Workplace Bullying can have a huge impact on your mental health and happiness at work. It should not be tolerated: everyone has the right to work in a safe and supportive environment.
Workplace Bullying is defined as repeated and unreasonable behaviour that is directed towards a specific individual or group. It may come from other team members, supervisors, managers, or in the case of retail and fast food, from customers.

Bullying can include:

• Aggressive or intimidating conduct.
• Spreading malicious rumours.
• Teasing, practical jokes or ‘initiation ceremonies’.
• Exclusion from work-related events.
• Unreasonable work expectations including too much or too little work or work below or beyond a worker’s skill level.
• Displaying offensive material.
• Pressure to behave in an inappropriate manner.

What is not bullying?

Neither a single emotive outburst nor “reasonable management action carried out in a reasonable manner” can be considered bullying.

• Legitimate Performance management processes.
• Disciplinary action for misconduct.
• Informing a worker about unsatisfactory work performance or inappropriate work behaviour.
• Asking a worker to perform reasonable duties in keeping with their job.
• Maintaining reasonable workplace goals and standards.

It’s important to remember that the above are only considered “not to be bullying” if the action and the manner are considered reasonable. If the action or manner was not reasonable, then it could be bullying.

How bullying affects you:

Workplace bullying can seriously affect the health and safety of the person experiencing it, as well as on other team members and any witnesses. Some common ramifications of bullying can include:

• Emotional distress
• Burnout
• Decrease in job performance
• Physical health issues
• Low self-esteem
• Low job satisfaction

What to do if you’re being bullied

If you believe you are being bullied in the workplace, or just have a question, please talk to your SDA Shop Steward/ Delegate, speak to your Organiser or contact the Office for support.

The SDA will assist you in reporting the bullying to the appropriate person and follow any policies and procedures in case of bullying in your workplace.

It’s important that you report bullying, as if you leave it unreported, it may not stop, and may happen to other people too.

You should always keep written records of events, including the dates, times, and any witnesses present.
If you have been bullied, it’s important to take care of your mental health. If you are struggling after an incident, reach out to someone you can trust or contact a professional. Many workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers free counselling. If this is unavailable, you can also contact the SDA for free counselling sessions.