June 26
What can I do about bullying at work?
Analyse your own emotions first. Find out where on the emotional spectrum you are.
- If you are just unhappy, communicate, try and sort it out in an informal way over a coffee.
- Get to know your needs and wants by Googling “The pyramid of Maslow.” Print it out and keep on your file to use in a discussion with your manager or Human Resources. On this pyramid you can identify which of your needs are not being met.
- Now use your intellect and reason to work out what happened. Then use your intuition to solve the problem as suggested by Gini Graham Scott, PH.D, in the book mentioned hereunder where she discussed “The E-R-I Model” (Emotion, Reason, Intuition). This book is a very good read:
Under Reason she gives the following examples:
- “Different needs, interests or values
- Lack of information or wrong assumptions
- Problems around power, control and responsibility
- Difficult people and personality clashes
- Lack of trust.”
She then lists the five conflict styles: “accommodating, avoiding, collaborative, competitive/confrontational and compromising” and recommends which one to apply and when.
As far as intuition is concerned she recommends:
- “Better understanding of yourself and what’s going on
- Come up with possibilities and decide what to do”
- Now after you have considered the above, let your employer know what needs are unmet. Give your employer a reasonable time to put steps in place to overcome the problems. If your emotional problems are at the stage when you know you are being bullied, you still have choices.
- Speak to us to help guide you in with your choices and after that contact Human Resources.
- Get a representative of your Union involved, someone not working for your company.
- You can refer yourself to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) if your employer has an agreement with EAP. You should be able to find one close to you. This is a free service to you.
- Even though you are following these guidelines the other party could still be unreasonable. If this is the case you must act. You have to choose the outcome you want, this is very important. Our workshops have more information in this regard.
- Contact Worksafe NZ and report the bullying at 0800 030 040. Expect to be very unpopular at work if you chose this option.
- If your employer agrees you could ask for mediation. You could use the mediation services of The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Education.
Tip
- In our experience the Union representative is only going with you to be your support person. They will not read your documents or give you any input.
- They will be with you on the day but it is possible that they won’t say a word when you meet with the employer.
- Make sure your solicitor is experienced in employment law before you give instructions to be represented. Your solicitor will represent you and speak on your behalf should you go to court.
- At mediation, a mediator could exclude your solicitor from the mediation proceedings and you will still have to pay their fee for the day, even if they sit outside the room.
- Therefore it is important that you are so well prepared that if need be you could drive the matter to an acceptable conclusion.