WORKPLACE HARASSMENT & BULLYING
What is Workplace Harassment?
Workplace harassment is where a person
is subjected to behaviour, other than sexual harassment that:
•
is repeated, unwelcome and unsolicited
•
the person considers to be offensive, intimidating,
humiliating or threatening
•
a reasonable person would consider to be offensive,
humiliating, intimidating or threatening
What can commit Workplace Harassment?
Workplace harassment can be
committed by a person’s employer, worker, co-worker or group of
co-workers. It is not just confined to one subset of persons.
What behaviours are said to constitute Workplace Harassment?
•
abusing a person loudly, usually when others are present
•
constant ridicule and being put down
•
leaving offensive messages on email or the telephone
•
sabotaging a person’s work
• maliciously excluding and isolating a person from
workplace activities
• humiliating a person through gestures, sarcasm,
criticism and insults
• persistent and unjustified criticisms, often about
petty, irrelevant or insignificant matters
•
spreading gossip or false, malicious rumours about a
person with an intent to cause the person harm
•
repeated threats of dismissal or other severe punishment
for no obvious reason
Can the actions of Management amount to
Workplace Harassment?
Yes the actions of Management can constitute Workplace
Harassment when it is specifically used with the intent to;
• primarily offend or intimidate
humiliate or threaten the employee
• create an environment where workplace harassment is
more likely to occur
What should I do if I an the subject and
target of Workplace Harassment?
Intimidation and harassment requires to be nipped in the
bud immediately to prevent it escalating any further. Contact us at
Regis immediately and let us advice you what action should or needs to
be taken. All discussion is confidential and we are bound by the rules
of confidentiality?
What is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace? Sex discrimination takes many forms. The most commonly reported is sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwanted or uninvited sexual behaviour which is offensive, embarrassing, intimidating or humiliating. It has nothing to do with mutual attraction or friendship. While sexual harassment can affect men and women, it principally affects women. Sexual harassment is a very serious issue. It can cause harm and distress and can influence an individual's work performance. It can also significantly affect the workplace atmosphere and productivity. It undermines morale, efficiency and job satisfaction.
Harassment accompanied by employment threat or benefit - for example, a supervisor makes unwelcome sexual advances with the clear implication that if accepted they will lead to job advancement, or if rejected will lead to job demotion or dismissal
Creation of a Sexually Hostile Environment - relentless unwelcome sexual conduct in the workplace which interferes with work and creates a hostile, abusive, offensive or intimidating environment, particularly where women are in the minority and the harassment is directed at women generally rather than at the individual
What is Sexual Harassment in the Workplace?
One such avenue is the Equal Opportunity Commission. which we can assist you with. If there is any touching involved that may well constitute sexual assault and you may want to report this to the Police. Again we at Regis will assist you here.
Do not fall under the misapprehension that if you report sexual harassment you will lose your employment. That will not be the case and if the Employer attempts such they will be faced with and unfair dismissal or unlawful termination claim against them.
The Occupational Health and Safety Act there is a duty imposed on the employer to provide a safe work environment. Harassment, Victimization and Bullying are in direct contravention of these provisions and the employer could face substantial fines for such blatant and ongoing breaches of the Act.
Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying can be identified if a employee or employees
are whether alone or in front of co-workers,
• harmed;
• intimidated and threatened;
• victimised and undermined;
• depression or a sense of isolation;
• physical injury;
• offended , degraded or humiliated.
The Effect Bullying has on a Persons
Health and Well Being
Bullying can affect a persons health in many ways. In can result in poor
morale, loss of work productivity, increased sick leave which in turn
affects the companies profits. Some of the health effects Bullying may
inflict on an employee are;
• stress anxiety or sleep disturbances;
• ill health or fatigue;
• panic attacks or impaired ability to make decisions;
• incapacity to work, poor
concentration, low self esteem, poor performance;
• depression or a sense of isolation;
• physical injury;
• post traumatic stress syndrome, or;
• in extreme cases risk of suicide.
Workplace Bullying and Harassment
An
unfair dismissal case can arise from a situation where the worker feels
compelled to resign because of the prevailing circumstances such as
harassment and bullying in the workplace. The employee because of these
circumstances feels the he/she is compelled to resign.
If you feel you are being continually harassed or bullied at your place of employment then you need to do something about it immediately before things get totally out of hand. We at Regis are qualified in this area and are more than happy to sit down with you and discuss all the options available to you.
Don't put off today what you can do tomorrow. Act immediately.
Think about other co-workers that could be in the same situation as you?
Think about how the situation may worsen if you do nothing about it?
Think of your health and stress levels. Is the continual harassment or bullying worth it?
SAY NO TO Workplace Harassment
SAY NO to Workplace Bullying.
Take the first step and contact us now Lets seek a
positive resolve to your problem. Any information you impart is in the
strictest confidence.