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WorkplaceBehaviour

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What is it?

Bullying and Harassment

Bullying, harassment or victimisation have no place at MFG. We’re committed to ensuring everyone feels safe, respected and is allowed the opportunity to achieve their best. In addition to individual obligations under the Workplace Health & Safety Act, culturally it’s important that we take accountability for our interactions, consistently reflecting on our own behaviour and how it impacts others.

Workplace bullying refers to repeated, unreasonable
behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.

Whilst a single incident of workplace behaviour is not considered to be bullying, it may have the potential to escalate.

By not stepping in or speaking up, you’re actually implying it is okay.

For information on the best course of action to take should you be witness to or experience inappropriate behaviour, refer to the Grievance Policy.

Intention vs Perception

Inappropriate behaviour is often not intentional. Sometimes people do not realise that their behaviour is negatively impacting others. It’s important to note that Anti-Bullying and Equal Opportunity legislation is concerned with the perception or effect of the behaviour on the individual experiencing it, rather than the actual intent of the individual inflicting the behaviour.

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Bullying knowledge check

Which of the following behaviours could potentially be considered as workplace bullying if repeated?

Select all relevant answers.

What is not Bullying?

So, what is NOT workplace bullying?

Reasonable management action taken in a reasonable way.

It is reasonable for managers to allocate work and to give fair and reasonable feedback on a team member’s performance. These actions are NOT considered to be workplace bullying if they are carried out lawfully and in a reasonable way.

An example of this is setting a reasonable performance goal in a reasonable time frame.

Differences of opinion and disagreements are generally not considered to be workplace bullying. However, in some cases, conflict that is not managed may escalate to the point where it meets the definition of workplace bullying.

What is Discrimination and Harassment?

It is possible for a person to be bullied, harassed and discriminated against at the same time. However, unlike workplace bullying, discrimination and harassment can be as a result of a single incident that is based on a characteristic relating to the affected person.

Discrimination

Discrimination refers to the less favourable treatment of a person based on a protected attribute, which is not relevant in determining the suitability of the person in an employment situation.

It is unlawful and unacceptable to discriminate based on the following attributes or characteristics:

  • Gender
  • Marital status
  • Pregnancy
  • Race, colour, ethnicity, national origin
  • Parental status
  • Religious or political beliefs
  • Age
  • Physical features
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Political beliefs

Harassment

Harassment refers to uninvited or unwelcome behaviour that would reasonably offend, humiliate or intimidate another person, whether or not that effect is intended.

Harassment creates an unpleasant environment and is also against the law.

Harassment will not be tolerated at MFG.

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Sexual harassment

The most common form of workplace harassment is sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is the unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which a reasonable person would find offensive. It may be physical, verbal or written.

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Sexual harassment knowledge check

Which of the following behaviours could be considered sexual harassment?

Select all of the relevant responses.

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