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Prevent Workplace Bullying in Australia

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HRM Resolutions

Everyone has the right not to be harassed at workplace. An employee is bullied at workplace if a person or group of people repeatedly act unreasonably towards them or a group of workers or the behaviour creates a risk to health and safety.

Unreasonable behaviour includes humiliating, victimization, intimidating or threatening. Regardless of whether a behaviour is unreasonable can depend on whether a reasonable person may see the behaviour as unreasonable in the circumstances. Examples of bullying include behaving aggressively, teasing, pressuring someone to behave improperly, excluding someone from work-related events or unreasonable work demands.

There are legal obligations to consider all health and safety risks in the workplace including workplace bullying. Workplace bullying is best dealt with by taking steps to prevent it from happening and responding quickly if it does happen. The longer the workplace bullying behaviour continues, the harder it becomes to fix working relationships and the greater the risk to health and safety.

Workplace bullying can seriously harm worker’s mental health with depression, psychological distress and emotional exhaustion are common outcomes for bullied workers. These health outcomes may adversely affect the workplace with employees taking sick leave and being less productive, both of which harm workplace productivity.

Organization can reduce the risk of workplace bullying by choosing a proactive approach to identify early, any unreasonable behaviour and situations likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying occurring.

Organization should implement control measures to manage these risks, and monitor and review the effectiveness of these measures. Regularly consulting with employees and health and safety representatives to find out if bullying is occurring or if there are factors likely to increase the risk of workplace bullying.

Designing safe systems of work by clearly defining jobs and providing workers with the resources, information and training they require to carry out their work safely. Creating productive and respectful workplace relationships through good management practices and effective communication.

Implementing effective workplace bullying reporting and response procedures. Giving information and training on workplace bullying policies and procedures, available support and assistance, and how to prevent and respond to workplace bullying. Prioritizing measures that foster and protect the psychological health of employees.

What to do if you experience Workplace Bullying in Australia? Check if your workplace has a bullying policy and reporting procedure you can follow. The policy should outline how your organization will prevent and respond to workplace bullying.

Seek advice from another person, for instance a supervisor or manager, human resources officer or health and safety team to help you work out if the behaviour you have been experiencing is workplace bullying, as early as possible.

If you are being bullied at work and need support, find special workshops and confidential coaching programs to prevent Workplace Bullying in Australia.

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