What is workplace bullying?

Bullying in the workplace means treatment of a person, or a group, that:

• is unfair
• is repeated or ongoing
• makes people feel embarrassed, victimised, humiliated, threatened or undermined, and it is reasonable for them to feel that way. 

A bully can be anyone within the workplace including a manager, a supervisor or another member of staff.  Clients, customers and other business contacts can also bully.

Bullying behaviour can be:

• physical or verbal abuse
• nitpicking
• constant put-downs
• teasing
• spreading gossip
• excluding people
• unreasonably criticising someone's work
• assigning too much or inappropriate work
• denying opportunities for training, promotion, or interesting assignments
• withholding information that a person needs to do their job.

Giving feedback and constructive criticism, raising concerns about work performance, disciplining or dismissing staff, are not bullying if these actions are done in a reasonable way.