PositiveEffective Work Environment Workplace Bullying Awareness Prevention Jacinta

Positive/Effective Work Environment & Workplace Bullying Awareness & Prevention Jacinta M. Kitt

Positive / effective work environment Definition A work environment that provides a high quality service in an atmosphere of respect, co-operation, openness & equality.

Creating and maintaining positive relationships at work § § § Positive language and behaviour Encouragement and recognition Listen as well as talk Beware of non-verbal messages Discuss and resolve conflict Address and challenge inappropriate behaviour without personal criticism § Show compassion warmth and good humour § Don’t take yourself too seriously

The Manager’s Role § Being an effective manager § Modelling appropriate interpersonal behaviour § Using effective communication skills to deal with difficult situations

Emotional & Social Intelligence § Fine-tuned and insightful Self-awareness and Self-Management § Positive and productive relations and interaction with others

Good Self Managers § Have good emotional self control § Tend to be even tempered § Can be passionate § Think clearly when they are experiencing strong feelings § Make decisions based on their hearts & their heads

Stress as a Social Issue § Toxic relationships are considered to be as major a risk factor for disease & death as smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Social Stressors at Work § Workplace bullying or harassment § Poor management practices § Toxic inter-personal behaviours

What is inappropriate interpersonal behaviour in the workplace? § Inappropriate interpersonal behaviour is behaviour that impacts negatively on a person’s ability to do their job.

Why managers don’t intevene: § Don’t know what to do & lack skills § Have skills (been trained) but lack confidence § Choose to ignore because it will detract from time & energy spent on task § No point because they (the manager) will not be supported by the organisation § Haven’t done anything in the past - why now? § Fail to identify behaviours as problematic Rayner & Mc. Ivor, Uk Dignity at Work Project, 2006

What is bullying? Heinz Leymann Bullying is the systematic erosion of: § a person’s possibility of communicating § their reputation § their relationships § the quality of their work/school/family life § health

Organisational Responses to Bullying Dismissive Minimum Compliance Reactive Proactive

Organisational Beliefs & Attitudes ÜBullying is a form of abuse, with serious individual & organisational effects. ÜWe have to do something. ÜCreating a bullying free environment will have knock on beneficial effects on effectiveness & productivity. Proactive ÜThe organisation’s culture & climate can prevent or promote bullying. ÜBullying will not thrive in an organisation with a positive effective work environment. ÜThe organisation’s response must cover prevention, intervention & minimisation. ÜProblems are more quickly resolved when aired & dealt with than when repressed or hidden. ÜIt is the organisation’s responsibility to provide a psychologically safe working environment.

Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act Code of Practice Prevention & Resolution of Bullying at Work § Policy & Procedures (formal & informal) § Clear responsibilities (re prevention) § Communication § Monitoring (incidents) § Training & supervision § Review § Access to “contact person”

Preventing Bullying § Anti- Bullying Policies & Procedures important & necessary. § Anti-Bullying Philosophy absolutely vital.

Inter-personal Behaviour § § § Performance issue Professional standards Potential for stress Prevents bullying Psychologically safe environment Positively good for you