Bullying and sexual harassment go unreported as employees fear retaliation
10 October 2024
Bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm. Harassment includes unwelcome and persistent attention, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature which creates a hostile or offensive work environment. Bullying and harrassment poses a serious obstacle to creating a positive, productive working environment.
This kind of behaviour creates a toxic and tense environment, and if it goes unchecked, sends a message of acceptance. If mechanisms are not in place for employees to report bullying or harassment, and if these reports are not investigated thoroughly, it can have serious impacts on individuals and the organisation as a whole.
One of the difficult aspects of this kind of behaviour, is that it can be hard to define, and even harder to spot, as legally, bullying is 'in the eye of the beholder'. One person's 'joke' can make another person feel uncomfortable, and if it persists can feel bullying and belittling.
There is a fine line that organisations and their employees tread between banter and bullying. Banter can help bring down barriers in teams and create a shared sense of fun, yet if banter crosses the line, it can exclude people and make them feel uncomfortable, undermining the inclusive environment that is attempting to be built and maintained. It may also be the starting point for other forms of inappropriate behavior, becoming a gateway for more extreme behaviours such as sexual harassment.
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