OHS REPS @ WORK

Bullying at work is unacceptable behaviour. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work. Bullying is an OHS issue that employers must address and manage. The employer has a duty to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace and safe and healthy systems of work.  The employer must also consult with the OHS rep, and with employees on the identification, assessment and control of risks.

• Consult with your members and discuss the issue to create awareness of it.
• Carry out surveys to see if bullying may be a problem in your workplace.
• Advise members to collect evidence, keep a diary of any incidents.
• Together with management, develop a policy on bullying. The policy should include a definition of bullying, the possible effects, that it is not tolerated by the organisation, and reporting and investigation procedures.   This may be a task for the joint OHS commitee if there is one in place.  If there isn't, then consider requesting that the employer establish one.
• Consult with the employer to ensure that adequate training, information and instruction is provided at the workplace to all workers, supervisors and health and safety representatives.
• Encourage your members to report all incidents of bullying/harassment.
• Keep your eyes open for any warning signs that bullying is happening in your workplace.
• Contact your union for further advice or information or advice.

CONTENTS OF ANTI-BULLYING POLICY/PROCEDURE

The most effective way to stop bullying before it starts is to create a climate of opinion or culture within an organisation, which makes it clear to the would-be bully that certain behaviour is out of bounds.

A specific policy intended to prevent or stop bullying should:

• Include a statement of commitment by all levels of management, which defines bullying and makes it clear that it is unacceptable in the organisation.
• Be jointly developed and agreed by management, Health and Safety Representatives, relevant unions and Health and Safety Committee.
• Guarantee confidentiality and rapid resolution of issues.
• Provide for regular monitoring and review.

• The UK's peak union council, the TUC has produced guidance for safety representatives on dealing with Bullying at Work. It includes a sample survey form.  Bullying at Work - Guidance for Safety Representatives
• The UK union UNISON has produced very useful guidelines for union delegates and OHS reps: Bullying at Work [ pdf]  The guidelines give advice on the sorts of things that can be done to combat bullying in the workplace.  The guideline includes a draft bullying policy and survey.