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Home > At Work > Industry Issues > Bullying in the Workplace

Bullying in the Workplace

The bullying and harassment of employees is fast becoming a major workplace health and safety issue. But just what is ‘bullying’ and ‘harassment’?

Bullying behaviour generally involves put downs or belittling comments or behaviour but can also include behaviour designed to scare and offend the victim. Bullying generally occurs over a number of instances while harassment could occur in one instance.


Harassment includes behaviour that the harassed person does not want and does not return. It is also designed to belittle, scare and offend people. The behaviour is also either a) sexual or b) targets them because of their race, religion, pregnancy, marital status, sexuality or disability.
Both of these behaviours make the workplace uncomfortable and unhealthy and need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. If allowed to continue, a serious Workplace Health and Safety incident could occur.


Contact your union organiser or staff representative to speak about your concerns about Workplace Bullying and Harassment.

How do you stop B & H becoming an issue in your workplace?

A whole college approach is needed to address the behaviour by developing a Bullying and Harassment Policy. The aim of the policy is to have the behaviour stop without any reprisals and to rectify any disadvantage that may have occurred.

Your policy should follow these principles:

· The right of the accused to be informed of the allegations
. The right of all individuals to be treated with respect
· Observance of natural justice
· Acceptance of the legitimacy of the complainant’s feelings
· Support and protection for all parties involved
· Preservation of a non-judgmental and non-adversarial approach by mediators.

IEUA-QNT has developed a training course designed to help participants identify and address bullying and harassment by giving them the education to formulate a policy. Your union also has resource booklets that helps members deal with bullying and harassment issues.

Tools to Combat Bullying

This tool kit is one of the products of the Queensland Schools Alliance Against Violence.

Effective school based action against bullying - a tool kit