How to Deal With a Workplace Bully

Keep a paper trail, get support, and raise the specific conduct through an appropriate channel, with safety first. The Silverback's Guide to Bullies covers the workplace, the boss who is the bully and the Fair Work Commission's stop-bullying framework, as general information, not legal advice.

Bullying at work survives in the gap between being noticed and being properly addressed. The book's survival kit starts with the paper trail: 'Paper trail. Paper trail. Paper trail.' Keep relevant emails and messages, and record dates, words, witnesses and effects, lawfully and securely. Then support: a colleague, a union representative or a health and safety representative. Then the distinction: under the Fair Work Commission's stop-bullying framework, workplace bullying is repeated unreasonable behaviour that creates a risk to health and safety, and reasonable management action carried out reasonably is not bullying. You can still report specific conduct without first proving it meets every element of a legal test. When the boss is the bully, get advice before you resign, because some deadlines are short.