Many of us think that finishing high school means the end of dealing with bullies; unfortunately this is not always the case.
Bullies manage to creep their way into most organisations and while it is ultimately our employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe work environment free from bullying or harassment, many fail to do so effectively.
Most of us experience some form of bullying during our lives whether it be in the school yard, at work or at home. The idea that we shouldn’t take this unwanted attention to heart because the bully is simply taking his or her insecurities out on us is certainly true, but doesn’t solve the problem.
Workplace bullying can take a range of forms including psychological, verbal or physical. It affects our performance and stresses us out. It can lead to depression, make us dread going to work, force us to resign from a job we enjoy or much worse.
So how should we handle a workplace bully? Is it best to cop it so we don’t ruffle anyone’s feathers? Or should we stand up for our right to work in a happy, healthy and friendly workplace free of bullying? Certainly we all deserve the latter.
CCGT has a 3-step policy we ask all our apprentices and trainees to follow. These steps can work for anyone experiencing workplace bullying:
- Ask the person to stop. Okay, this may not always be the best option but it can be effective. It may seem absurd, but the bully may not even realize he or she is upsetting you. Let the person know and they may back off and even apologize.
- Report the behaviour or incident to your supervisor or employer. Talking with your supervisor, manager or even the business owner may be scary but these are the people who make decisions within the company and they should know what’s going on. If they’re open-minded and committed to growing a healthy, happy and productive workforce, you will find this a positive experience. If you go this route, be prepared to thoroughly explain what’s been happening and even provide some suggestions as to how you would like the matter resolved.
- Report the behaviour or incident to someone else who has authority to do something about it. If you’re employed by CCGT you will have been told during your induction of the importance in letting us know if you experience anything along the lines of bullying or harassment. If you’re employed directly by the company and haven’t seen any changes after talking with the manager or owner (or perhaps the problem is them), you can contact the NSW Workcover Authority on 13 10 50 who can offer advice and help if you are experiencing workplace bullying.
