team at the NHS Lothian Medical Education Directorate.
The Beyond Bystander workshop is a grassroots initiative designed to give colleagues the confidence and the skills to act when witnessing a microaggression at work.
Microaggressions are the slights, snubs and insults that convey discriminatory, derogatory or negative messages to individuals with protected characteristics. They may be verbal, non-verbal or environmental and may or may not be intentional. These behaviours are pervasive at work. They have a damaging effect on the wellbeing and sense of belonging of those subjected to them and on the psychological safety of our workplace cultures.
If left unchallenged, the biases implicit in microaggressions are reinforced, with subsequent negative impacts on the individual subjected to the behaviours and the organisation they work for. What you can expect: We will start the session with an introduction from Toby, then participants will be put into smaller groups to allow for deeper reflection and conversation.
Prior to this event, to help inform our conversations, we encourage you to read the blog that Toby has kindly prepared, linking to the theme of the session.
The Leading to Change Diversity Coffee Connect programme aims to provide a safe learning space to connect with others across the sectors and have important, informal conversations about equality, diversity and inclusion. The sessions are open to leaders at all levels and stages across social care, social work and health in Scotland.
Dr Toby Merriman
Role:
Medical Education Fellow in NHS Lothian with a clinical background in Acute Medicine
As part of the Medical Education Directorate (MED), Toby has been considering how educators can use simulation to prepare staff to address unprofessional workplace behaviours such as incivility and microaggressions, while ensuring that the learning environment is safe and respectful. As part of this effort, he has collaborated with his colleague, Thom O’Neill, to develop the Beyond Bystander workshop.
Toby’s other educational interests include supporting local trainers and educators, peer mentoring and promoting effective feedback. He is undertaking a Masters in Medical Education, through which he has researched professional identity formation in physicians. He is always happy to be contacted to discuss any of these topics and collaborate on supporting learning in our colleagues.
If you are interested in learning more about the workshop, or arranging an opportunity to attend, please contact andrew.merriman@nhs.scot
