Comments on: Consequences of Workplace Bullying

By: Bernie Althofer

Bernie Althofer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:11:37 +0000

How would you like you organisation or company brand to be associated with workplace bullying? Could your business survive one, two or more allegations of workplace bullying? If you are a small business with less than 20 employees, chances are that a prosecution will put you out of business. If you are a large organisation, you might be able to absorb some of the costs, but you will probably want to get some money back. In the private sector, you might pass the costs onto the consumers, but in the public sector, the costs get passed on to the taxpayers. Either way, that is hardly fair or just. Maybe you conduct an audit to find out what your risk exposure to workplace bullying really is. Don’t wait for the surprise.

By: Bernie Althofer

Bernie Althofer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:07:05 +0000

Why is there so much complacency about workplace bullying? There are numerous publications warning of the dangers so what does it take to turn the tide? What price do people put on their personal or organisational reputation? How many people would be prepared to go to a Court, Commission or Tribunal and put their reputation on the line, particularly if there was even a slim chance it could be shown that they had not actively prevented workplace bullying? Two weeks ago, I had a manager admit that he had only just realised that workplace bullying was a health and safety issue. Still, only this week, an employee in another organisation said that the workplace bully was in charge of the bullying policy. My guess is that people don’t believe that they will ever be involved in a workplace bullying incident. It is not a matter of if, but when you are involved. If you are not prepared, it will be too late when someone starts firing questions at you. How are you going to respond?

By: Bernie Althofer

Bernie Althofer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:45:38 +0000

Despite all the publicity about the links between workplace bullying and the legislation and Codes of Practice, it still amazes me that some people still don’t understand or believe there is a connection. As I mentioned at a presentation yesterday, the death of a young person in Victoria and the prosecution of the business owner and some employees directly implicated in the situation should be a wake up call to every other business irrespective of their size. Hard questions have to be asked, systems and processes have to be reviewed, even the relatively ‘minor’ incident has to be investigated, findings have to implemented, performance management systems have to be used effectively to create change in workplace behaviours, and systems and processes have to be put in place to capture data regarding direct and indirect costs. Without this, workplace bullying will not be treated seriously, and individuals will continue to die, others will be prosecuted and fined. Everyone in the public and private sector has to understand the link between action, reaction and consequence. It is also just possible that there is real link between workplace bullying and the corruption resistance of an organisation. Look at some issues regarding deviance and in particular comments regarding the use of specific types of language, slurs, comments regarding sexuality, abusive and obscene language instead of common perceptions that deviance only relates to murders, rapes, domestic violence, pornography and the like. If organisations want to protect their reputation and the reputation of those within, key stakeholders need to take up the challenge and think outside the square regarding new and emerging issues.

By: Stephen Pearce

Stephen Pearce — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:30:49 +0000

I Believe this is a very good article every employer should take a look this way they will understand and they can assist their employees to understand