Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour directed at a worker or group that creates a risk to health and safety. Three elements, all required.
Repeated. A single incident is not bullying, however serious. It may be something else that matters more, such as harassment or assault.
Unreasonable. Judged objectively, not by how it was intended or how it felt alone.
A risk to health and safety. Including psychological health.
The element most often left out of training is the carve-out. Reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable way is expressly not bullying. Allocating work, setting standards, managing performance and giving critical feedback are all legitimate.
Leaving that carve-out out of training produces managers who are afraid to manage at all, and that creates a different set of problems entirely.
The Fair Work Ombudsman covers stop bullying applications. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.
See Sentrient’s workplace bullying course and respect at work training.
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