Workplace bullying policy.

Fox Personnel
Fox Personnel - factory staff with laptop

Workplace bullying policy and procedure.

Purpose and scope

Fox Personnel is committed to ensuring that staff work in an environment where people are treated with mutual respect. It is important for a productive and harmonious workplace that staff are aware of the impact of their behaviours on others.

Bullying in the workplace is inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour. Staff (internal, temps or contractors) found to have either committed or condoned such behaviour in the workplace will be subject to disciplinary action which may include the termination of employment.

Policy

Fox Personnel will not tolerate bullying under any circumstances and will:

  • Promote appropriate standards of behaviour at all times.
  • Treat complaints of bullying in a sensitive, fair, timely and confidential manner.
  • Implement training and awareness-raising strategies to ensure all employees know their rights and responsibilities.
  • Provide an effective procedure for complaints of bullying to be addressed.
  • Encourage the reporting of behaviour which breaches the bullying policy.
  • Ensure protection from victimisation or reprisals for persons reporting bullying.

What is workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying is characterised by persistent and repeated negative behaviour directed at an employee (either internal or client based) that creates a risk to health and safety.

OHS law places duties on employers to eliminate, so far as is reasonably practicable, risks to the health and safety of their employees. If it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, then an employer must reduce those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

OHS law places duties on employees to take reasonable care for the health and safety of persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at a workplace and to cooperate with their employer’s actions taken to comply with the OHS Act 2004.

What are examples of bullying?

The following types of behaviour where directed towards an individual and repeated, or occurring as part of a pattern of behaviour, could be considered to be bullying:

  • Demeaning language or verbal abuse
  • Threats, physical or verbal intimidation
  • Outbursts of anger or aggression
  • Excluding or isolating employees
  • “Ganging up” on an employee
  • Psychological harassment or intimidation
  • Giving employees impossible assignments
  • Deliberately changing work rosters to inconvenience particular employees
  • Deliberately withholding information that is vital for effective work performance