Dignity at Work: Eliminate Bullying and Create and a Positive Working Environment

by Peyton; Pauline Rennie

• ISBN13: 9781583912379
• ISBN10: 1583912371
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781135453053
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-11-12
• Publisher: Routledge
• More Book Details

Summary

Bullying in the workplace is now a recognized problem, and a cause for major concern. Victims stand to lose their self-esteem, their health and even their careers. Organizations that do not endeavor to put an end to this behavior lose productivity, profits and their good reputations. Dignity at Work, is derived from the author's many years of experience working with organizations of all sizes and at all levels. This book outlines practical guidelines essential to organizations that want to combat bullying in the workplace, and psychologists and professional counselors working with those organizations. It provides tools to: identify bullying behavior, create new policies within corporate culture, intervene practically therapeutically, and transfer skills from mental health practice settings to organizations. This book provides managers, human resource staff and professional counselors with the skills required to be able to recognize when a problem exists, and deal with it effectively.

Table of Contents

About the author	ix
Preface: who this book is for	x
Acknowledgements	xi
PART 1 A handbook for Human Resources personnel managers and corporate executives	1	(114)
1 Why is bullying an important issue?	32	(6)
A background to bullying at work
What constitutes harassment and bullying?	8	(1)
Research on bullying at work	9	(6)
The current situation	15	(2)
The bullying culture	17	(8)
An alternative to a bullying culture	25	(9)
Counselling in organisations	34	(4)
3 Bullying at work	38	(19)
The concept of dignity at work	38	(1)
What is bullying?	38	(1)
Who bullies?	39	(2)
The bully	41	(5)
Bullying behaviors	46	(9)
Myths and misconceptions about bullying and harassment at work	55	(2)
4 The victims of bullying	57	(10)
Who is vulnerable?	57	(4)
Who suffers?	61	(1)
The effects of bullying	62	(5)
5 Employers, harassment, bullying and the law	67	(12)
Introduction	67	(1)
Statutory remedies against employers	68	(2)
Employers' liability under criminal law	70	(4)
Remedies against the employer under common law	74	(4)
The future	78	(1)
6 Dignity at Work policies	79	(11)
Introduction	79	(2)
The content of a Dignity at Work policy	81	(1)
Launching a policy	82	(1)
Sample Dignity at Work policy	83	(7)
7 Harassment investigation	90	(9)
Internal investigations	90	(1)
Outside consultants	91	(3)
The process of the investigation	94	(3)
After the investigation: suggestions for managers	97	(2)
8 Mediation	99	(10)
The advantages of mediation	100	(1)
When is mediation indicated?	100	(1)
When is mediation not indicated?	101	(1)
Skills and qualities of the mediator	102	(2)
The process	104	(3)
Comparisons with other methods	107	(2)
9 Conclusions	109	(6)
Where we stand now	109	(2)
The way forward	111	(4)
PART 2 The role of counsellors/psychologists in organisations	115	(63)
10 The role of counsellors/psychologists in organisations	117	(7)
Why use counsellors/psychologists	117	(1)
Transferable skills	117	(7)
11 Useful theories	124	(17)
A systems perspective	124	(1)
Transactional analysis	125	(8)
Gestalt	133	(4)
Emotional intelligence	137	(4)
12 Counselling in organisations	141	(4)
Benefits of integrating counsellors into an organisation	141	(3)
Pitfalls for organisational counsellors	144	(1)
13 Working with the various parties	145	(15)
Working with the victim/s	145	(3)
Working with the accused	148	(2)
Working with the witnesses	150	(2)
Working with human resources personnel	152	(1)
Working as a trainer	153	(7)
14 The process of investigation	160	(6)
Preparation	160	(1)
Establish practicalities	160	(1)
Before the interviews	160	(1)
The interviews	161	(2)
Weighing up the evidence	163	(1)
The report	163	(2)
Recommendations	165	(1)
What happens nest?	165	(1)
Taking care of yourself	165	(1)
15 Mediation	166	(3)
16 Other roles for counsellors/psychologists	169	(5)
Coaching	169	(2)
Mentoring	171	(1)
Professional development	172	(2)
17 Taking care of the self	174	(4)
Distress	175	(1)
Shame	176	(1)
Frustration	176	(1)
Helplessness	176	(2)
Appendices	178	(5)
Bibliography	183	(8)
Index	191