Workplace bullying

What is workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying is when you are verbally, physically, socially or psychologically hurt by your employer (or manager), another person or group of people at work. It can happen in any type of workplace, from offices to workshops, including voluntary, casual and military positions.

Psychological and social bullying can include: 

• verbal abuse or making fun of your work or you (including your family, sex, sexuality, race or culture, education or economic background) 
• excluding or isolating you from people or situations
• psychological harassment (playing mind games, ganging up on you)
• intimidation (making you feel less important and crap) 
• giving you pointless jobs that have nothing to do with your job 
• giving you impossible jobs that can't be done in the given time or the resources provided 
• deliberately changing your work roster to make it difficult for you
• deliberately holding back information you need for getting your work done properly.

Physical bullying or violence is when you are physically attacked or threatened. It can include:

• pushing, shoving, tripping, grabbing 
• punching, kicking, scratching, biting, spitting or any other type of direct physical contact 
• attacking or threatening with equipment, knives, guns, clubs or any other type of object that can be turned into a weapon 
• any form of sexual harassment, such as flashing or touching
• initiation or hazing - where you are made to do humiliating things in order to be accepted as part of the team. 

How being bullied can affect your work

If you are being bullied at work you might:

• be less productive 
• be less confident in your work
• feel scared, stressed, anxious or depressed
• have your life outside of work affected, e.g. study, relationships
• want to stay away from work (more than usual)
• feel unable to trust your employer or the people with whom you work
• lack confidence and self-esteem in yourself and your work
• have physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, backaches, sleep problems 

Why people bully others at work 

Like bullying at school or other places, people who bully others at work often have low self-esteem or have been a victim of violence themselves. They use bullying as a way of making themselves feel more powerful.

If you are experiencing bullying it may help to remember that bullies are often not as tough as they make out. Often bullying can become their way of dealing with their own problems. Bullies can also be motivated by jealousy, lack of knowledge, fear or misunderstanding.

Your rights

No one deserves or asks to be bullied. Everyone has the right to work in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence. Employers and employees have duties by law (eg Occupational Health and Safety Acts) to comply with any measures in place to promote health and safety within the workplace and not to put themselves or their colleagues at risk.

It's also worth keeping in mind that bullying is not the same as conflict.  Disagreement and conflict happen at most workplaces, however, it should never turn into bullying or harrassment.

What you can do if you are being bullied at work

When you are being bullied, it can feel as if your options are limited, but it's important to remember that there are things you can do and people who can help. 

• Make sure you're informed - find out what the organisation's policies and procedures are for preventing and handling bullying.
• Keep a diary documenting everything that happens, including what you've done to try stopping it. This can help if you make a complaint.
• Get external information and advice, e.g. Lawstuff, the union representing your industry, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (see below and links). These organisations can give you advice on your options and your rights. You can also ask them to act on your behalf if you don't feel comfortable doing so.  They should also respect your confidentiality, though if you are concerned about this, ask them what their responsibilities are.  
• Tell someone. The person to talk to might be a Human Resource Manager, but if there isn't one you should report it directly to your employer, a supervisor/manager or health and safety representative (if your work has one).  This situation might be able to be resolved informally, without any official complaint being made.
• If the situation continues or is serious, you might need to make a formal (written) complaint that follows company policy. The person doing the bullying might be officially warned, and be required to have counselling. If the bullying continues, there might be a mediation process and, if all else fails, the person bullying might be fired. If you end up having to leave, you might be eligible for outstanding wages and entitlements.
• If the person doing the bullying is your employer or they do not do anything to stop it, it's important you get outside support and advice. 

More information

Check out the factsheets and links listed on the right for info on bullying, things you can do to manage the situation and unions.

National

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC),
GPO Box 5218,
Sydney. NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9284 9600 or 1300  369 711
TTY: 1800 620 641
Fax: (02) 9284 9611
E-Mail: paffairs@humanrights.gov.au 
Website: www.hreoc.gov.au

State & Territory

New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Board,
Level 17, 201 Elizabeth St,
Sydney
PO Box A2122, Sydney South,
NSW 1235.
Phone: (02) 9268 5555
TTY; (02) 9268 5522
Fax: (02) 9268 5500
Toll free:   1800 670 812.
Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb

Anti-Discrimination Commission of Tasmania,
Level 5, Executive Building,
15 Murray St,
Hobart. TAS 7000.
Phone: (03) 6233 4841
TTY: (03) 6233 3122
Fax: (03) 6233 5333
Email: AntiDiscrimination@justice.tas.gov,au
Website: www.antidiscrimination.tas.gov.au/

Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission.
Phone:   1300 130 670
TTY:    1300 130 680
E-Mail: info@adcq.qld.gov.au
Website: www.adcq.qld.gov.au

Victorian Equal Opportunity Commission.
Level 3, 380 Lonsdale St,
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Phone:   (03) 9281 7111 or 1800 134 142
Fax:   (03) 9281 7171
Email: information@veohrc.vic.gov.au 
Website: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/Home.asp

Western Australian Equal Opportunity Commission,
Level 2, Hartley's Building,
141 St George's Tce, Perth WA 6000.
Phone:   (08) 9216 3900
TTY:    (08) 9216 3936
Fax:   (08) 9216 3960
Toll Free:   1800 198 149.
Website: www.equalopportunity.wa.gov.au

South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission.
Level 10, 30 Currie St
GPO Box 464,
Adelaide SA 5001.
Phone:   (08) 8207 1977
TTY:     (08) 82071911
Fax:   (08) 8207 2090
Toll Free:   1800 188 163
Website: www.eoc.sa.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory Human Rights Office,
GPO Box 158,
Canberra City. ACT 2601
Level 2 / 12 Moore St, Canberra City.
Phone:   (02) 6205 2222
TTY:   (02) 6207 0525
Fax:   (02) 6207 0587 or (02) 6207 1034
E-Mail: humanrights@actgov.au
Website: www.hro.act.gov.au

Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission.
7th Floor, National Mutual Building,
9 -11 Cavenagh Street, Darwin
LMB 22 GPO, Darwin. NT 0801.
Telephone: (08) 8999 1444
Fax: (08) 8981 3812
TTY: (08) 8999 1466
Freecall: 1800 813 846
Email: administration.adc@nt.gov.au 
Website: www.adc.nt.gov.au