Preventing And Responding To Workplace Bullying

A policy on preventing and responding to workplace bullying usually describes what happens after a complaint and says very little about prevention. Five clauses are commonly missing.

• Reasonable management action. Stated plainly, with examples, so managers are not afraid to manage.
• More than one reporting route. Including one that bypasses the direct manager entirely.
• What is recorded informally. So an informal route still leaves a trace.
• Protection against victimisation. Covering witnesses as well as complainants.
• Interim arrangements. What happens to both parties while a matter is being dealt with, and that moving the complainant is not the default.

The last two are the clauses that get organisations into difficulty, because their absence is only ever noticed once a matter is already running and it is too late to add them.

Safe Work Australia covers the duty. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s workplace policy templates and policy management software.