Awareness of what constitutes bullying and discrimination among Australian employees has improved over the last year, ahead of the introduction of new anti-bullying laws in January 2014.
The national WorkPro’s Workplace Pulse Survey of over 5,500 labour hire employees has found that almost three-quarters (73%) of employees are aware when their workplace rights have been breached through an act of bullying or discrimination, representing a 7% increase compared with the 2012 survey results.
According to the survey, one third of respondents believe they have been bullied in the workplace at some point during their career – up 5% from 2011 – while 27% said they had been discriminated against at work – up 4% from 2011. In addition, nearly half (48%) of respondents said they had witnessed a colleague being bullied in the workplace – a 5% increase from 2011.
The reasons for this improved awareness, according to WorkPro general manager Tania Evans, include Australian media coverage and the emergence of Brodie’s Law in 2011.
“Brodie’s Law here in Victoria was really the commencement of people’s understanding and awareness of the ramifications of bullying,” Evans said. “Social media has also provided an easier form of distributing and sharing information, providing people with a level of comfort to be able to seek support or find out where they can get assistance.”
This year’s survey results, according to Evans, are a good sign ahead of the introduction of the anti-bullying laws in January.
“The new anti-bullying jurisdiction, commencing on 1 January, will provide a process for workers to report bullying to the FairWork Commission,” she said. “With increased awareness of what bullying and discrimination breaches are in the workplace, this is ideal timing for the new laws to be introduced.”
Despite the improvement, however, Evans said workplaces need to establish a “robust methodology” and put in place strong, zero-tolerance policies.
“[Workplaces must] provide open communication and a culture where there is a comfortable process for reporting and discussing the issues around bullying that is formalised – that’s important – so that it’s taken seriously and formally documented so the issues can be resolved quickly.”
Evans also hopes the new laws will provide consistency regarding the definition of what constitutes bullying.
“There have been different definitions across states and territories. The new laws provide an additional avenue for people to report activity and a nationally consistent standard of what constitutes bullying,” she said.