Bullying

 Q1. People are often hesitant to make a complaint; why do you think this is?

There are numerous explanations of why some people do not complain and are hesitant to make a move. Often they are petrified of the consequences they have gone through in the past or they do not feel comfortable raising their voice against bullying, because they think they will be considered cowards. They might feel embarrassed or they might be humiliated again especially if it is a supervisor. Fear of the unknown, and that nothing will be done if it is a powerful bullier.      

Q2. Is it possible for people who file complaints to be victimised beyond the original incident? How could this happen? What are some ways organisations and individual managers can help people feel more comfortable making a claim?

People who file a complaint against bullying has a higher chance of getting bullied again and the reason being is people who were complained will get punished for sure and they will blame people who complain in the first place. They want revenge and this is why people who were bullied before might be oppressed and intimidated again.

Companies have policies against bullying to identify and categorize different types of activities to be considered as bullying and what steps can be taken to prevent people from getting bullied. Most companies have a policy where people can report anonymously to protect the privacy and integrity of the employees. Managers can also make sure by communicating regularly with people that they are not being bullied again after the complaint.

 

Q3. What can managers do to create a culture where people feel safe to stand up for their rights to equal treatment and being treated with respect and dignity?

All employees should be educated during their induction shift about their rights and that they will be treated equally in the organisation. Managers need to make sure that all essential tools are readily available to report mistreatment and ill behaviour, such as report form, email add and call centres numbers. A poster can also be used to remind everyone that it is not a crime to report against bullying and strict action will be taken accordingly.