
Issue No 73		13 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Safety

Being bossed around is bad for your health

By George Wright

A survey of more than 3,000 Australian workers has revealed that some 54% of workers experience intimidating behaviour in their workplace. In almost 85% of cases it is employers, managers and supervisors who are identified as the culprits.

Workplace bullying will be the target of a major occupational health and safety campaign to be launched by the ACTU on Monday October 16.

Under the banner the workplace is no place for bullying, unions, trades and labour councils and workers around the country will focus on the growing health and economic costs of bullying behaviour by employers, managers and supervisors.

While many people think of bullying as persecuting or 'ganging up' on individuals this is only part of the story. Most bulling is not so obvious. Bossing people around, intimidating, threatening or keeping them under constant pressure is also bullying.

This is the most common form of bullying in Australian workplaces and it is a risk to health and safety.

This bullying takes many forms. Unreasonable demands and impossible targets, restrictive and petty work rules, inadequate training, constant and intrusive surveillance or monitoring, shouting and abusive language, compulsory overtime, unfair rostering and threats of dismissal or demotion.

While those most likely to be bullyed include young workers, apprentices, trainees, women, older workers and workers for non-English speaking backgrounds, bullying can happen to anyone.

It happens across all industries and in all professions.

Diminished job security, privatisation, downsizing, outsourcing, casualisation and long or unpredictable working hours have put Australian workers under enormous pressure.

The feeling in many Australian workplaces is that never has so much been done by so few with so little.

The push for ever higher productivity in an increasingly competitive environment is resulting in bullying tactics being used to push workers to the limit. Workers often get the blame for poor performance or low productivity, no matter how well they do their jobs.

Bullying is a significant mental and physical health issue.

It can affect our health in many ways. Being bossed around is a major cause of stress at work. At its worst it can result in serous physical illness, alcohol and drug use, depression and other mental illness. Other symptoms include headaches, sleep difficulties, high bold pressure, digestive problems, anxiety, anger and even nausea.

A recent study of stress in the United Kingdom estimated that bullying is the cause of between a third and half of all work-related stress, and it is not only workers who are paying the price. The study also concluded that in the UK, 18 million working days are lost every year because of bullying and that, on average, bullied workers take an extra seven days off a year compared with those who are not bullied.

Australian academics like Grithith University's Dr. Paul McCarthy estimate that some 2.5 million Australian workers experience bullying during their working lives and that the cost to Australian business could be as high as $3 billion a year.

Despite this, there is little acknowledgment from Governments and employers that managerial bullying is a problem.

A key focus of the being bossed around is bad for your health campaign is too encourage Governments, employers and occupational heath and safety authorities to broaden their narrow focus on worker to worker bullying and look seriously at the effects of all forms of bullying - including aggressive management.

If there is not serious community debate about what is and what is not acceptable behaviour in the workplace and agreement about the real health, safety and social consequences of bullying the victims of bullying may be condemned to continue suffering in silence. As one respondent to a recent survey of workers on the issue said, "Nothing will be done about it because how do you prove bullying when it is subtle and sly?"

Health professional also need to start seriously considering bullying and the stress it causes as a genuine cause of ill health in their patients.

Everyone has the right to dignity and respect in the workplace. If bullying is occurring in your workplace there are ways to deal with it.

Get the issues out in the open and remember that bullying is an issue for all workers, not just the victims, so make sure you get your workmates and your union involved. Once you are prepared, you and your workplace representatives should raise the issue with your employer.

Employers have a legal duty to control all heath and safety hazards in the workplace including organisational structures and behaviours that may lead to bullying. There is simply no excuse for causing or allowing bullying in the workplace and an employer who is notified of a bullying issue must investigate and address it.

On Monday and in the coming weeks workers and unions will be targeting toxic management, because toxic management can make workers sick.

ACTU Helpline 1300 362 223

For more information call the ACTU HOTLINE on 1300 362 223 or visit our web site www.actu.asn.au

Sharan Burrow

ACTU President

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 73 contents

Interview: Righting The Wrongs
Improving the lives of Aboriginal people can't be taken out of the context of the economy, welfare and other areas says Bob McMullan, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Economics: At The Mercy Of Gamblers
The plunge of the Australian dollar relative to the greenback has consequences for Aussie workers according to Frank Stillwell.

History: Labour History Under Seige Again
The Friends of the Noel Butlin Archives Centre have recently been informed of proposed changes to the Noel Butlin Archives Centre (NBAC), changes that will cut staff by more than 50% and leave the Archives mothballed in the tunnel where the repository is situated.

Workplace: Fighting The Flexible Firm
We are told that hardship and exploitation at work is dying out, and the new economy offers opportunity, freedom and job satisfaction for all. Richard Sennett unveils the true nature of the flexible workplace.

Safety: Being bossed around is bad for your health
A survey of more than 3,000 Australian workers has revealed that some 54% of workers experience intimidating behaviour in their workplace. In almost 85% of cases it is employers, managers and supervisors who are identified as the culprits.

Unions: Discrimination
New to the union and the maritime industry and with only a few days casual work to live off, Stephen Rolls courageously spoke up against individual contracts during a job interview with Burnie Port Corp.

International: Serbian Workers and Their Unions Fight for Freedom
Serbian workers and their unions have been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy in Yugoslavia as they led a general strike in response to attempts by President Slobodan Milosevic to nullify the defeat he faced in the Sept. 24 election.

Satire: A few more years of civilised brutality will advantage Aborigines: Ruddock
CANBERRA, Tuesday: The Minister for Reconciliation Philip Ruddock has defended his comments to French newspaper Le Monde claiming that Aborigines were disadvantaged because they were late in coming into contact with developed civilisations.

Review: Poetry For Workers By Workers
Poems about the trials and tribulations of a waitress and what you learn in a chocolate factory are among the gems from the 925 anthology.

» Rorter Reith's Gotta Go Say Unions

» Reith's Wharf Secrets Return To Haunt

» Unions And Community Groups Call For Bank Social Charter

» Landmark Victory Extends Severance Pay To All

» 5 Day Strike Burns BHP Coal

» Parramatta Workers Enjoy Union Chill Out

» Report Finds Fatigue Fatalities Avoidable

» Queensland Peak Union Body Elects First Female Secretary

» The Joy of Burning Rubber

» dot.humanservices

» Unions Raise A Motza To Combat Youth Suicide