Online Course

Bullying in the workplace

Workplace bullying is a serious psychosocial hazard, which is anything that could cause psychological harm. This has significant impacts on the well-being and productivity of employees.

It occurs when a person or group of people repeatedly behave unreasonably towards another worker or group of workers, creating a risk to health and safety.

Recognising the signs of bullying is crucial for creating a safe and respectful work environment for all employees. Bullying can occur in every level of the workplace.

Workplace bullying includes a range of behaviours, such as:

• Behaving aggressively towards others
• Teasing or playing practical jokes that demean or belittle
• Pressuring someone to behave inappropriately or compromising their integrity
• Excluding someone from work-related events or activities
• Imposing unreasonable work demands that exceed normal expectations
• Undermining the efforts or contributions of others

Impact on health and safety:

• Workplace bullying can have severe consequences for the victim's physical and mental health
• It creates a hostile work environment, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression
• Bullying can also result in decreased job satisfaction, morale, and productivity
• In extreme cases, it may lead to physical harm or injury

Examples of bullying:

• Aggressive behaviour, such as yelling, swearing, or making threats
• Persistent teasing or mocking that targets an individual's personal characteristics
• Pressuring someone to engage in unethical or unsafe behaviour
• Exclusion from team meetings, activities or social events
• Imposing unrealistic deadlines or workloads
• Undermining and gaslighting a colleague's work or authority through gossip or sabotage

Rights and responsibilities

All employees have the right to a safe and respectful work environment.

It is the responsibility of both employees and management to prevent and address bullying behaviour.

Employees should speak up if they experience or witness bullying, and managers must take appropriate action to address complaints. Most workplaces have policies and procedures for staff to follow if they are victims of bullying or witnessed bullying. HR and People and Culture units have this responsibility. Employee Assistance Program's are also a great way to access free support. Check to see what your employer has in place.

Workplace bullying is a serious issue that can have far-reaching consequences for individuals and organisations. By recognising the signs of bullying and taking proactive steps to address it, we can create a safer, healthier, and more productive work environment for everyone.

Remember, we all have the right to return home from work safely - physically and mentally.

All employees have the right to a safe and respectful work environment.

Interactive activity

Let's examine a workplace scenario where a staff member is experiencing mental health challenges as a result of workplace bullying.

See how a colleague offers support.

Time to review

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