Everyone has the right to feel safe, respected, and included at work. Understanding what bullying and harassment look like can help you recognise inappropriate behaviour and know what steps to take if it occurs.
Your Workplace Rights
☑️ Be treated with dignity and respect
☑️ Work in an environment free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination
☑️ Feel safe at work, both physically and psychologically
☑️ Raise concerns without fear of victimisation
☑️ Access support and reporting pathways when issues arise
Your Workplace Responsibilities
☑️ Treat others with respect and professionalism
☑️ Communicate appropriately and respectfully
☑️ Follow workplace policies and procedures
☑️ Report bullying, harassment, or unsafe behaviour
☑️ Contribute to a positive and inclusive workplace culture
What Does Appropriate Workplace Behaviour Look Like?
✅ Positive Workplace Behaviour
- Providing constructive feedback respectfully
- Including colleagues in workplace and team activities
- Respecting personal space and boundaries
- Communicating professionally, even during disagreements
- Supporting and encouraging coworkers
- Addressing workplace concerns through appropriate channels
- Treating everyone fairly, regardless of background, age, culture, beliefs, or personal characteristics
❌ Inappropriate Workplace Behaviour
- Repeated belittling, yelling, or humiliating someone
- Spreading rumours or gossip about coworkers
- Excluding someone from work-related activities without reason
- Deliberately withholding information needed to perform work
- Threatening a person’s job, hours, or opportunities unfairly
- Cyberbullying through messages, emails, or social media
- Offensive jokes, comments, gestures, or language
- Unwanted physical contact
- Displaying offensive, sexual, or inappropriate material
- Mimicking, mocking, or ridiculing another person
- Intimidation, stalking, or aggressive behaviour
Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that makes a person feel offended, humiliated, or intimidated.
❌ Examples of Sexual Harassment
- Unwanted sexual comments or jokes
- Requests for sexual favours
- Unwelcome flirting or advances
- Inappropriate comments about someone’s appearance
- Sharing sexual images, messages, or content
- Repeated unwanted invitations despite being told “no”
- Unwanted physical contact
If You Experience Bullying or Harassment
✅ Do
- Document what happened, including dates, times, and witnesses
- Clearly communicate that the behaviour is unwelcome if safe to do so
- Seek support from a supervisor, manager, mentor, HR representative, or training organisation
- Follow workplace complaint procedures
- Keep records of conversations and actions taken
❌ Don’t
- Ignore ongoing behaviour that is affecting your wellbeing
- Retaliate or respond aggressively
- Feel pressured to handle serious situations on your own
- Assume the behaviour will stop without being addressed
A Simple Conversation Starter
If you feel comfortable addressing the issue directly:
“When this behaviour occurs, I feel uncomfortable because it impacts my ability to work effectively. I’d appreciate it if it stopped.”
Remember
Bullying and harassment are not a normal part of work or apprenticeships. Everyone has the right to a respectful workplace. Speaking up early, seeking support, and understanding your rights can help resolve issues before they escalate.