Much information now exists about bullying and its impacts, but the incidence of bullying in the workplace is, unfortunately, on the rise.

As so many people know, including legal experts such as  Patinos Personal Lawyers , the impacts of workplace bullying can be serious, long-term and debilitating. Workplace bullying is a definite health and safety risk that can affect employee mental and physical health.

A Shared Responsibility

All people in a workplace have a duty to help prevent workplace bullying. Legally, workers are required to take reasonable care to ensure their behaviours and actions do not compromise the health and safety of other people. Also, workers should comply with reasonable instructions given by employers and/or management, as far as reasonably practicable. They should also cooperate with policies and procedures within the workplace, including the organisation’s workplace bullying policy.

Workplace Bullying Defined

There is sometimes uncertainty about what constitutes workplace bullying. By definition, workplace bullying is repeated and unreasonable behaviour that is directed towards a worker or group of workers that imposes a risk to health and safety.

Importantly, not all behaviours that cause a person to feel upset, demotivated or inadequately valued constitute workplace bullying. Examples of workplace bullying may include: Offensive, abusive or insulting language Criticism or complaints that are without basis, or The deliberate exclusion of a person from workplace activities

How Workplace Bullying Can Occur

There are many different ways that workplace bullying can occur, including (but not limited to): verbal, email, text messaging and social media channels. While workplace bullying is commonly thought to occur during working hours, bullying activity sometimes occurs outside of the workplace and beyond normal working hours.

Steps To Take If You Are Being Bullied

Seek advice: If you are to take the most appropriate course of action, you need to work out whether the behaviour you are experiencing is in fact workplace bullying. It might be helpful to have the perspective and advice of someone who is not involved as you determine whether the behaviour constitutes bullying in the workplace. Report violent behaviour to the police: In the event that violence is part of the workplace bullying behaviour (such as actual or threatened physical assault), a report could be made to the police. Follow procedure: Ensure you are following the bullying policies and procedures that have been established for your workplace. Make sure you are aware of the appropriate way to make a complaint, should the need arise. Speak with the other person: If appropriate and you feel safe and comfortable enough to do so, you might wish to speak with the other person and request that their behaviour stops. It may also be appropriate for you to suggest another way for them to behave towards you in the workplace. Report the behaviour: It’s important to report workplace bullying as soon as possible if you experience it personally or witness it occurring. Depending on your workplace and the person responsible for the bullying behaviour, a report could be made to your supervisor, human resource department, manager, health and safety representative, union representative or through other established reporting procedures.

Workplace bullying can be very serious and situations of such bullying should always be dealt with promptly. Workplace bullying can have serious and lasting effects, particularly when it is not dealt with appropriately.

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