Is this a picture of a healthy workplace engagement?
The reality is we don't know. There could have been an off colour joke that was just shared or they could be gossiping about a coworker. Or they could just be having a staff meeting. The reality is we often don't know what harassment or bullying really look like. We know the extreme. I am not saying we all have not seen or experienced the extreme where the bullying or harassment is so glaring, so obvious that it demands a reaction. What I am talking about are the many of things that take place on a daily basis where we walk away wondering what we just heard or saw. Avoid conflict at all costs. Part of the issue is our natural human desire to avoid conflict at all costs. This is especially true in the workplace where we need an environment that is conducive to productivity and free of drama. It is our avoidance of conflict however, that often allows for behaviours that cross the line to continue and increase in severity. Only when they reach a certain point do we feel compelled to intervene. In the mean time the culture has grown more toxic and productivity has suffered, not to mention the toll on the person(s) being harassed or bullied. Early intervention saves a world of hurt. Knowing how to spot harassment or abusive behaviour early is key to avoiding so many issues. What is required though, is a common understanding among the team, or group of what those behaviours are and what to do with them. Bill 30 Bill 30 is a good start with regard to providing further definition around workplace harassment and bullying. A definition of what constitutes this behaviour along with highlighting which groups are protected under this new legislation does provide clarity. That being said there are things that this bill does not specifically address and those are the areas that each workplace should be aware of. Not Sure? If you have heard about this new bill coming into law this month and if you are not sure if you or your team are fully comfortable with knowing how to deal with this issue then let me encourage you to reach out to Omni MCA to discuss our half day session on workplace bullying and harassment called STEP UP. Nothing beats being sure about how to approach this growing concern and as we stated, early intervention saves a world of hurt. Request a time for a no obligation information highlight of the session over the phone by clicking on the button. Looking forward to hearing from you! Comments are closed.
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January 2021
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