guidance note on the prevention of bullying and violence at work

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover Authority

Guidance Note on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work

Evaluation results – first year of implementation

Background

• At the launch of the Guidance Note, the Minister for WorkCover announced that its implementation would be reviewed 12 months after the launch “to ensure it is being used effectively and appropriately”

• The evaluation focused on part one of the Guidance Note – Preventing Workplace Bullying

Background

Evaluation questions

1. How effective is the Guidance Note as a tool to: raise awareness; increase knowledge and information; implement prevention measures; and implement resolution procedures?

2. If the Guidance Note is not effective, what are the options?

Note: question two conditional on negative answer to question one

Evaluation components

The evaluation involved 6 pieces of research:

1. Survey of employees (repeat of 2003 benchmark survey) to measure incidence and changes in perception on bullying in Victorian workplaces

2. Survey of employers – to examine their level of awareness on bullying and how to prevent it

3. In-depth interviews with various stakeholders examining their perceptions on how WorkSafe Victoria deals with bullying

Evaluation components

4. Survey of Bullying Designated Inspectors – examining the adequacy of support and the tools provided to them

5. Detailed case studies – examining how matters are actioned once they are referred to WorkSafe

6. Internal data review – examining calls to OHS advisory service, workplace visits and notices issued

Employee survey

• A survey of 1000 Victorians aged over 18 who were employed full time, part time or on a casual basis

• Purpose – to measure employee perceptions on a range of issues about their workplaces and bullying

• Conducted in March 2004 (follow up from 2003 benchmark survey)

What did it involve?

Some results: employee survey

• Verbal abuse was the most common form of bullying reported

• Large organisations were more likely to have a bullying policy

• Only a third of small organisations had bullying policies

Some results: employee survey

• Slight increase in employees reporting their company had a workplace bullying policy

• Employees reporting they have personally experienced bullying remains steady

• Most common reason for bullying stopping was victim leaving the job

Employer survey

• A survey of 250 employers, conducted in august 2004

• Purpose – to measure employer perceptions of the WorkSafe Victoria’s Guidance Note on the Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work

What did it involve?

Some results: employer survey

• Since the release of the Guidance Note, nearly a quarter of employers surveyed stated bullying had been reported to them

• According to employers surveyed, the three most common actions taken to manage recent bullying complaints were: investigation; mediation; and disciplinary action

• According to employers surveyed, the three most common outcomes of a bullying complaint were: issue resolved; employee left; and no repeat offence

Inspector survey

• A survey of WorkSafe Victoria inspectors who deal with allegations of bullying

• Purpose – to examine WorkSafe Victoria’s approach to dealing with bullying

What did it involve?

Some results: Inspector survey

• Responding to bullying allegations is time and resource intensive

• The Guidance Note has been constructive in informing & assisting workplaces but case studies/ examples needed

• Involvement of management in prevention and issue resolution is critical – lack of involvement generally results in poor outcomes

Some results: Inspector survey

• We need to clarify WorkSafe’s role and functions to workplace parties

• Awareness on what can be done to prevent bullying prior to an inspector visiting a workplace was generally low

Themes from evaluation

• Bullying was more likely to be reported by workers in community services & the health industries

• Bullying least likely to be reported by workers in manufacturing & construction industries

• Full time employees were most likely to be aware of company's bullying policy

Bullying awareness & incidence

Themes from evaluation

• Casuals and apprentices were least likely to be aware of company's bullying policy

• Employers who were aware of the Guidance Note were more likely to rate WorkSafe as effective in dealing with workplace bullying

• Awareness of the Guidance Note was low in regional Victoria

Bullying awareness & incidence

Themes from evaluation

• A significant proportion of workers are not aware of what actions to take to stop bullying - from employee survey

• Workers experiencing bullying are more likely to inform internal parties than external parties - from employee survey

• Victims often leave the organisation in response to being bullied- from employee & employer

surveys

When bullying occurs

Themes from evaluation

• According to both the employee & employer surveys only a half to sixty per cent of organisations involved employees in the development of their workplace policy on bullying

• Employees in small organisations were least likely to have been involved in policy development

Employee involvement

What did the evaluation tell us?

• There is acceptance that workplace bullying is a legitimate OHS issue from both employers & employee representatives

• There needs to be a greater focus on prevention so bullying is treated like any other OHS issue

• There is sufficient evidence to confirm that the Guidance Note is being taken seriously and that a code of practice is not warranted

• Employer associations believe the level of support provided to employers on ‘what compliance looks like’ should increase

What did the evaluation tell us?

• Not enough employers are involving employees in the development of workplace policies on bullying

• Overall, the level of employee and employer awareness of bullying has increased

• WorkSafe's’ enforcement activity in relation to the Guidance Note has increased

WorkSafe Victoria is a division of the Victorian WorkCover Authority

WorkSafe & Prevention of Bullying

The next 12 months

Actions following evaluation results

• Inform stakeholders on evaluation findings via WorkSafe Victoria web site

• Letters promoting the Guidance Note & its prevention approach for bullying will be sent to CEOs in industries with low awareness levels

• WorkSafe’s operational policy on bullying has been revised and bullying prevention training offered to all inspectors

Actions following evaluation results

• WorkSafe Victoria will increase prevention activity in relation to workplace bullying

• PSCS to pilot a more proactive approach to prevention of bullying

• WorkSafe will schedule a number of regional workshops on bullying prevention and the Guidance Note