WORKPLACE BULLYINGPrevention and Skills to Recognise Key Factors in Your Workplace

Learning Objectives

Understanding workplace bullying Identify if you are being bullied or a bully Identify risks Employee responsibilities Impact on health Support systems Preventive strategies and how to

approach bullying Case studies

What is Workplace Bullying?

Repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

A single incident may not be considered workplace bullying but is may have the potential to escalate and should not be ignored.

Are You being Bullied?

Bullying can include: Abusive, insulting or offensive language or comments Unjustified criticism or complaints Deliberately excluding someone from workplace activities Withholding information that is vital for effective work

performance Setting unreasonable timelines or constantly changing

deadlines Setting tasks that are unreasonably below or beyond a

person’s skill level Denying access to information, supervision, consultation or

resources to the detriment of the worker Spreading misinformation or malicious rumours Changing rosters and leave with the intent to inconvenience

Not Bullying Behaviour

Performance goals Allocating work hours Transfer for operational reasons Not selected for promotion when reasonable

process is followed Informing about unsatisfactory work via

management guidelines Advising of inappropriate behaviour objectively

and confidentially Organisational changes or restructuring Taking appropriate disciplinary action

Employee Responsibilities

When approaching your supervisor Duty of care to report any bullying

Take reasonable care of your health and safety

Be mindful of your actions or omissions Cooperate with the policies and

procedures implemented by your company such as a workplace bullying policy

Identifying Risks

Observing or experiencing unreasonable behaviours from other workers

Increase in social strain at your workplace and outside of work

Experiencing lack of feedback, unreasonable pressure and excessive unjustified criticism

Unable to define your role Timelines for projects are too short

Impact on Your Health

Workplace bullying can cause physical and mental illness Depression, anxiety, decrease in

confidence Headaches, backaches, sleep and digestive

problems

Support Systems

Internal Supervisor or manager

If your supervisor is bullying you, then meet with their manager

Nominated contact officer if available Human Rights Commission Fair Work Commission Workcover

External Family and Friends Union Employee Assistance Program

Preventive Strategies

Company policy on workplace bullying and code of conduct

Induction and ongoing training Discuss with supervisor or H&S

representative about workplace bullying Discuss how bullying reports will be

responded to and how to provide evidence Seek where to go for further information

and assistance

How to Approach Bullying?

Directly If you feel comfortable and safe, then you

can approach the individual who is bullying you

Seek intervention from a trusted co-worker or manager

Formal complaint Keep a record

Case Studies

1. Ed is having difficulty maintaining dead lines for projects, which results in his new supervisor to talk with him about his work performance.

His supervisor recommends additional training to improve his management and core skills. Ed feels this is unreasonable because of his experience and becomes distressed and develops problems sleeping.

Ed files for worker compensation for stress related injury

Do you think Ed has experienced workplace bullying? Explain?

What approach should Ed have taken after his meeting?

Case Studies

2. Jane’s supervisor routinely gives her tasks that are not related to her role. She is starting to develop physical signs of distress as her manager criticises her work performance and shortens timelines on projects.

Jane feels that she will lose her job if she confronts her manager.

How should Jane respond with the bullying situation?

If you were Jane what approach would you take to diffuse the situation?

What could your support system look like?

Summary Clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAgg32weT80&feature=player_detailpage

Resources

Dealing with Workplace Bullying – A Workers Guide http://

www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/workers-guide-workplace-bullying

Bullying Prevention Kit http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/

formspublications/publications/Pages/bullying-prevention-kit.aspx

Dealing with Workplace Bullying: A practical guide for employees http://www.stopbullyingsa.com.au/documents/

bullying_employees.pdf

References

Safe Work Australia, November 2013. Guide for Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/guide-workplace-bullying