Bullying and harassment is inappropriate behaviour that offends a person’s dignity. It can be related to sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, or any other protected characteristic.
Christmas may be the time of good cheer, but once the wine starts to flow, unguarded remarks and bad behaviour can land employers in hot water with harassment and discrimination claims.
We all enjoy a bit of work banter from time to time. Sharing humour is a great way of getting to know each other at work, lightening the mood and boosting morale – but inappropriate jokes and remarks can be offensive and discriminatory and can leave people feeling hurt, humiliated and excluded.
Recent research suggests that the costs of poor work behaviour in terms of dysfunctional working relationships, low productivity, employment disputes and absence due to stress are huge – and that it’s high time we started taking problem work behaviour seriously.
Your office Christmas party may happen at the time of good cheer, but once the wine starts to flow, unguarded remarks and bad behaviour can land employers in hot water with harassment and discrimination claims.
