
For example, Prince Edward Island has defined harassment in their Workplace Harassment Regulations as: Many jurisdictions have defined bullying separately or have included bullying as part of the definition of behaviours associated with harassment or violence. any other reasonable and lawful exercise of a management function.assessing and evaluating work performance.implementing health and safety measures.with good reason, changing work assignments and job duties.Prince Edward Island also adds that when done reasonably and fairly, the following actions are generally not considered workplace bullying or harassment: Reasonable action taken by an employer or supervisor relating to the management and direction of workers or the place of employment (e.g., managing a worker's performance, taking reasonable disciplinary actions, assigning work).Offering constructive feedback, guidance, or advice about work related behaviour.Comments that are objective and are intended to provide constructive feedback are not usually considered bullying, but rather are intended to assist the employee with their work.Īs described by WorkSafeBC, bullying and harassing behaviour does not include: Bullying can be very subtle and may be more obvious once a pattern of behaviour is established.Īlso, many studies acknowledge that there is a "fine line" between strong management and bullying. It is sometimes hard to know if bullying is happening at the workplace. Would most people consider the action unacceptable? If you are not sure an action or statement could be considered bullying, you can use the "reasonable person" test. Tampering with a person's personal belongings or work equipment.Blocking applications for training, leave or promotion.Unwarranted (or undeserved) punishment.Criticizing a person persistently or constantly.Underwork – creating a feeling of uselessness.Assigning unreasonable duties or workload which are unfavourable to one person (in a way that creates unnecessary pressure).Intruding on a person's privacy by pestering, spying or stalking.Making jokes that are 'obviously offensive' by spoken word or e-mail.Withholding necessary information or purposefully giving the wrong information.Establishing impossible deadlines that will set up the individual to fail.Removing areas of responsibilities without cause.Physically abusing or threatening abuse.Undermining or deliberately impeding a person's work.Excluding or isolating someone socially.Spreading malicious rumours, gossip, or innuendo.Also remember that bullying is usually considered to be a pattern of behaviour where one or more incidents will help show that bullying is taking place, but it may be one incident, especially one that has a lasting effect.

This list is included as a way of showing some of the ways bullying may happen in a workplace. There is no way to predict who may be the bully or the target. It is important to note that the following is not a checklist, nor does it mention all forms of bullying. While bullying is a form of aggression, the actions can be both obvious and subtle.

