Course Overview

Workplace bullying is a significant problem in today's workforce.

What is Workplace Bullying?
'Workplace bullying means any behaviour that is repeated, systematic and directed towards an employee or group of employees that a reasonable person, having regard to the circumstances, would expect to victimise, humiliate, undermine or threaten and which creates a risk to health and safety.'Definition included in section 55A (1) of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986

Impact of Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying may cause extensive health problems for employees exposed to this hazard, including physical and psychological illnesses and injuries. It can impact on co-workers, clients, customers, business associates, family and friends.
The reaction of individual employees will vary according to the nature of the bullying. It is possible that employees who are bullied may experience some of the following effects:

• Stress, anxiety or sleep disturbance
• Panic attacks or impaired ability to make decisions
• Incapacity to work
• concentration problems
• loss of self-confidence and self-esteem or reduced output and performance
• Depression or a sense of isolation
• Physical injury
• Reduced quality of home and family life
• Suicide

The costs to the organisation include reduced efficiency, unsafe work environment, increased absenteeism, poor morale, increased workers Compensation claims and civil action. (Page 6 Dealing with Workplace Bullying A Practical Guide for Employees)

Course Objectives
Throughout the course you will learn tools and techniques to help overcome bullying in the workplace, and more importantly knowing and understanding how to effectively and appropriately respond when threatened or approached with such a situation.

Participants will learn how to:

• Appropriately respond to bullying and aggressive behaviour,
• Steps to take in order to deal with Bullying
• Understand the impact bullying and harassment has on individuals, groups and on organisation.
• How to overcome bullying