Community Organisations Refuse To Tolerate Bullying

It is sad but true - bullies can exist anywhere, even in community organisations and non-profits.

Safe Work NSW has clearly defined just what bullying is to ensure there is no misunderstanding.

Bullying is repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

Some examples of potential workplace bullying include:

• Abusive or offensive language or comments;
• Aggressive and intimidating behaviour;
• Belittling or humiliating comments;
• Practical jokes or initiation;
• Unjustified criticism or complaints;
• Deliberately excluding someone from workplace activities; and
• Withholding information that is needed for work.

Everyone at work has an obligation to ensure that bullying does not occur.

However, managers and officers such as organisation presidents have particular responsibilities to set a workplace culture of courtesy and respect and to model the behaviour they wish to see in others.

Safe Work NSW states that leaders must exercise due diligence to ensure the business or undertaking complies with the WHS Act and Regulations.

That due diligence includes taking reasonable steps to ensure the business or undertaking has and uses appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimise risks associated with workplace bullying.

These workplace leaders are also obliged to address bullying and not turn a blind eye to it.

The longer bullying continues, the more difficult it is to address and the harder it becomes to repair working relationships.

More information about workplace bullying can be found on Safe Work Australia’s website.

• Topics:

• Community Groups
• The Workplace