Bullying and Harassment
Bullying
What is bullying?
Bullying is the repeated unreasonable behaviour towards a member or group of members that creates a risk to health and safety. Single incidents of unreasonable behaviour may also create a health and safety risk.
Every WIRES volunteer deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Bullying must not be regarded as normal behaviour and should not be tolerated.
Volunteering in an environment where bullying exists may result in psychological injuries such as anxiety and depression, and can indirectly cause physical injuries.
Examples of direct bullying include:
• Verbal abuse
• Putting someone down
• Spreading rumours or innuendo about a particular person or group
• Interfering with someone’s personal property or equipment
Examples of indirect bullying include:
• Unjustified criticism or complaints
• Deliberately excluding someone from volunteer activities
• Deliberately denying access to information or other resources
• Withholding information that is vital for effective volunteer performance
• Setting tasks that are unreasonably above a volunteers ability
• Deliberately changing volunteer arrangements to inconvenience a particular person or group
• Excessive scrutiny on volunteer activities
What is not bullying?
• Setting standards of rescue and care
• Allocating rescues to a member
• Deciding not to select a member for a task
• Informing a member about inappropriate behaviour
• Implementing branch organizational changes
• Performance management process
• Constructive feedback
Be aware that reasonable management actions carried out in a fair way is not bullying. For example in WIRES some practices, policies and procedures may seem rigorous, such as the imposition of husbandry practices, standards of behaviour, and offering direct feedback, that is not bullying in as far as this is done respectfully and courteously and is intended to assist or mentor volunteers in their role as rescuers or rehabilitator.
Bullying can also take place in cyberspace: over the Internet and on mobile phones. New technologies enable the spread of information, ideas and images to large numbers of people very quickly.
Harassment
It is important to understand that if a person finds a particular behaviour offensive, humiliating or intimidating, then it is harassment.
This is irrespective of how the harasser or anyone else perceives the behaviour. People may have different ideas about what is offensive, and within reason, it is up to them to define what they find unacceptable.
When you are being bullied it’s important that you know there are things you can do and people who can help. You have the right to feel safe and be free of any violence, harassment and bullying when carrying out any of your volunteer activities for WIRES.
Harassment can be committed by:
• Another volunteer
• A group of volunteers
• Coordinators
• Branch Management Committee members
• Staff members
• Other stakeholders
• Members of the public
• Customers that you may be doing a service for e.g. tree loppers, road crews etc.
Examples of harassment:
• Abusive language
• Insults
• Threats
• Intimidation
• Persistent and unjustified criticism, often about petty, irrelevant or insignificant matters
• Spreading gossip or false, malicious rumours
Visual or non-verbal harassment
• Suggestive or leering looks, this is sexual harassment
• Offensive or hateful emails
• Offensive or derogatory written materials
• Excessive attention e.g. gifts, letters etc. this is sexual harassment
• Humiliation through gestures, sarcasm, criticism and insults, often in front of others
Physical harassment
• Inappropriate touching of the body, this is sexual harassment
• Coerced acts of a sexual nature, this is sexual harassment
• Physically blocking another individuals movement, this can include sexual harassment
• Assault – this is beyond bullying or harassment and it goes to the Police
WIRES Policy
WIRES has a grievance policy you can read for more information.
We also have a Volunteer Support manager (VSM) to provide advice or information, or assist members with matters of this type.
More information on Bullying and Harassment can be found here
Acknowledgements: Australian Human Rights Commission Work Cover NSW