6 Suggestion for Proactively Managing Harmful Workplace Behaviour

Given the increasing expectations for organisations to proactively manage harmful behaviour psychosocial risks, one of the most common questions we’re getting at the moment is ‘What should we be doing in this space?’.

In partnership with the team at Australian Psychological Services here are 6 suggestions:

Before we start, what are Harmful Behaviours?

Violence and aggression, Non-sexual harassment, Sexual and gender based harassment, Bullying, Discrimination, and Counterproductive workplace behaviour such as incivility and
undermining.

Assess Respect at Work Climate

At Mibo, based on the expert guidance of the team at Australian Psychological Services, we’re proud to include an evidence-informed measure of harmful behaviour organisational climate prevention and response as part of our Psychosocial Risk Management Assessment (PRMA).

Risk Assess Harmful Behaviours

Include harmful behaviours in your psychosocial risk assessment. Ideally, include de-identified follow-up questions for those exposed regarding the nature and source.

Implement Evidence Informed Prevention Measures

Including:
Communicate strongly the expected behaviours of all workers
Increase committment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and gender equality
Ensure senior leadership modelling of appropriate behaviours
Establish safe harmful behaviour reporting avenues

Establish Suitable Response Measures

Including:
Establish and communicate confidential support for staff who experience harmful behaviour
Establish appropriate response procedures when staff report harmful behaviour

Provide Appropriate Harmful Behaviour Training

Provide formal leadership and employee inappropriate behaviour training including reporting channels, available support, and response processes.

Develop a Harmful Behaviour Prevention Plan

The plan needs to contain:
Information on how staff can make a complaint
How the complaint will be investigated
The processes that will be undertaken; and
How relevant parties will be informed of results

Connect with Mibo

Reach out if you’d like to chat about proactively managing harmful workplace behaviour:-)