Moving toward bully- free workplaces
Things are changing in P.E.I. and across the country. We are at the beginning of an important cultural shift toward the creation of psychologically safe workplaces. In such environments workers will be protected from bullying, harassment, and workplace violence, and employers will foster and be accountable for the physical and psychological safety of their employees.
Workplace bullying is a form of violence that occurs when there is unwanted and unreasonable behaviour directed toward an individual or group of workers that creates a risk to their health and safety. This behaviour offends, humiliates and or intimidates and is considered bullying whether harm was intended or not. Bullying does not include circumstances in which an employer or a supervisor takes reasonable action related to the management of workers.
As P.E.I.’s largest union, representing 5,000 workers in the province, we often deal with incidents of bullying and have noted that the occurrence of these incidents is rising. There are both economic and human costs incurred because of workplace bullying. Employers are faced with higher costs due to increased sickness, absence and employee turnover. Job performance and productivity is also compromised. Workers may experience a loss of wages and costs associated with health care. There may also be costs associated with grievances, litigation and compensation. The human costs include the loss of precious health and quality of life for the victim and their families. And sometimes the victims of bullying pay the ultimate price through the loss of life.
P.E.I. Union of Public Sector has partnered with the provincial government to deliver a program to the membership and we have delivered the workshop over 60 times to over 1,200 participants. The program provides education about bullying behaviours and its effect on employees and the workplace. Workshops also identify how to seek help and how to foster a culture of civility in the workplace.
In Prince Edward Island the Workers Compensation Board has revised its policy on psychological or psychiatric conditions which expanded coverage to include PTSD that results from traumatic events at work. The board also changed the definition of a traumatic event to make it less limiting. This includes being the object of harassment where one is placed in a potentially life threatening situation.
Although incidences of bullying and harassment can lead to life-threatening situations, many simply compromise the health and safety of individuals. This policy may not encompass these situations. In any case, in May of 2016 the WCB did confirm that the definition of a workplace accident could include bullying and harassment.
And in December 2016 the WCB awarded compensation for an injury, in this case a fatality, where the cause of the injury was workplace bullying and harassment. It looks like this was a first for P.E.I. and Canada.
There is much more that still needs to be done in regard to this important issue. We need to work together to increase awareness and education for workers and management, and we need to ensure that bully-free workplace policies are acted upon and become the norm in all workplaces.
Karen Jackson,
UPSE President