TEU’s national council will launch a website focused on dignity and respect at work tomorrow. The union hopes it will become a tool to prevent bullying and harassment in tertiary education workplaces.
“Every person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace”, says TEU women’s vice-president Alex Sims. “We are committed to upholding and protecting this right. Workplace bullying undermines dignity and respect, and can have a detrimental effect on the victim, colleagues, the workplace environment, the employer and indeed the perpetrator.”
The Mana@Work website was an initiative of TEU’s national women’s committee, Te Kahurangi Māreikura, but in recognition that workplace bullying and harassment is an issue that affects everyone, the TEU council got behind the project and will launch it tomorrow afternoon at Victoria University’s Te Herenga Waka marae.
Alex Sims says the website gives a definition of what bullying and harassment is, advice about what to do about bullying and harassment if it exists, and information on steps to create a positive workplace culture. It also has a library of resources including legal resources, research, guides, and bullying and harassment policies. It draws on work done by a range of organisations, particularly the Human Rights Commission.
“As the website says, if TEU members experience or observe bullying or harassment in their workplace, there are a range of options, from self-help to formal written complaints. They can also contact their local TEU organiser who is trained to help deal with it.”
