Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) – Harassment and Bullying in Pharmacy Settings
Pharmacy environments are dynamic, fast-paced, and essential for patient care. However, bullying and harassment in these settings can negatively impact staff wellbeing and pharmacy performance. Recognising and addressing these behaviours effectively is crucial.
What is Bullying and Harassment?
Workplace bullying involves repeated, unreasonable behaviour directed towards an individual or group of employees, potentially affecting their health, safety, or wellbeing. It can manifest as aggressive conduct, verbal abuse, insults, exclusion from activities, withholding critical information, or assigning inappropriate tasks with unrealistic deadlines.
Harassment consists of unwanted conduct and is often related to protected attributes such as race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Unlike bullying, harassment does not need to be a repeated occurrence, it can be a single serious incident. It may include verbal insults, threats, inappropriate jokes, nonverbal offensive gestures or exclusion, unwanted physical contact, or visual harassment such as displaying offensive images or sending inappropriate digital messages.
Sexual harassment specifically includes behaviours such as unwanted flirting, inappropriate remarks, unwanted physical interactions, and sharing explicit content.
What To Do if You Experience or Witness Harassment or Bullying in the Workplace
If you experience or witness bullying or harassment in your pharmacy workplace, it's important to act promptly. Document each incident carefully, noting dates, times, locations, and any witnesses. If it is safe, directly communicate to the person involved that their behaviour is inappropriate and unwelcome. You can then report the incident through your workplace’s established reporting channels, such as speaking to HR, management, or a supervisor. Employers are obligated to respond appropriately, and employees reporting these behaviours are legally protected against retaliation.
What if Management Doesn’t Take my Complaint Seriously or Fails to Act?
External assistance is available through several key organisations. The Fair Work Commission can handle complaints related to workplace bullying, providing legal avenues for resolution. For serious breaches of Work Health and Safety laws, employees can escalate their concerns to their relevant State WHS regulator. Cases involving discrimination can be reported to the Australian Human Rights Commission, which offers guidance and legal support. Additionally, the Pharmacist's Support Service (PSS) is available 24/7 for counselling, information, support and referrals to appropriate services
What You Will Learn in Our Course ‘Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) – Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace’
In this course, pharmacy staff will develop a clear understanding of bullying and harassment, including their distinctions and impacts. Participants will gain awareness of lawful and appropriate workplace behaviours and learn about their legal rights and responsibilities related to these issues. Through real-world scenarios, participants will be able to apply practical knowledge, understand effective reporting mechanisms, and explore intervention strategies. Ultimately, this course aims to equip pharmacy staff with the skills and understanding necessary to foster and sustain a respectful and supportive workplace culture.
By proactively addressing bullying and harassment, pharmacy teams can contribute positively to a safer, healthier work environment benefiting everyone involved, including patients.
