Frequently Asked Questions - Bullying
I think I'm being bullied. What advice and assistance can Comcare provide?
Refer to Comcare's publication Bullying in the workplace: A guide to prevention for managers and supervisors (OHS65) [142kb] for information on what types of behaviour may constitute bullying and also what behaviour is unlikely to constitute bullying.
If you are unsure whether particular behaviours amount to bullying you can test the behaviour against the definition of bullying provided in the guidance. That is, ask yourself whether the behaviour is unreasonable from an objective point of view, whether there has been more than one instance of unreasonable behaviour (i.e. the behaviour is repeated) and whether the behaviour is having or could have a negative effect on you, such that it constitutes a risk to your health and safety.
The first step in resolving a bullying situation is to identify what would resolve the situation from your point of view. For example, you may want the other person to stop making derogatory comments about you or to include you in project meetings from which you have been unreasonably excluded. If you feel unable to resolve the issue directly with the other person(s) you should seek assistance from within your organisation - find out whether there is a Harassment Contact Officer or another designated person, such as an HR officer, who you can discuss the situation with confidentially and explore further options. If appropriate, familiarise yourself with the organisation's internal complaint procedures and utilise the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for advice and/or support.
In certain circumstances Comcare may decide to investigate alleged breaches of the OHS Act in relation to bullying. Note that if this decision is taken the focus of the investigation will address the systems that the employer has in place to prevent or manage workplace bullying, rather than whether or not the alleged bullying incident occurred. Comcare will generally only investigate after all reasonable efforts have been made to resolve the situation internally.
Note: where there is a reference to the 'OHS Act', it refers to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 199
Page last updated:November 14, 2007