Bullying and Harassment

What is bullying?

A worker is bullied at work if:

A person or group of people repeatedly act unreasonably towards them or a group of workers.
The behaviour creates a risk to health and safety.

Unreasonable behaviour includes victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening. Whether a behaviour is unreasonable can depend on whether a reasonable person might see the behaviour as unreasonable in the circumstances.

Examples of bullying include:

Behaving aggressively.
Teasing or practical jokes.
Pressuring someone to behave inappropriately.
Excluding someone from work-related events.
Unreasonable work demands.

What isn’t bullying?

Reasonable management action that’s carried out in a reasonable way is not bullying. An employer or manager can:

make decisions about poor performance
take disciplinary action
direct and control the way work is carried out.

Management action that isn’t carried out in a reasonable way may be considered bullying.

What is harassment?

Harassment includes behaviour such as:

Making derogatory comments or taunts about someone’s race or religion.
Asking intrusive questions about someone’s personal life, including their sex life.
Telling insulting jokes about racial groups.
Sending explicit or sexually suggestive emails.
Unwelcome sexual advance, or an unwelcome request for sexual favours.

How does Suitsme prevent and monitor bullying and harassment?

Information on bullying and harassment is included in the staff pre-employment video and client welcome pack. The pre-employment video also directs staff on what to do if it should occur.

Anyone at Suitsme who manages staff will be alert to the possibility of bullying and harassment and monitor behaviour to ensure it is not happening.

I’m a staff member, what do I do if I’m being bullied, harassed or discriminated against?

Given the independent nature of the work that most staff at Suitsme complete, it is unlikely that workplace bullying, or harassment will be able to occur. That said, Suitsme will take any allegation of bullying and harassment seriously.

If you are experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination, follow the dispute and grievance document.

If a staff member feels they are being bullied or harassed by a client, they should raise this with their supervisor immediately.

I’m a staff member, what if I see someone else being bullied, harassed or discriminated against?

Notify your supervisor. If your supervisor is involved then go to their manager and so on, all the way to the Suitsme’s Directors if required.

What does Suitsme do if bullying, harassment or discrimination are identified?

Suitsme management will investigate the allegation in accordance with the dispute and grievance process. Suitsme management are responsible to ensure the behaviour has stopped and continuous improvements are implemented. Perpetrators of bullying and harassment will be subject to performance management and may have their employment terminated.

We will always follow up with the employee subject to the behaviour, the employee who identified the behaviour and the perpetrator of the behaviour (if they are still employed by Suitsme).

What is discrimination?

Unlawful discrimination is defined in the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

Discrimination refers to less favourable treatment than another person based on race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy or marital status, age, disability, religion, sexual preference, trade union activity, or some other characteristic specified under anti-discrimination or human rights legislation

How is bullying and harassment different to discrimination?

Discrimination happens when there’s ‘adverse action’.

Adverse action includes firing or demoting someone because of a person’s characteristics, like their race, religion or sex.

Why does Suitsme ask staff to provide age and gender in their profile?

One of Suitsme’s values is “real client centricity”, part of this means clients choosing to work with someone who they click with. Some clients are looking for support from someone a similar age to them. We feel that it is fair for them to have this information when choosing a worker and that this practice supports social role valorisation. Some clients have support needs which require them to be supported by someone of a particular gender; this is often to protect the safety of the staff or the client.

Suitsme recruits based on the criteria listed under “Who is Suitsme looking for?”. Clients come from a broad cross-section of society and we are seeking a staffing group to match. We will never unlawfully discriminate in our recruitment, performance management or any other area. You can find more information on bullying and harassment and discrimination on the Fairwork website.

How can we help?