workplace bullying prevention and skills to recognise key factors in your workplace
TRANSCRIPT
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