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Bullying and Harassment Prevention

A healthy workplace depends on how people treat one another every day. Hostile, intimidating, humiliating, or repeated harmful behavior can affect confidence, wellbeing, performance, and team culture. This module explains what bullying and harassment are, where they can happen, and how to help prevent them.

Which statement best describes why bullying and harassment prevention matters at work?

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What bullying and harassment are

Bullying and harassment are not just personality clashes or ordinary disagreements. They involve behavior that crosses the line and creates an environment where someone feels targeted, undermined, or unsafe.

Common forms of harmful behavior

Harmful behavior can take many forms. The examples below show how it often shows up at work.
Repeated put-downs, aggressive communication, unreasonable criticism, or spreading rumors intended to demean or threaten someone.
Highlighting someone's mistakes in front of others or demeaning them in group settings so they feel exposed or belittled.
Leaving someone out of conversations, decisions, or work that affects them, in order to isolate or undermine them.

Which of the following is the clearest example of bullying or harassment based on this training?

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Pressure is not the same as bullying

Workplaces can have pressure, deadlines, and performance discussions without crossing into bullying or harassment. The difference lies in the behavior used, whether it forms a harmful pattern, and the impact on others.

Is the following statement True or False:
Workplace pressure, tight deadlines, and honest performance feedback automatically count as bullying or harassment.

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Respectful Communication

People should be able to raise concerns, give feedback, and work through challenges without hostility, intimidation, or humiliation becoming part of the process.

Which approach reflects respectful workplace communication?

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Who and where it can happen

Bullying and harassment can happen between coworkers, from managers to staff, from staff to managers, or across teams. It is not limited to one reporting line or job level. It can also occur in person, in writing, online, or in group settings. The form may vary, but the harm and workplace impact are still important.

Is the following statement True or False:
Bullying and harassment can happen in person, in writing, or online, and between people at any level of the workplace.

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What to do if something is happening

If harmful behavior is occurring, it should not be ignored. Speaking up, documenting what is happening, and reporting concerns through the appropriate channels can help address problems early. Bystanders also have a role to play: if you see repeated behavior that is harmful or inappropriate, do not look the other way.

What is the most appropriate response if you experience or observe repeated harmful behavior at work?

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Wrapping up

Preventing bullying and harassment is about creating a workplace where people are treated fairly, communicate respectfully, and can do their work without being undermined or mistreated.