Harassment

A new report examining the costs and consequences of poor workplace behaviour suggests that only 16 per cent of victims believed their situation improved after making a complaint.

In what is believed to be one of the largest analyses of Australian workplaces behaving badly ever undertaken, it is sure to send a shiver down the collective spines of unions, company directors and politicians.

The Australian Institute of Workplace Behaviours (AIWB) has surveyed over 2100 victims of bullying and sexual harassment. The results are damning. Especially on how managers and observers respond to complaints - resulting in higher operating costs for business and emotional misery for those on the receiving end.

Continue reading "A shocking report: Why the workplace bully is winning" »

They say that all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to stand by and do nothing. That seems to be the case with workplace bullying – where organisations and individuals look the other way while workers are victimised.

The case of Karen Klein: Workplace bullying at its worst…

Work is one-third of our lives. It is important for our self-esteem. Sustained bullying at work can poison the rest of a person’s life and does long-lasting damage to their mental health. Bullying in the workplace is one of those things that is difficult to define, but most people know it when they see it.

The key elements of most definitions include repetitious, unreasonable, or unfair and inappropriate behaviour that attempts to undermine a worker or group of workers. Add to that personal attacks on a person’s ability, work ethic, appearance, background or other details and you have a classic case of serious bullying.

Continue reading "Workplace bullying: The buck stops with the boss" »

This is not a facetious question. Boards all over Australia, those same boards whose population includes just 9 per cent women, will be looking without envy at David Jones this morning after publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk announced she was suing the company for $37 million.

Fraser-Kirk was the young woman who’s complaint of sexual harassment against then-CEO Mark McInnes prompted his sacking in May.

A lot of people in the corporate world would be thinking this morning “they sacked him, what more does she want?”

Continue reading "What should the DJs board have done instead?" »

The spread sheet is well laid out and user friendly, with a simple Wimbledon-style draw where after six rounds a clear winner is declared and the top eight rankings are listed on a league table.

It is elegant and efficient in its design, as you would expect from a product created inside one of the world’s biggest accounting firms.

Headshots of the contestants appear to have been sourced from the mega-firm’s intranet but the prize isn’t a silver trophy like at the All England Lawn Tennis Club – it’s the honour of being named the hottest chick in European office of Deloittes.

The only difference between this and what happened on board the HMAS Success is that this 2007 spread sheet was probably viewed by thousands of people around the world, instead of a handful of sailors who likely didn’t get anywhere near the bunks of their documented prey.

Continue reading "Your daughter could do worse than join the Navy" »