This ruling sends a clear message to all employers that they need to provide safe work environments free from intimidation.
Allan Halse, teacher’s advocate and director of CultureSafe New Zealand, said it was an unprecedented payout, at four times the usual sum awarded by the Employment Relations Court. As this particular case involves bullying by a manager, all workplaces need to have a clear bullying and harassment policy which outlines courses of action that employees can takeif they are feeling threatened, undermined, harassed or intimidated in the workplace by a colleague or a manager.
All staff and especially senior management should be promoting and contributing to providing a safe and healthy work environment – it’s good for morale and proven to be good for workplace productivity.
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