What is workplace bullying

Document Type:Essay

Subject Area:Business

Document 1

Workplace bullying is best combated by putting in place measure to prevent its occurrence and if it occurs, there should be a quick response to solve it. If the acts of bullying and other related behaviors are allowed to continue for too long then it becomes hard to salvage the working relationship and there is an increase in the health and safety of the employees. The question that now arises is what is workplace bullying? Workplace bullying refers to the repetitive and unreasonable behaviors that are directed to the employees or a group of employees that create a risk to their health and safety. Repeated behaviors can be a given persistent nature of a person’s behavior or they can be different behaviors over time whereas unreasonable behavior refers to a behavior which to a normal person would be deemed unreasonable after considering all the circumstances.

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This behavior can either be threatening, humiliating, victimizing or intimidating. Research has revealed some alarming statistics that need to be acted upon with immediate effect. According to safe work Australia, 1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 5 men suffer from mental disorders that are caused by either bullying or harassment. A further 37% of the workers have reported cases of being sworn or yelled at in their work place with 11% of the employees having have been treated unfairly due to their gender. For paramedics and other ambulance service givers the statistics are more shocking. 22% of workers in this field have been threatened or assaulted physically by patients or their clients. According to the NSW parliamentary inquiry, the management of NSW Ambulance is not aware of up to 99% reports and complaints of bullying that have been reported in different ranks.

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Further the management does not know if the allegations are solved and how they are solved this is despite the fact that there are policies that are meant to address this issues. This is brought about with the fact that some of the managers are promoted beyond their abilities since they have connections in the ranks of the organization. Misplaced priorities There is a failure in the entire health sectors which has consistently failed in identifying bullying and harassment as a risk and propose appropriate methods to curb these vices. The NSW Ambulance is a care service giver and subsequently the well-being of the employees should also be a top priority. Thus bullying does not occur unless the medium is available and the act is triggered and beneficial.

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The interaction of these factors can lead to workplace bullying. Therefore in order to design a good policy that will be effective and considerate to each of the stakeholders, then there are some structures that have to be focused on thoroughly. Enabling structures These are the factors that set ground for bullying and they might include; power imbalance between the perpetrator and victim; dissatisfaction and frustration with the working environment and perceived low costs for the perpetrator e. g. According to the Victorian Ambulance strategy, effective interventions that address workplace bullying ought to be operational in various levels and should take into consideration the many players in this sector. Ambulance Victoria’s approach is a unified one and demands for strong and unambiguous leadership from the organizational level all the way to the many departments that form the ambulance service.

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