There is a strong link between mental health and workplace bullying. According to a study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, as many as 42% of employees have left an organization because of workplace bullying.
Workplace bullying can also lead to other issues such as high turnover rate, low team morale and lower productivity. However, the good news is that employers can take steps to reduce the risk of their employees being bullied by creating a safe and respectful work environment. Read on for some useful tips on how you can address this issue in your organisation…
Establish a clear code of conduct
The first thing you need to do is establish a clear code of conduct. This should include your organisation's expectations of employees, their manager's expectations of the employee and what the employee can expect from their manager.
The code of conduct should also include a clear process for addressing issues, such as workplace bullying. If you do not have a code of conduct, now is the perfect time to put one in place.
Make sure employees know where to turn to
If you have an established employee assistance programme (EAP), then make sure employees know how to access this service. EAPs help employees deal with a range of issues, such as stress, depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
If you do not have an EAP, then you should make sure employees know who they can turn to in the organisation for help. The person they should go to should not be in their direct line of management.
Train your HR team & managers
Make sure your HR team and managers are trained in handling sensitive issues. This will help them deal with these issues in an appropriate manner. In addition, make sure managers are aware of the risks associated with workplace bullying. Your managers should be trained on how to recognise the signs of bullying and what to do if it happens.
Don't ignore rumours
If you have heard rumours about an employee being bullied, it is important not to ignore them. Instead, talk to the employee who has raised the issue to find out more about what is happening. Instead of dismissing the rumours, write down what you have heard, who the rumours are about and the impact it is having on the team.
Conclusion
There is a strong link between mental health and workplace bullying. If you want to reduce the risk of your employees being bullied, you should establish a clear code of conduct, make sure employees know where to turn to and train your HR team & managers.
Don't ignore rumours if you have heard rumours about an employee being bullied, instead, talk to the employee who has raised the issue to find out more about what is happening.
Contact Jolasers for help with a Workplace Bullying Investigation in Melbourne.
Workplace bullying: Violence, Harassment and Bullying Fact sheet
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