OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

AND
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Workplace
Bullying and Harassment

Topic 10
1
 Whats in your backpack
Its what we bring
Its who I am
Its my stuff

Protected Federal Categories

Race National Origin color
Color

2
 Protected Federal Categories
Genetic Information Disability

Religion Sex
Age +40

3
 When were US Workforce
you born? Demographics
Generational Groups
Traditionalists (prior 1945)
22% 7%
Baby Boomers (1946-1963) (Gen Y) (Traditionalists)
11
33
Generation X (1964-1980) million
million

Traditionalists
Generation Y (1981-2000) Boomers
43
63 Gen X
million
million Gen Y

29% 42%
(Gen X) (Boomers)

Total Workforce: 150,000,000 4

 Importance of Generations
There are a variety of things that help shape
our values ( its a backpack issue)

Historical events impact individuals and

generations

Differences in generations can create

conflicts inside the home as well as at work

5
 Workplace Bullying Defined
Repeated and unwanted actions by an
individual or group intending to intimidate,
harass, degrade or offend
Abuse or misuse of power
Bullying is psychological violence

6
Harassment of a Different Kind
Harassment comes from the French word

Harasser which literally means to

sic a dog on someone without provocation

7
 What is workplace bullying and
harassment?
Behaviour that humiliates or intimidates
Examples might include:
Verbal aggression or name-calling
Vandalizing personal belongings
Sabotaging work
Spreading malicious rumours
Humiliating initiation practices / hazing 8
 What is workplace bullying and
harassment?
Examples might include:
Personal attacks
Aggressive / threatening gestures
Cyber-bullying

Can come from co-workers, supervisors,

employers, external sources
9
 When can Harassment occur?
Before, During or After Work
Breaks
Lunch hour
Work-related events outside of office, (i.e.
happy hours, work conferences, dinners,
holiday parties, picnics)

10
 What Does the Law Say?
EEO Law Protection
Harassment/Hostile Work Environment
Retaliation
Workplace Violence Issues
Lawful v. Unlawful Bullying

11
 Whats Covered by Federal
EEO Law?
Charges dealing with EEO Cases
Race
Color
Religion
Sex
National Origin
Disability
Age
*Hostile work environment 12
 What is not bullying and
harassment?
Expressing differences of opinion
Offering constructive feedback
Making a legitimate complaint about another
workers conduct
Reasonable management action, including
decisions about:
Job duties and work to be performed
Workloads and deadlines 13
 What is not bullying and
harassment?
Reasonable management action, including
decisions about:
Layoffs, transfers, promotions, and
reorganizations
Work instruction, supervision, or feedback
Work evaluation
Performance management
Discipline, suspensions, or terminations 14
Bullying & Workplace Violence
Factor to Consider if an Individual
imposes a Direct Threat:
Nature & Severity of Harm
Likelihood that Harm will Occur
Imminent Fear or Intimidation
Your Workplace Violence Policy

15
 Offensive Behavior
Remarks
Feelings
Behaviors
Anger
Resentment
Hurtful
What Pushes Your Buttons?
16
Workplace Examples of Bullying
Being shouted at or humiliated
Being the target of practical jokes
Blame without justification
Exclusion or social isolation
Physical intimidation (proximal)
Excessive micro-managing
Purposely withholding vital information
17
 Examples (cont.)
Setting impossible goals for subordinates to
reach
Blocking potential training and employment
Tampering with an employees personal
belongings
Removing areas of responsibility without
cause
18
 The Effect of Bullying
Absenteeism
Decreased productivity
Manifestation of illness
High turnover
Increased accidents on the job
Violence

19
 Effects and potential indicators
Workplace bullying and harassment might
result in:
Health and safety issues
Distracting someone who is performing
dangerous tasks
Physical and/or psychological injury
Lower productivity
Lower morale
Higher absenteeism
Staff turnover targets of bullying and
harassment and their co-workers 20
 The Effects of Bullying
When targets believe that they have been
bullied:
Some will cut back on work
Some will contemplate leaving the job
Only 10% do
Take it out on innocent family or pets
Others will steal from the job, sabotage work,
damage equipment, damage personal property
of the bully or
Contemplate a violent act and carry it out 21
 Bullying is on the Rise
According to a recent study by the national
Institute for Occupational Health and Safety
(NIOSH) bullying in the workplace is on the
rise.
24.5% of companies surveyed indicate that
bullying has taken place; 10.5% involving
bullying by external customers
More women are becoming bullies
22
 Statistics on Bullying
37% of the workplace has been bullied
72% of bullies are bosses
57% of targets are female
Bullying happens four times more than
illegal harassment
62% of employees ignore the problem

23
 Employer obligations
Draft a workplace policy statement
Prevent or minimize bullying and harassment
Develop reporting procedures
Develop procedures for dealing with or
investigating incidents or complaints
Train workers and supervisors

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 What Can You Do?
Before Situation Occurs

During Conflict

After Conflict

25
 What must workers do?
Report if they observe or experience
bullying and harassment
Not engage in workplace bullying and
harassment
Apply and comply with workplace
policies and procedures on bullying
and harassment

26
 How to Deal with Bad Behavior
Try to address the underlying cause of the
behavior: I see you are very stressed. Maybe I
could help if you tell me whats bothering
you?
If the conversation remains irrational, then
know when to quit
Recognize whether behavior is a pattern or
mishap, conduct or performance; respond
appropriately
From: The Civility Solution: What to Do
When People are Rude, St Martins Press,
2008 27
 What Can You Do?
Ask yourself: Are you ready to stop
whatever youre doing and take action to
address it?
Recognize that bullying is about control
Realize that its not your fault
Keep a detailed diary and paper trail
Explore Resources Internet, HR Policies,
Union
Think about leaving division/organization 28
 What Can Managers &
Supervisors Do?
Create and enforce a zero tolerance policy
Address the bullying behavior ASAP
Hold an awareness campaign
If you are the bullystopseek help
Model effective professional behavior
Use Facilitation, Conflict Coaching, Mediation
or design a Group Intervention/Team Building
or Training Retreat 29
 What must supervisors do?
Not engage in bullying and harassment
Apply and comply with workplace policies
and procedures on bullying and harassment

30
 What can co-workers do to stop
workplace bullying and harassment?
Listen to the target
Dont gossip
Offer support (e.g., employee assistance
program, counsellor)
Document details of what you see to share in an
investigation
Dates
Details
Witnesses
Tell the bully to stop 31
 Talking to an alleged bully
If you are the target of, or witness to,
bullying and harassment:
Tell the bully what behaviour was
inappropriate
Make it clear the behaviour is unwanted
and unacceptable
Stay calm
Dont retaliate
Report it 32
Conflict Management v Conflict Resolution
The I-R-O Method
Issue - What is the issue or situation?
What level of attention does it deserve?
Response What is appropriate given your
role and responsibility?
Outcome What is your desired outcome
and what communication strategies will best
serve that goal?
33
How Should Complaints of Bullying be
Addressed?
What is the outcome that you seek?
To make the bully a better person?
Behavior modification?
Acknowledgement of an offense and apology?
Other?
Note: The aim of conflict resolution is not to
change the bully from the inside out, it is to
change or modify the behavior in the work
environment so that morale and production are
not impacted 34
 Keep in Mind
Conflict Happens.
Situations happen but work should not hurt.
Remember
Remember:: The only thing you can truly
control is how you choose to respond.

35
90% of education is knowing
where to find the information
when you need it.

Neverbe so sure
May be you are NEXT!

END OF THE CHAPTER 36