Understanding Workplace Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination
Workplace Bullying
Bullying at work is more common than you might think. In Australia, 1 in 10 workers face bullying, and in the US, 43% of remote workers experience it too.
What is Bullying?
A workplace bully can do many things to make you feel embarrassed or frustrated. They might:
- Make offensive jokes or play mean pranks
- Give you wrong information on purpose
- Leave you out of events or meetings
Who Can Be a Bully?
Bullying can come from anyone at work—coworkers, managers, or supervisors. For example, a manager might criticize you in front of others to make you feel bad.
Examples of Bullying Behavior:
- Using abusive or insulting language
- Acting aggressively or intimidatingly
- Making belittling or humiliating comments
- Playing practical jokes
- Criticizing or complaining unjustly
- Excluding someone from work activities
- Withholding important work information
- Constantly changing deadlines or setting impossible timelines
- Assigning tasks that are too hard or too easy
- Denying access to information or resources
- Spreading rumors or misinformation
- Changing work schedules to inconvenience someone
What is Unlawful Workplace Discrimination?
Discrimination at work happens when an employer treats an employee unfairly because of certain personal attributes. According to the Fair Work Act, these attributes include:
- Race, color, sex, sexual orientation, breastfeeding, gender identity, intersex status, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family or carer responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national origin, social origin, or experiencing family and domestic violence.
What is Harassment?
Harassment is when someone intimidates or causes distress to another person. This can include:
- Telling offensive jokes or making racial or ethnic slurs
- Pressuring someone for dates or sexual favors
- Making unwelcome comments about someone’s religion or religious clothes
- Creating or sharing offensive graffiti, cartoons, or pictures
Remember, if you or someone you know is facing bullying, harassment, or discrimination at work, it’s important to speak up and seek help.