1 In 3 Australian Workplaces Prone To Bullying And Harassment

December 3, 2019

Research reveals bullying and harassment prevalent in 1 in 3 workplaces – with peers among the major perpetrators.

According to Safe Work Australia, in 2010–11 and 2014–15 work-related stress was a factor in more than 90 per cent of workers’ compensation claims for a mental health condition¹.

A recent SAI Global survey revealed that bullying and harassment could still be a contributor to work-related stress, with nearly 1 in 3 Australian organisations (30 per cent) witnessing the behaviour in their workplaces.

Bullying and harassment encompasses much more than behaviour that is outwardly aggressive, sexually explicit or humiliating towards others. The behaviour can manifest in physical, verbal, social or psychological forms, making it difficult to identify. It can even include comments or behaviours that are hurtful or make a person feel undervalued. Very shrewd managers or co-workers can deliberately intimidate employees to make them feel less important or undervalued, or make their jobs extremely difficult by, for instance, giving them impossible tasks or workloads.

The SAI Global survey asked a nationally representative panel of 1008 Australian where they had seen the behaviour. 32 per cent witnessed it mostly from managers, and 29 per cent witnessed the behaviour from peers.

Workplaces in the ACT see more bullying and harassment than in other Australian States.

More employees in the ACT see bullying and harassment than in other states: 40 per cent of ACT respondents said they have seen the behaviour, compared with just 32 per cent of Victorian respondents, 29 per cent of NSW respondents, and an equal 28 per cent of Queensland and South Australian respondents.

While awareness around these issues grow – especially with recent studies identifying poor mental health as a major concern in Australian workplaces –organisations need to better educate their employees and create awareness.

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Organisation’s certified to the international Standard for occupational health and safety, ISO 45001, demonstrate their commitment to eliminating risks of injury and illness – which includes physical, mental and cognitive risks. Using the framework of ISO 45001 provides you with a systematic approach for providing a healthy, safe, inclusive culture that enables your employees to thrive, helping them go home better.