Workplace Bullying Prevention Unit

March 2010

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What is bullying?

•Repeated, unreasonable behavior directed towards an employee or a group of employees that creates a risk to their health and safety.

Types of bullying

• Verbal abuse• Putting someone down• Spreading rumours or innuendo about someone• Interfering with someone’s personal property or

work equipment• Making insulting comments about someone• Threats to get someone sacked• Belittling someone• Unjustified criticisms or complaints• Exclusion• Excessive scrutiny

What isn’t bullying?Reasonable management actionsFor example• Setting performance goals, standards and deadlines• Allocating work to a worker• Rostering and allocating work hours• Transferring a worker• Deciding not to select a worker for promotion• Informing a worker about unsatisfactory work performance• Informing a worker about inappropriate behaviour• Implementing organisational changes• Performance management processes• Constructive feedback• Downsizing

Workplace Bullying Prevention Unit

• What do we do?

• Ensure employers are meeting their duties under the Occupational Health & Safety Act 2004

• Provide information

• Issue notices

• Referrals for prosecution

Centralised Operational Response Team

Branch Manager

Project Officer

Organisational Psychologist

Senior Project Officer

Prevention Strategy

Technical Inspector

Senior Inspector

Group Leader

Technical Inspector

Technical Inspector

Technical Inspector

Director Public Sector & Community Services

TechnicalInspector

TechnicalInspector

Operational Response

What does an Inspector do?

• Have mandatory specialised training in OHS legislation and responding to bullying complaints

This includes• Making enquiries at workplaces• Forensic evidence gathering (S100)

> Points of proof, (reasonable belief, beyond a reasonable doubt)• Conducting interviews• Dealing with difficult environments• Investigate complex issues• Comprehensive file management• Meeting expectations• Referrals

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WorkSafe Guidance

•“Preventing and responding to bullying at work 2009”

•Cross border publication with NSW •hard copy publication available

Risk management of bullying

• Consultation• Identify bullying risk factors• Assessing bullying risk factors• Controlling bullying risk factors• Workplace policy• Workplace procedures• Training• Monitoring and review

Responding to bullying

• Encourage reporting• Have and follow workplace procedures• Follow principles of natural justice• Ways to approach

> The direct approach

> Mediation/discussion with third party

> Investigation• Act on outcomes

Silver lining

•people are talking about it•everyone has a story•media exposure •employers taking notice•work should not hurt you