Bullying is once again in the news, after the manager of a company selling nuts, dried fruits and candies in shopping centres, John’s Nuts Operations Pty Ltd, was convicted and fined $7500 for bullying a storeman – bringing the total fines for the incident up to $87,500. The company is now in external administration.

The Sunshine Magistrates’ Court heard that between 3 June and 28 November 2016, Matthew John Sallama, the son of the owner of John’s Nuts Operations Pty Ltd, and the manager in question, spoke to the storeman using language that was profane, belittling, degrading or offensive, and in a way that was aggressive, intimidating or abusive.

This included threatening to deduct e-tag expenses from the storeman’s pay and threatening to dismiss him. The storeman experienced distress, depression, fearfulness and tearfulness, adversely affecting his health.

WorkSafe Acting Executive Director of Health and Safety, Adam Watson, said workplace bullying was appalling, and has to be stamped out. “It poses a serious risk to a worker’s mental health, and the effects can have a lifelong impact – not only on the individual being bullied but their family as well.

All employees have the right to go to work without fear of being bullied, harassed or singled-out while on the job, and all employers have a clear responsibility to take care of their workers’ mental and physical health and safety.

WorkSafe will not hesitate to prosecute any employer who fails to take action to stop this abhorrent behaviour in their workplace.

So what does bullying look like?

When it comes to your business, it’s vital that you understand the causes of bullying, how it can manifest itself and how a culture of bullying can become embedded in your business.

Research from mental health advocacy group beyondblue found that 73 per cent of Australian workers had taken leave due to depression and anxiety, conditions commonly associated with workplace bullying.

Employers are advised to pay close attention to any members of their team taking regular or extended leave, and subtly monitor their interactions with colleagues – as well as taking stock of their own behaviour.

Harassment in the office can take many forms, but the Fair Work Ombudsman outlines the following examples of bullying behaviour:

• Aggressive behaviour
• Jokes or teasing at the expense of others
• Pressuring others into inappropriate behaviour
• Exclusion from work-related social events
• Making unreasonable work demands

Should any of the above behaviours seem to be present in your office, then it’s crucial that you start to take action immediately, before it gets out of hand, or is perceived to be acceptable standard behaviour.