LEGAL MATTERS BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Creating a bullying-free workplace for all South Africans
A
n estimated 78% of South Africans say they have experienced some form of victimisation in the workplace. But there is legislation to protect the workforce against workplace bullying and to compel employers to intervene to prevent bullying and harassment at work. IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE Bullying can cause physical and psychological health problems, including increased blood pressure, panic attacks, increased stress and anxiety. Not only does bullying affect the well-being and productivity of an employee, but it can also affect the performance of the wider team. It can take a number of forms, including belittling a colleague’s opinion, false accusations, taking credit for another’s work, overloading others with work as a form of punishment, intimidation, verbal abuse and sexual or racial harassment. Sometimes bullying can be as subtle as giving someone the silent treatment or spreading gossip about a colleague. This behaviour can result in the lowering of the victim’s self-esteem or self-confidence. The International Labour Organisation estimates that workplace bullying is better reported in developed economies, as there is greater awareness of the issue.
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For example, in the UK, an estimated 53% of workers say they have experienced a hostile work environment, and 78% have witnessed bullying in the workplace. In the USA, Workplace Bullying Institute (WBI) poll showed that 68% of executives considered “workplace bullying a serious problem”, and almost half of Americans are affected by workplace bullying. Last year, the Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and
Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace came into effect and empowered victims to act against all manner of workplace abuses, including sarcasm, condescending language, and joking at someone else’s expense. The code aims to remove any uncertainty about harassment in the workplace that may have existed before and clearly defines forms of physical, psychological, and sexual harassment to ensure workers are protected
