We might associate bullying with school, but many adults face it each day at work, and employers need to make sure they have the right policies in place to deal with it.
“Bullying in the workplace is prevalent such that the new Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace, which took effect on March 18 2022, has placed a positive duty on employers to play their part in preventing bullying in the workplace,” says Bowmans SA partner Sibusiso Dube.
He advises:
- Bullying is a form of harassment and involves the abuse of coercive power, which may involve aggressive behaviour, including insulting, demeaning or intimidating behaviour that lowers the self-esteem or self-confidence of an employee;
- Employers must take proactive and remedial steps to prevent all forms of harassment, including assessing the risk of harassment to employees; creating and maintaining an environment in which employees' dignity is respected; implementing a policy that addresses harassment; educating employees about harassment; implementing awareness programmes; and investigating allegations of harassment;
- Employers who do not act to stop bullying timeously may be found liable in terms of the Employment Equity Act;
- Companies should have a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and any other form of harassment.
