This handbook has been developed to help FSU members identify and address workplace bullying. Your workplace should have a workplace bullying and harassment policy, and this handbook provides general advice to complement your specific workplace policy.

1. Don’t Be
a Target:
Help Stamp Out Bullying
PRESSURE
STRESS
STAFFING
TARGETS
PERFORMANCE
WORKLOAD
STRESS
FSU Anti-Bullying Handbook
1300 366 378
Member Rights Centre
F S U – B u i l d i n g a B e t t e r F i n a n c e I n d u s t r yw w w . f s u n i o n . o r g . a u

2. Don’t Be a Target
2 Finance Sector Union of Australia Authorised by FSU National Secretary Leon Carter
What is
workplace
bullying?
All occupational
health and safety
legislation requires that
employers ensure that
the workplace is free from
risks to employees’ health
and safety.
The Federal and
State OHS systems
have Regulators who
set rules on how healthy
and safe workplaces are
to be controlled.
Whilst definitions on
bullying may therefore
vary, the following
definition captures
the key elements of
what constitutes
workplace bullying.
Workplace bullying
is repeated, unreasonable
behaviour directed towards
an employee or group
of employees that
creates a risk to their
health and safety.
Bullying occurs in
many workplaces. It can
be a threat to physical well
being, and it can make life
at work a misery.
The following types of
behaviour, where repeated
or occurring as part of a
pattern of behaviour, could
be considered bullying:
Verbal abuse;‚‚
Excluding or isolating‚‚
employees;
Psychological‚‚
harassment;
Intimidation;‚‚
Giving employees‚‚
impossible assignments
and assigning
meaningless tasks
unrelated to the job;
Changing work rosters‚‚
to inconvenience
particular employees;
Deliberately withholding‚‚
information necessary
for effective work
performance.
Bullying can occur
wherever people work
together. Bullying is
not always intentional,
sometimes people do not
realise their behaviour is
harmful to others.
This handbook has been
developed to help FSU
members identify and
address workplace bullying.
Your workplace should have
a workplace bullying and
harassment policy, and this
handbook provides general
advice to complement your
specific workplace policy.
The FSU takes a zero
tolerance approach to
bullying in the workplace.
It has no place in a civilized
society and demands urgent
and decisive action to deal
with the problem where it
exists. FSU will prosecute
employers and individuals
who condone or engage in
bullying.
As a member, you are
entitled to seek the
assistance of the union,
and if you are experiencing
bullying in your workplace
I encourage you to contact
the FSU Member Rights
Centre for advice. Call 1300
366 378 between 8am and
8pm Monday to Friday.
Leon Carter, FSU National
Secretary

3. 3FSU Member Rights Centre - Ph: 1300 366 378 FSU Anti-Bullying Handbook
Bullying and harassment in the Finance and
Insurance sector
A predominant practice in
finance and insurance workplaces is
the setting of targets. Targets can
relate to calls, sales, referrals, policies,
claims and/or performance, and can be
set and assessed on an individual
or team basis.
Target setting in itself is not bullying or
harassment. Clearly communicating
expectations in a workplace is a
practice that should be encouraged,
and targets can be a good way of
tracking the degree of success of
business strategies.
However, problems can arise
when targets are not agreed, or are
set without consultation with staff, and
become unreasonable or unachievable.
The act of setting an unreasonable or
unachievable target, on its own, can
create stress. The exacerbation of
this stress, when targets aren’t met or
are unilaterally increased, can pose a
serious risk to workers’ health.
When managers, team-leaders and co-
workers are under pressure from senior
management to ensure staff meet
unreasonable targets it can lead to
repeated and unreasonable behaviour
such as humiliation, intimidation and
abuse, creating a risk to workplace
health and safety.
If this is happening in your workplace,
FSU can help.
“Bullying is not always intentional, sometimes people
do not realise their behaviour is harmful to others.”

4. Don’t Be a Target
4 Finance Sector Union of Australia Authorised by FSU National Secretary Leon Carter
Under OHS laws, employers must:
Consult with employees‚‚
and Health and Safety
Representatives (HSR’s);
Provide adequate and appropriate‚‚
information, training, instruction and
supervision;
Identify, assess and‚‚
remove hazards, and where
certain hazards cannot be
removed they must be controlled.
This includes organisational
structures and behaviours that
may lead to bullying;
Provide a workplace environment‚‚
that is healthy and safe ;
Provide healthy and safe‚‚
work systems.
FSU has a policy of zero tolerance of
bullying in Finance Sector Workplaces
FSU recommends employers in the
finance sector, who haven’t already
done so, develop pro-active policies and
procedures to ensure a workplace free
from bullying.
The most effective way to stop bullying
before it starts is to create a shared
belief or agreed standard within an
organisation which makes it clear to the
would-be bully that certain behaviours
are out of bounds.
A specific policy intended to prevent or
stop bullying should:
Include a statement of‚‚
commitment by all levels of
management, which defines
bullying and makes it clear that it is
unacceptable in the organisation.
A zero tolerance approach;
Be jointly developed and agreed‚‚
by management, Health and
Safety Representatives, the FSU and
the Workplace Health and Safety
Committee;
Guarantee confidentiality, protection‚‚
for the person raising the complaint
against victimisation and rapid
resolution of issues;
Provide for regula‚‚ r monitoring
and review.
What is the responsibility of employers?
“A zero tolerance approach”

