We often do not think that bullying is common outside of school environments, what many seem to forget is that bullying can happen to anyone of any age. The most common place where adults experience bullying is unfortunately in their workplace. Having a strong anti-bullying stance in the workplace can help ensure it is a healthy and happy environment for all employees. There are steps that you can take as an employer or employee to help prevent bullying in your workplace.
Clearly define bullying and harassment
It’s important to clearly set boundaries regarding what is and isn’t appropriate in the workplace. For employers there should be a clear outline of what is considered bullying and harassment in the workplace and what is unacceptable. As an employee you should always be thoughtful about what you say and consider if you could offend or hurt anyone’s feelings before taking action. If you think something you are about to say or do could come across as bullying it’s better to keep it to yourself.
Course of Action
If any of your employees feel harassed or bullied, they need to have a course of action. That is, they need to know how to deal with it. This can include going to their superiors, going to Human Resources, filing official complaints, etc.
Your employees need to feel safe in their work environment, and they should know that they have a recourse of action in case they are bullied by co-workers or superiors. Always try to make sure your employee know they are in a safe environment and can report acts of bullying, by giving a voice to potential bullying victims you can help prevent them before they become a bigger issue.
Repercussions
Having a zero tolerance anti-bullying policy at a workplace will help create a safer environment for all. Within the terms of agreements for employment your anti-bullying policy should clearly outline what isn’t acceptable and the course of action that will be taken if these rules are broken. Sticking to these policies will ensure that everyone is being treated with the same levels of respect and tolerance, teaching great skills that can be applied within the workplace and in your personal life.
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