Tips On Handling Harassment In The Workplace

By Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala

Tips on Handling Harassment in the Workplace

Globally, harassment is a common phenomenon in the workplace. But there are few awareness campaigns about harassment in the workplace. This scourge causes detrimental effects, not only to individual employees, but to a variety of organisations throughout the world. This book raises awareness on incidents of harassment and gives tips on handling this illicit conduct in the workplace. The following types of harassment are discussed in this book:

•Bullying in the workplace

•Verbal and emotional abuse in the workplace

•Isolation and exclusion from workplace activities

•Victimisation and intimidation in the workplace

•Abuse of power in the workplace

•Sexual harassment in the workplace.

This book may empower readers with information that may be helpful when subjected to acts of harassment in the workplace. Equally, this book may equip human resource managers and senior managers with knowledge and strategies for handling, managing and preventing further emergence of incidents of harassment in the workplace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala
• Release date: Jul 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463546857

Book preview

Tips on Handling

Harassment

in the Workplace

Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala

Copyright © 2019 Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala

Published by Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2019

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Ntombizanele Gloria Vandala,

using Reach Publishers’ services,

Edited by Kevin Turner for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Website: www.reachpublishers.co.za

E-mail: [e-mail]

Contents

Preface

1. Harassment In The Workplace

2. Bullying In The Workplace

3. Verbal And Emotional Abuse

4. Isolation And Exclusion From Workplace Activities

5. Victimisation And Intimidation In The Workplace

6. Abuse Of Power In The Workplace

7. Sexual Harassment In The Workplace

References

Preface

Harassment in the workplace is rife. This scourge is not publicly debated or discussed nearly enough, due to the sensitivity of the subject and due to fear of victimisation and intimidation. However, if not dealt with swiftly, the prevalence of harassment may result in low productivity, health risks and job losses of a high number of employees. Research demonstrates that harassment can emerge in various forms, such as bullying, verbal abuse, humiliation and degrading treatment, isolation, victimisation, intimidation, abuse of power, unwarranted investigations, suspensions, disciplinary hearings and dismissals in the workplace.

Despite this, very few incidents are reported to the authorities or via the criminal justice system due to fear of victimisation and intimidation. As a result, victims of harassment in the workplace suffer in silence, and often end up being treated for mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, or apply for transfers, abscond or resign. In extreme cases, victims of workplace harassment commit suicide or kill perpetrators and other employees whom the victim may perceive to be agents or supporters of the harassment. In the majority of instances, victims are scared to take a stand and report harassment to authorities for fear of victimisation or losing their jobs. Consequently, high numbers of employees lose huge amounts of money in pension benefits by not taking legal action against the perpetrators since they may be perceived as being more powerful than the victim, due to seniority in the workplace, political affiliation or other unknown reasons.

This book aims to raise awareness and give tips on how to handle harassment in the workplace. The author anticipates that the tips outlined in this book may not only empower victims of harassment but could also help in raising awareness amongst all employees, and consequently, minimise the occurrence of this scourge and improve productivity in various organisations globally. Equally, this book may empower Human Resource managers

Reviews for Tips On Handling Harassment In The Workplace

[IVY ROMANO · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great read! It emphasizes strategies for reducing or eliminating harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The authors clearly depicted actual working scenarios that are quite familiar to us as employees.