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ModelWorkHealthandSafetyCodeofPractice PreventingandResponding toWorkplace

Bullying -PublicCommentResponseForm

CodeorGuide

SeePage2of thedraftmodelCodeofPractice

Comments:WebelievethatthisshouldbeaguideratherthanaCodeofPractice. Theapproachtoa behavioural issueinthisdocumentisfromanegativeperspective(egdealingwithbullying)ratherthan positivebehaviour(egDignityandrespect). Giventheclosealignmentofbullyingbehaviourwith performancemanagement andHRpolicies,itraisesthequestionofspecificstandardsforthese processestoprovideaproactiveapproachtopreventbullying.

ModelcodeofPractice-Preventing andResponding toWorkplaceBullying

Chapter1:Introduction

Comments: (Pleaseincludesection/pagenumbers)

WorkplaceConflict,page8-shouldberewritten,thereshouldnotneedtobeanegativehealthaspect asanoutcomeforbullyingtobeproven

1.3,page8-needtoensurethedutiesofallareincluded-contractors,labourhire,clientsetc-canbe thevictimorthebully

S46,page9-shouldincludeanexampletohelpexplainmultipledutyholdersandconsultation

Chapter2:Preventingworkplacebullying

Comments: (Pleaseincludesection/pagenumbers).

Suggesttitlechangeto"Identifyingthepotentialforworkplacebullying"-orthereisasectionmissing thatshouldbetitledthisandgobeforepreventingworkplacebullying

IsRiskManagementtheappropriatewordingtouseforpsychosocialissues?

Psychosocialwellbeingtoolorsuggestedriskassessment couldbe included-someguidancetohelp ldentifywherepsychologicalinjurycouldbesustainedintheworkplace

2.1,page11- Shouldbeatthebeginningofthedocument

Thissectionshouldstartwiththeappropriatetreatmentofpeopleintheworkplace-dignityandrespect andalsobewordedmorepreventatively, takingtheopportunitytohighlight/linktoHRpractices Considerasection-"addressingworkplacebullying"withcontentsuchascreatingaworkplacewith dignityandrespectfulbehaviour, identifyingpotentialriskfactors(ratherthanusethetermhazard)

Chapter3:RespondingtoWorkplacebullying

Comments:(Pleaseincludesection/pagenumbers),

Intheintroductionyouneedtoincludeunionreps/delegates aspersonswhombullyingcanberaised with

3.5,page17-considerstrongerwordingaroundwhattheregulatorwilldo,canissueimprovement noticeifrequired.

Chapter4:Investigations

Comments:(Pleaseincludesection/pagenumbers).

4.1ExpandtheCommunications sectiontoprovidemoreguidanceonhowtocommunicatewhendealing I

withBullyingissues

Wherecanemployeesgoifnotsatisfiedwithinvestigation outcomes?

TheCodedoesnotreflectbestpracticesafetyinvestigationsystemswhichlookforsystemicerrorsrather thantoblameindividuals

Investigationsystemsshouldalsobereviewedtoensuretheydon'tincludeaspectsofbullying

Skillsetrequiredforinvestigatorsshouldbeclarified

Confidentialityshouldbeaddressedinrelationtothehandlingofinvestigations

GeneralComments

•·GoodHRpractices/departmentsarekeytopreventingandmanagingbullyingintheworkplace

•Dealingwithbullyingiftreatingthesymptoms,notthecause,the Codeneedstobemore

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preventativelyfocusedaswellasincludingwhattodoinareactivesense

•TheCodeshouldreinforcetheimportanceofpeopleasassetsforabusiness

•TheCodeshouldbecarefultonotdictateHRpractices,butratherlinkandreferencetowhere

WHSandHRneedtointeract

•TheCodeprovidesusefulinformationandtoolsparticularlyforsmallbusinesswhomaynothave largeHRsections

•ItwillbedifficulttoimplementtherequirementsoftheCodewithoutthecooperationofHR

departments

•ThiswillseeanincreaseinWHSbeingutilisedtomanagepeopleissues

•Perhapsthisshouldincludea"GuidetoworkingwithHRpeople/practices"whichcouldoutline current/bestpracticeHRandhowWHSneedstointeractwiththemtominimisepsychosocialrisk

•BullyingPreventionneedstobepartofbroaderDignityandRespectPolicies/Programs, whilstmentionedthisneedstobemoreprominentthroughouttheCodeandalsointhesamplepolicy whichshouldbeasuggestedadditiontoaDignityandRespectPolicy.Theexamplepolicydoes alsonotreinforceconsultationrequirements

•

WorkersGuide

AWorkersGuidetoManagingWorkplaceBullying

Comments:(Pleaseincludesection/pagenumbers).

Thisshouldbereviewedinlinewiththecommentsmadeabove

Contributorstocombinedresponse; TerryFlanders

MelissaPollock KellieHart RogerFairfax PaulPaciullo

MichaelCostello KarenWolfe FeliciaHarris DougWakefield MichellePrice

MeganLusty-Evans