Types Of Psychological Harassment In The Workplace
The types of psychological harassment in the workplace that persist longest are the ones that resemble legitimate management, because nobody can point to a clear breach.
Excessive monitoring. Checking one person’s work at a level nobody else experiences.
Moving the target. Standards or priorities that change once they have been met.
Isolation by process. Removing someone from distribution lists, projects or meetings, each time with a reason.
Withholding. Information, resources or decisions delayed just enough to cause failure.
Public correction. Feedback that could have been private, delivered where others hear it.
Each of these has a management justification readily available. The test is whether it happens to one person, repeatedly, and out of all proportion to anything they have actually done.
Safe Work Australia covers the psychosocial duty. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.
See Sentrient’s psychological safety course for managers and bullying course for managers.
How To Identify, Prevent, And Respond To Psychological Harassment In The Workplace
Quick Answer Psychological harassment in the workplace is behaviour, usually repeated, that harms a person’s mental wellbeing, dignity or sense of safety, such as intimidation, insults, exclusion or sabotage. To identify it, look for a pattern that goes beyond reasonable management action. Employers must prevent it as a psychosocial hazard under WHS laws. If it […]
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