Dear Reader,
I can hardly believe that Christmas is almost upon us.
In a little over a week, you’ll no doubt be enjoying the company of your family and friends over a hearty Xmas dinner, taking the time to relax, unwind and “de-stress” before 2010 begins.
I know I certainly will!
But now seems a good time to reflect on the fact that some people may not be able to “de-stress” over Xmas quite so easily…
Have you ever been bullied at work?
Bullying at work can lead to excessive stress and anxiety.
Workplace bullying is a huge problem in many Australian workplaces, and even if you think your business has not been affected by it, it pays to be aware of the steps you can take to prevent it and how to deal with it when it does.
Remember, bullying can take many forms. It can be verbal, physical or psychological.
Some examples of bullying to watch out for in your workplace include:
- Verbal abuse.
- Gossiping or spreading rumors.
- Teasing or belittling another person.
- Ignoring or deliberately excluding another person.
- Physical violence of any kind (remember, behaviour like this could also constitute a criminal offence).
- Intimidation.
- Assigning meaningless or impossible tasks.
- Unwanted physical actions, such as pushing, tripping, grabbing etc.
- Any form of sexual harassment.
- Initiations where a person is forced to do a humiliating act in order to be accepted as part of the team.
For more information and tips on dealing with bullying in your workplace, have a look at Charles’ article below.
And remember, if you have a specific query about bullying or any labour related issue, the Workplace Helpdesk is a great service that you can access if you are a subscriber to the Employment Law Practical Handbook. Simply e-mail us all your employment law questions and receive an answer from our lawyers within 72 hours – for free!
Click here to find out how you can claim a 14-day free trial of the Employment Law Practical Handbook.
Until next time…
Claire
