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Safety @ work

Bullying, discrimination and harassment

It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe workplace, which includes a duty of care for workers' health and wellbeing. When someone is being bullied, discriminated against or harassed in the workplace it can affect him or her not only at work, but also at home in his or her family, social and community life.

Being new to the workplace does not mean you are entitled to be treated unfairly. Instances of bullying should be reported to your supervisor/manager. You should not be made to feel uncomfortable in the workplace at any time.

Bullying
Workplace bullying is when one person or a group of people intentionally and repeatedly upset or hurt another person. Bullying may come from a colleague, supervisor or client/customer.

Workplace bullying can be obvious and aggressive. Examples may include:

abusive, insulting or offensive language
behaviour or language that frightens, humiliates, belittles or degrades, including criticism that is delivered with yelling and screaming
teasing or regularly making someone the brunt of practical jokes
displaying material that is degrading or offending
spreading gossip, rumours and innuendo of a malicious nature.

Violence, assault and stalking are extreme forms of bullying that can constitute a criminal offence. Such behaviour should be reported directly to the police.

Covert (hidden) behaviour that undermines, treats people less favourably or takes control away from others may also be bullying.

For example:

overloading a person with work
setting timelines that are very difficult to achieve, or constantly changing deadlines
setting tasks that are unreasonably beyond a person’s ability
ignoring or isolating a person
deliberately denying access to information, consultation or resources
unfair treatment in relation to accessing workplace entitlements, such as leave or training.

Harassment
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance or request of sexual favours or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. This can be a single event or repeated events.

For example:

physical advances (eg touching, hugging)
requesting sexual favours
questions regarding someone’s personal life
emails containing sexually explicit or derogatory content.

Discrimination
Discrimination is the unequal treatment of a person or persons because of a certain characteristic or quality they possess or do not possess. For example; race, sex, marital status, pregnancy or disability.

What to do?
In the first instance you should approach your supervisor or manager and inform them of what is happening. If you feel uncomfortable with this you are encouraged to approach your human resource officer or union representative.

You should check if your employer has a policy and complaint resolution procedure for workplace bullying.

In these types of situations you are also encouraged to keep written records of the incidents.

SafeWork SA can help investigate issues of workplace bullying. Incidents of workplace bullying can impact on the psychological wellbeing of an employee, as such matters of workplace bullying fall under the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986. Please contact the SafeWork SA Help Centre.

Bullying, discrimination or harassment on other grounds such as; disability, race, gender, age, sexuality, pregnancy and marital status are also covered under South Australian law. You are encouraged to contact the Equal Opportunity Commission or phone them on (08) 8207 1977 or for country callers 1800 188 163.

Preventing Workplace Bullying – A Practical Guide for Employers (PDF 159KB)
Dealing with Workplace Bullying – A Practical Guide for Employees (PDF 114KB)

Last updated: 21 October, 2010

Find out more

Find out more

Safety @ work

Bullying, discrimination and harassment

Telephone 1300 365 255