Workplace culture

Presented by:Olgney Pinto,

Emile da Silva, Sveta Kersanava,

About Today’s Session

What is Sexual Harassment What is Workplace Bullying Look at some statistics Implications on the workplace Responsibilities of employers/supervisors Legal Obligations Minimising the Risk View & Discuss Video Assessment Task

Learning Outcomes

What we hope to achieve today: Identify examples of sexual harassment &

workplace bullying Understand the effect that this type of

harassment has on a business Understand the company’s expectations

regarding appropriate workplace behaviour Identify resolution pathways to deal with

harassment problems effectively

What is Workplace Bullying

Bullying is the repeated, less favourable treatment of an individual by one or

more people in the workplace

Workplace bullying can be simply described as “Bad Behaviour” which is

unreasonable & inappropriate

Examples of Bullying

Yelling or abuse Constant criticism of work Impossible deadlines Constantly changing targets Deliberately withholding work-related

information or resources Making someone the brunt of teasing, pranks

or practical jokes Tampering with personal effects or equipment Giving tasks which are meaningless or beyond

the skill of the person

Some of the usual apprentice pranks.. Go shopping for a long wait Go & get a 12” populating tool Tool box filled with grease/sump oil Go & buy a can of sparks to start the engine Hanging push bike up/deflating

tyres/gladwrapped Being locked in Porta-loo Or the more serious……… Dacking, greasing, or thrown in the dough

machine/garbage, tea towel flicking and physical abuse

Sexual Harassment…

Is Against the Law!

Is any form of unwelcome sexual behaviour that makes a person feel humiliated, intimidated or embarrassed

Can have serious & damaging effects on people’s lives

Is particularly hazardous to employers

Examples of Sexual Harassment

Uninvited touching Sexual or suggestive comments, jokes or innuendo Unwelcome requests for sex Asking about a person’s private life The display of sexually explicit material Repeated invitations to go out Staring, leering or stalking Sex based insults, taunts, teasing or name-calling Offensive communications

What is Not Sexual Harassment

Behaviour which is based on: Mutual attraction

Friendship Respect

If the interaction is consensual, welcome & reciprocated, then it

is not sexual harassment

Effects of Harassment

Reduced efficiency, productivity & profitability Adverse Publicity/Erosion of Company image Increased absenteeism Staff turnover Costs associated with counselling, recruitment,

compensation claims Legal costs associated with defending civil or

criminal charges Loss of sleep, loss of appetite & low morale Feelings of anger, humiliation, frustration,

depression, stress, powerlessness

Types of Bullies

                                                                                          

           

The Gatekeeper The Constant Critic

Types of Bullies

                                                        

         

                      

Two Headed Snake The Screaming Mimi

The Statistics - Bullying

Men & Women bullied/bully in equal numbers Women bullies target women 84% of the time Men bullies target women 69% of the time Vast majority of bullies are bosses (81%)

Source: Campaign against workplace bullying 2000 (USA)

New research from Griffith University estimates the cost to Australian employers is

between $6 billion & $36 billion a year Source: HR Monthly February 2002

Other Facts………………..

Women are more likely to report bullying About 1 victim in 100 either attempts or

succeeds to commit suicide Most people who are bullied report

damage to their health Overwhelming majority of bullies are

repeat offenders Bullying is responsible for 1 resignation in

4

The Statistics -Sexual Harassment

Survey Results from For Me Magazine Oct 2000Of the 60% of respondents who had been harassed, most common forms of sexual harassment were:

suggestive comments (68%) Unwanted touching (64%) Ogling (48%) Sexual advances (35%) Exposure to pornographic pictures (16%) 70% didn’t know who to complain to

Duty of Care

Qld employers have a responsibility to ensure the health & welfare of their workers under the Workplace Health & Safety Act 1995

In the area of employment, employers can be held liable for the wrongs committed by their employees in the course of work

This is referred to as Vicarious Liability

Vicarious Liability

Means that if an employee sexually harasses a co-worker, client, customer etc, the employer can be held legally responsible and may be liable for damages

Zero Tolerance

Are you aware of your Company’s Policies on Sexual Harassment & Workplace Bullying?

Policies should have strong opening statements regarding the company’s attitude to harassment in the workplace

Develop awareness among staff as a key strategy in addressing harassment

Maintain on-going identification & review workplace environments where staff may be at risk

Take a zero tolerance approach!

If you are being harassed…

Tell the person to stop!Report it to your: Supervisor/Manager HR Manager Field Officer/Trainer

Keep a record of the harassmentWhen, Where, Who Saw It

Thank you !

For participating in today’s session

Cairns Region Group Training takes workplace harassment

seriously