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Workplace Violence, Bullying and Life Balance Initiatives

In: Business and Management

Submitted By tcousin
Words 1883
Pages 8
A major responsibility of Human Resources is to create a productive and safe work environment. Human Resources must ensure that the workplace is free of harassment and bullying. Employees should feel comfortable and safe in their place of employment. Creating a productive working environment is beneficial to both the employee and the organization. Failing to take action in regards to workplace harassment and bullying leaves the organization liable for legal repercussions. Workplace harassment and bullying can often deter workers from committing violent acts against other employees and coworkers. Initiatives like Work-life balance can help to prevent workplace violence and harassment. Human Resources must do all that it can to ensure employees’ safety and to make the worker feel valued and supported at work and that federal guidelines are being followed.

The Mariam-Webster dictionary defines harassment as creating an unpleasant or hostile situation for especially uninvited and unwelcomed verbal or physical conduct. It is the responsibility of the organization to immediately act on all claims of harassment. HR must be able to identify harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and violations of both federal and the organization’s policy. Harassment at work does not have to only be of a sexual nature. Workplace bullies can be employees, such as a bad boss or coworker, and sometimes a non-employee such as a client. Bullying at work is an increasing problem. Like childhood bullying workplace bullying is the tendency of individuals or groups to use persistent aggressive or unreasonable behavior against a co-worker or subordinate. There are several forms of workplace bullying. One form is serial bullying. Serial bullying occurs when the source of all dysfunction can be traced to one individual, who picks on one employee after another and destroys them, then moves on.

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