5. 5FSU Member Rights Centre - Ph: 1300 366 378 FSU Anti-Bullying Handbook
Bullying and the law
Some forms of bullying may constitute assault, such as any incident where an
employee is physically attacked or threatened in the workplace. This is called
“Occupational Violence”.
In addition to the requirements of OHS legislation for employers to provide
a workplace free of risk of injury, anti discrimination or industrial legislation
may also apply. Injury may also include work related psychological injury for
example, depression.
Some forms of bullying are outlawed by equal opportunity or anti-discrimination
legislation. For example, unwelcome conduct or behaviour of a sexual nature is
regarded as sexual discrimination and laws exist to protect employees from this
kind of behaviour.
Loss of employment (whether dismissal or being forced to resign) and victimisation
may be covered by workplace relations legislation.
Injury or ill-health due to workplace bullying may become the subject of workers
compensation claims or common law actions.
FSU provides advice on these matters, and can refer members to legal professionals
if necessary.
“Some forms of bullying are outlawed by equal
opportunity or anti-discrimination legislation.”

6. Don’t Be a Target
6 Finance Sector Union of Australia Authorised by FSU National Secretary Leon Carter
What you should do if you feel you’re being bullied
or harassed?
The FSU advocates a pro-active approach to ensure the health and safety of
members is protected.
1. Know the rules: : In addition to your legal right to a healthy and safe
workplace, most organisations have policies that specifically deal with a
bullying/harassment free workplace – including definitions and explanations of
unacceptable bullying conduct – so make sure you are familiar with guidelines
that may apply. There may be a clause in your Award or Agreement that
specifically relates to promoting a bullying and harassment free workplace. If
you are not sure if your workplace has an “Anti-Bullying Policy”, contact the FSU
to get the help you need.
2. Keep a record: Convincing your employer to accept there is a bullying or
harassment problem relies on demonstrating this repeated unacceptable
behaviour over time. Keep a record of specifics about what happened, when
and where the bullying took place and who was involved. An FSU Bullying Diary
is included in this handbook and can help.
3. Break the silence: If you think you are being bullied, it’s a good idea to
contact the FSU Member Rights Centre (MRC) to let an experienced Officer
know what’s going on and get the expert, personalised advice you need.
Also, it’s confidential.

7. 7FSU Member Rights Centre - Ph: 1300 366 378 FSU Anti-Bullying Handbook
Takeactionsooner,ratherthanlater:
Bullying case studies reveal that the‚‚
longer a bullying matter remains
unaddressed, the more difficult it
is to resolve. So, ask for help early
on from your Health and Safety
Representative, your FSU Rep or
FSU Organiser;
Keep an FSU diary; this will help‚‚
provide clarity and detail to your
situation in the future. A diary is
included in this handbook;
Do not allow yourself to‚‚
become isolated;
Spend time with work colleagues who‚‚
are supportive.
Personal approaches:
Talk to friends or people you trust, in‚‚
or outside work;
If you feel you suffer ill-health‚‚
effects from bullying seek medical
help and counselling.
In your workplace:
Ask for a copy of your employer’s‚‚
workplace bullying policy;
If your workplace doesn’t have one‚‚
– contact the FSU Member Right
Centre to discuss your options;
If your workplace does have a‚‚
bullying policy – review it with your
colleagues and Rep to see whether
its effective or not;
Set agreed standards in dealing‚‚
with others;
Speak out against bullying behaviour;‚‚
Enter details of incidents in your FSU‚‚
Bullying Diary;
Talk to your Health & Safety‚‚
Rep, your FSU Rep or your FSU
Organiser about holding your
employer to their obligations;
Promote a safer and healthier‚‚
workplace by supporting your fellow
employees and encouraging them to
join the union .
Workers compensation:
If you suffer ill-health effects
from bullying;
Seek medical help;‚‚
Get advice from FSU on the process‚‚
to make a claim;
Familiarise yourself with your‚‚
employer’s workers compensation
procedures;
Lodge a claim;‚‚
Consult a solicitor‚‚
(FSU can refer you to one).
Taking Action to Stop Bullying
If you feel you have been or are being bullied, there are things you can do:

8. Date&TimeWhathappened?Whowas
involved?
Wheredidit
happen?
Didanyonewitness
it?
Wasanythingdoneabout
it?
Keepingarecordaboutthebullyingyou’veexperiencedcanbereally
helpfulwhenyouaretalkingtosomeoneabouthowtosortitout.Tryto
rememberandwritedownasmuchasyoucanaboutwhathappened,when
andwherethebullyingtookplaceandwhowasinvolved.
YourName: Dept: Phone:
BULLYINGDIARY
FSUMemberRightsCentrePh:1300366378Fax:1300307943Email:fsuinfo@fsunion.org.auWeb:www.fsunion.org.au
Aug08