The director of Culture Safe NZ says bullying should be treated as a health and safety matter, not an employment issue
A leading employee advocate is calling on the government to rethink its approach to workplace bullying, saying the issue should be a health and safety matter rather than an employment matter.
“It’s time for New Zealand business, employers and the government to focus on solutions around workplace bullying, not sweeping it under the Employment Relations Act as just a workplace dispute,” said Aland Halse, director of Culture Safe.
Halse’s comments come ahead of the NZ Workplace Bullying Conference which aims to create a conversation that will push the issue up the government and public agenda.
Dr Gary Namie, of the US-based Workplace Bullying Institute, is set to speak at the upcoming event and Halse said his attendance could have a major impact across the country.
“We see this conference and Dr Namie’s contribution to it as the next step to eradicate workplace bullying in New Zealand,” he said.
In 2016/17, more than 170,000 people used mental health and addiction services – an increase of 71 per cent on a decade earlier. A recent study from Massey University also suggested that 1 in 5 people are bullied in the workplace.
“That’s not acceptable to us, and we see how bullying leads to suicidal thoughts and metal health issues,” said Halse. “It’s time for workplace bullying to be openly discussed and legislated as a criminal act, like it is in Australia.”
Now, Halse is campaigning to have the government’s mental health and addiction review include bullying in its terms of reference.
“Culture Safe NZ is focused on providing the opportunity to create the discussion that New Zealand needs in this area, because there are too many people affected by workplace bullying, that it is costing them, their families and the economy,” said Halse.
“Victims deserve a voice and they deserve a forum where they can share, debate and push for changes to the New Zealand health and safety laws.”
