How to uncover bullying in your workplace
| NOTE: You can adapt the anti-bullying guidelines in this topic to deal with other forms of workplace harassment. |
There is no place for bullying in your workplace - and you can be legally liable if it occurs.
To prevent bullying from taking subtle or overt forms, you need to consider whether it exists and to assess the risks of its occurring. Then you can adopt appropriate policies to deal with it. So the following advice is provided...
1. Know what workplace bullying entails.
Bullying has been defined as:
Persistent, offensive, abusive, intimid-ating, malicious or insulting behaviour, abuse of power or unfair penal sanctions which make the recipient feel upset, threatened, humiliated, or vulnerable, which undermines their self-confidence and which may cause them to suffer stress. (US Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union)
Or as:
Aggressive behaviour arising from the deliberate intent to cause physical or psychological distress to others. (Peter Randall)
2. Be aware of the implications of bullying in your organisation.
It is possible that an employee could be subject to bullying without others being aware of the problem. Because an employee tolerates this type of behaviour does not mean that it is acceptable, that it is not workplace bullying, or that the employer is not vicariously liable. Its presence can undermine workplace performance, crush the employee victim - and could lead to costly legal implications if not dealt with by the organisation. To prevent bullying from happening, it is first useful to know whether it already exists in your workplace and to determine if your workplace is one that actually fosters it.
3. Determine if bullying behaviours exist in your workplace.
Using surveys, brainstorming, focus groups, check lists, and discussions, consult with key workplace groups to identify evidence of risk behaviours present in your organisation:
Physical: pushing, shoving, assaults, threats, offensive gestures, pinching, patting, touching, damaging or tampering with another’s property or equipment…
Verbal: insults and name-calling, swearing, shouting, slandering, rumour-mongering, ridiculing, non-ending criticism and trivial fault-finding, ridiculing in front of others, constant put-downs, offensive jokes, wolf whistling, public reprimands, cutting comments about lifestyles or appearance…
Nonverbal: singling out for no reason, suggestive looks or jeers, meaningless tasks, tasks beyond one’s skills, overwork, unnecessary pressure, offensive material in workplace, impossible deadlines, denial of reasonable requests, mimicking, constant overrulings, unwelcome practical jokes…
